Deal Distressed Epileptic Fall Falleth Falling Falls Fire Frequently Goes Greatly Grievously Ill Kindly Lunatic Lunatick Mercy Miserably Off-times Oft Often Ofttimes Oft-times Pain Pity Saying Seizures Sir Sore Sorely Suffer Suffereth Suffering Suffers Terribly Vexed
17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is {g} lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
(g) They that at certain times of the moon are troubled with the falling sickness, or any other kind of disease: but in this case, we must so understand it, that besides the natural disease he had a demonic derangement.
17:15 My son; for he is lunatic. Epileptic, in the Revised Version. The symptoms are those of epilepsy, in this case caused by demoniac possession. The son was a child (Lu 9:38). He was dumb as well as epileptic (Mr 9:18).
17:15 He is lunatic - This word might with great propriety he used, though the case was mostly preternatural; as the evil spirit would undoubtedly take advantage of the influence which the changes of the moon have on the brain and nerves.
17:14-21 The case of afflicted children should be presented to God by faithful and fervent prayer. Christ cured the child. Though the people were perverse, and Christ was provoked, yet care was taken of the child. When all other helps and succours fail, we are welcome to Christ, may trust in him, and in his power and goodness. See here an emblem of Christ's undertaking as our Redeemer. It encourages parents to bring children to Christ, whose souls are under Satan's power; he is able to heal them, and as willing as he is able. Not only bring them to Christ by prayer, but bring them to the word of Christ; to means by which Satan's strong-holds in the soul are beaten down. It is good for us to distrust ourselves and our own strength; but it is displeasing to Christ when we distrust any power derived from him, or granted by him. There was also something in the malady which rendered the cure difficult. The extraordinary power of Satan must not discourage our faith, but quicken us to more earnestness in praying to God for the increase of it. Do we wonder to see Satan's bodily possession of this young man from a child, when we see his spiritual possession of every son of Adam from the fall!
Deal Distressed Fall Falleth Falls Fire Frequently Goes Great Grievously Head Ill Kindly Lunatick Mercy Miserably Oft Often Ofttimes Oft-Times Pain Pity Seizures Sir Sore Suffer Suffering Suffers Terribly Vexed Water
Deal Distressed Fall Falleth Falls Fire Frequently Goes Great Grievously Head Ill Kindly Lunatick Mercy Miserably Oft Often Ofttimes Oft-Times Pain Pity Seizures Sir Sore Suffer Suffering Suffers Terribly Vexed Water
