Matthew 17 18

Matthew 17:18 kjv

And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Matthew 17:18 nkjv

And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

Matthew 17:18 niv

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

Matthew 17:18 esv

And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.

Matthew 17:18 nlt

Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.

Matthew 17 verses

Matthew 17 18 Meaning

Matthew 17:18 records Jesus's decisive intervention to deliver a young boy afflicted by a demon. After the disciples failed, Jesus authoritatively commanded the demon to depart. The verse signifies Jesus's supreme and immediate power over spiritual forces of evil and its direct manifestation in bringing about complete physical healing and restoration to the afflicted boy from that very moment. It highlights Jesus as the ultimate authority and source of deliverance.

Matthew 17 18 Context

Matthew 17:18 follows immediately after the failure of Jesus's disciples to cast out a demon from a young boy. Jesus had just descended from the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-13) where His divine glory was revealed to Peter, James, and John. He found a large crowd gathered around the remaining disciples, who were in an argument with scribes (Mk 9:14-16) because they could not heal a demon-possessed, epileptic-like boy (Mt 17:14-16; Mk 9:17-18; Lk 9:39). This highlights a sharp contrast between Jesus's overwhelming power and the disciples' current inability, despite having been previously given authority over demons (Mt 10:1, 8). Jesus responds with frustration, lamenting the "unbelieving and perverted generation" (Mt 17:17). Thus, this verse directly demonstrates Jesus's authority as God's Son and Messiah, validating His claims and setting the stage for His subsequent teaching on faith and prayer in the following verses (Mt 17:19-21). In the broader biblical narrative, this exorcism signifies the inbreaking of God's Kingdom through Christ, demonstrating its power over the realm of darkness and suffering.

Matthew 17 18 Word analysis

• And Jesus: (καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς - kai ho Iēsous) The Greek "kai" emphasizes the direct, consequential action of Jesus, following the disciples' failure. It foregrounds Him as the sole one capable of accomplishing this deliverance.

• rebuked: (ἐπετίμησεν - epetimēsen) This powerful verb implies a direct, authoritative command, often used for Jesus confronting evil forces, elements of nature (Mt 8:26, Lk 8:24), or fever (Lk 4:39). It signifies an assertion of absolute power and mastery, not merely an appeal or prayer. Jesus does not negotiate or request; He commands obedience. It highlights His divine prerogative.

• the demon: (τὸ δαιμόνιον - to daimonion) Refers to a malevolent spiritual entity, distinct from a physical illness, though its presence could manifest physically (e.g., the boy's epilepsy-like symptoms). It signifies a hostile intelligence directly opposing divine will and inflicting suffering. The New Testament consistently portrays demons as actual beings under Satan's dominion.

• and it came out of him: (καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ - kai exēlthen ap' autou) This phrase describes the immediate and complete expulsion. The use of "came out" signifies a definitive departure, not a gradual receding. The demonic entity yielded instantly to Jesus's rebuke, demonstrating the absolute submission of spiritual darkness to His word.

• and the boy: (καὶ ὁ παῖς - kai ho pais) Connects back to the subject of suffering. It humanizes the situation, emphasizing the direct benefit and restoration to the young victim. The use of "kai" again emphasizes the direct consequence of the previous action.

• was cured: (ἐθεραπεύθη - etherapeuthē) The verb "therapeuō" implies a complete restoration to health and well-being, moving beyond just the demon's expulsion to include the boy's full recovery from any lasting effects or symptoms. It is in the aorist passive tense, highlighting that the action of healing was decisively completed by an external agent (Jesus), resulting in the boy's new, healthy state.

• from that hour: (ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας ἐκείνης - apo tēs hōras ekeinēs) This phrase emphasizes the immediate, precise, and lasting nature of the healing. It confirms there was no delay, no gradual improvement, and no relapse. The transformation was instant and permanent, a hallmark of Jesus's miracles. This expression is used elsewhere in the Gospels to signify a decisive point in time with lasting implications (e.g., Mt 8:13, Jn 4:53).

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And Jesus rebuked the demon": This sequence reveals Jesus's decisive, authoritative action against evil. Unlike His disciples, Jesus immediately grasps the spiritual nature of the problem and confronts it head-on with divine power. This highlights His unique position as God's Son, bringing the Kingdom's authority directly into conflict with the kingdom of darkness.
  • "and it came out of him, and the boy was cured": This segment presents the twofold, immediate, and comprehensive outcome of Jesus's action. The demon's expulsion signifies spiritual victory, and the boy's cure signifies physical and mental restoration. Both happen as a direct consequence of Jesus's single word of command, showcasing His holistic redemptive power.
  • "from that hour": This phrase functions as an immediate temporal marker emphasizing the definitiveness and permanence of Jesus's intervention. It reinforces the quality of His miraculous work—instantaneous, undeniable, and complete—leaving no room for doubt or gradual recovery, setting it apart from human efforts.

Matthew 17 18 Bonus section

The inability of the disciples to cast out the demon, followed by Jesus's swift and effective intervention, powerfully teaches several crucial lessons:

• Source of Power: The miracle emphasizes that the power to cast out demons does not reside inherently in the disciples, but flows through them from Jesus. Their lack of success in this instance underscores that spiritual warfare requires more than just delegated authority; it requires dependence on Christ's empowering presence and adherence to spiritual disciplines.
• Role of Faith and Prayer: Jesus's subsequent explanation in Matthew 17:19-20 (and Mark 9:29 including fasting) reveals that the disciples' failure was due to a "little faith" and lack of prayer. This connects spiritual power directly to the depth of one's relationship with God and one's reliance on Him through communion and faith, particularly for challenging situations.
• Messianic Signs: Jesus's consistent triumphs over demons are fundamental to His messianic identity. They fulfill prophecies of God's power breaking evil's dominion (Isa 49:24-25, Zec 3:1-7) and confirm the dawning of God's kingdom on earth, where Satan's kingdom is being dismantled.
• Nature of Spiritual Battle: The interaction with the demon highlights the reality of active spiritual opposition. The demonic realm is portrayed not as abstract evil, but as personal, malevolent entities that afflict humanity and resist God's redemptive work, requiring direct divine confrontation.

Matthew 17 18 Commentary

Matthew 17:18 powerfully demonstrates the supreme and singular authority of Jesus Christ. In a scene where the limitations of the disciples' faith and understanding were exposed, Jesus steps in to decisively deal with the spiritual oppression and physical affliction. His command to "rebuke" the demon underscores His direct and unquestionable dominion over forces of darkness, showcasing that these entities are utterly subservient to His divine will.

The immediate departure of the demon and the boy's complete cure, noted as "from that hour," emphasize the instant effectiveness and permanency of Jesus's work. This event is not merely an act of healing; it is a manifestation of the Kingdom of God breaking into the world, demonstrating its power over sickness, sin, and spiritual oppression. Jesus, as the Messiah, is the one who effectively disarms and defeats the powers of darkness, bringing liberation and restoration. The episode serves to contrast Jesus's omnipotent power with the fledgling faith of His disciples, setting the stage for His subsequent teaching on the vital roles of prayer and faith in their own ministry. It serves as a reminder that true deliverance and healing come through Christ's authority, often through the spiritual disciplines that align one with His power.