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MARK 9:18 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Mark 9:17Mark 9:19
“And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.”
Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not — the clinical description of the possession (throws down, foams, gnashes, becomes rigid) describes what appears to be a severe seizure disorder, though the Gospel attributes it to a spiritual cause. I asked your disciples but they could not: the failure is public, complete, and contrasted with the success they had on their earlier mission (Mark 6:13). Something has gone wrong.

Church Fathers on Mark 9:18

After He had shewn His glory in the mount to the three disciples, He returns to the other disciples, who had not come up with Him into the mount; wherefore it is said, 'And when He came to His disciples, He saw a great multitude about them, and the Scribes questioning with them.'

Theophylact · 11th century

But there is no peace for man under the sun; envy is ever slaying the little ones, and lightnings strike the tops of the great mountains. Of all those who run to the Church, some as the multitudes come in faith to learn, others, as the Scribes, with envy and pride.

Pseudo-Jerome · 5th century

In all cases, the difference between the mind of the Scribes and of the people ought to be observed; for the Scribes are never said to have shewn any devotion, faith, humility, and reverence, but as soon as the Lord was come, the whole multitude was greatly amazed and feared, and ran up to Him, and saluted Him; wherefore there follows, 'And running to Him, saluted Him.'

Bede · 8th century · in Marc., 3, 38
Read all 26 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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Mark 9:18 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy