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MARK 9:24 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Mark 9:23Mark 9:25
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief — the most honest prayer in the Gospels: the simultaneous assertion of faith and confession of insufficient faith. I do believe acknowledges the real faith that brought him to Jesus and has sustained him through years of hoping. Help me overcome my unbelief acknowledges that the faith is not complete, not sufficient in itself, not free from doubt. The prayer is addressed to Jesus — help me — making Jesus the source of the faith, not merely its object. The father asks for faith as a gift, not merely as an achievement.

Church Fathers on Mark 9:24

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 9:24 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy