Matthew 17:19

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

Matthew 17:19 in Other Translations

19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?"

19 Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”

19 When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves, they asked, "Why couldn't we throw it out?"

19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast it out?

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, "Why couldn't we force the demon out of the boy?"

19 Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private. They asked, "Why couldn't we drive out the demon?"

Matthew 17:19 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 17:19

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart
Or "secretly", as the Vulgate Latin, and Munster's Hebrew Gospel read; that is, privately, and when alone; and as Mark says, "when he was come into the house"; and was by himself, then came the nine disciples to him, to converse with him about this matter,

and said unto him, why could not we cast him out?
That is, the devil, and so cure the lunatic; the Syriac and Persic versions render it, "why could not we heal him?" The lunatic; which only could be done by casting out the demon: they were concerned, fearing they had lost the power which Christ had bestowed on them, and wanted to know what they had done, which had deprived them of it; and what should be the cause of their late unsuccessful attempt, when they had so frequently triumphed over the unclean spirits, that were subject to them. Though they might have learned from the answer Christ gave to the father of the lunatic, and the general character of the Jewish nations in that answer, the true reason of their own inability; but this they took no notice of, imagining it belonged entirely to others, and not to them.

Matthew 17:19 In-Context

17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”

18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”