Jesus answeredIn this passage, Jesus is responding to His disciples after they failed to cast out a demon from a boy. This highlights Jesus' role as a teacher and authority on spiritual matters. His response indicates a deeper understanding of spiritual warfare and the necessary tools to engage in it. This moment underscores the disciples' need for growth in faith and reliance on divine power.
This kind
The phrase "this kind" suggests that there are different types or levels of demonic forces, each requiring different approaches for deliverance. This implies a hierarchy within the spiritual realm, which is consistent with other biblical references to spiritual warfare, such asEphesians 6:12, where Paul speaks of "rulers," "authorities," and "powers of this dark world."
cannot come out
The inability of the demon to be expelled by the disciples points to the limitations of human power and the necessity of divine intervention. It emphasizes the reality of spiritual battles and the need for spiritual preparedness. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative that human strength is insufficient without God's power, as seen inZechariah 4:6, "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit."
except by prayer
Prayer is presented as the essential means for engaging in spiritual warfare. This highlights the importance of a deep, personal relationship with God and reliance on His power. Prayer is a recurring theme in Jesus' teachings, as seen inMatthew 6:9-13, where He provides a model for prayer. The emphasis on prayer also connects to the broader biblical theme of faith and dependence on God, as seen inJames 5:16, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Jesus- The central figure in this passage, Jesus is the one who provides the teaching on the necessity of prayer and fasting for certain spiritual victories.
2.
Disciples- The followers of Jesus who were unable to cast out a demon from a boy, prompting Jesus to explain the need for prayer and fasting.
3.
The Boy with the Unclean Spirit- A young boy possessed by a spirit that the disciples could not cast out, leading to Jesus' intervention.
4.
The Father of the Boy- The desperate parent seeking healing for his son, who approaches Jesus after the disciples' failure.
5.
The Crowd- The onlookers who witness the event and the subsequent teaching of Jesus.
Teaching Points
The Power of Prayer and FastingJesus emphasizes that some spiritual battles require more than just faith; they require dedicated prayer and fasting. This teaches us the importance of these disciplines in overcoming significant spiritual challenges.
Dependence on GodThe disciples' inability to cast out the demon highlights the necessity of relying on God's power rather than our own strength. We must cultivate a life of prayer to remain connected to God's power.
Faith and ActionWhile faith is crucial, Jesus' teaching suggests that faith must be accompanied by action, such as prayer and fasting, to be effective in certain situations.
Spiritual PreparednessThis passage encourages believers to be spiritually prepared at all times, as we never know when we might face a spiritual challenge that requires deep spiritual resources.
Community and SupportThe presence of the crowd and the disciples' failure remind us of the importance of community support and accountability in our spiritual journeys.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Mark 9:29?
2.How does Mark 9:29 emphasize the importance of prayer in spiritual warfare?
3.What role does fasting play in overcoming spiritual challenges according to Mark 9:29?
4.How can we incorporate prayer and fasting into our daily spiritual practices?
5.What other scriptures highlight the power of prayer and fasting in spiritual battles?
6.How can Mark 9:29 inspire us to deepen our prayer life today?
7.Why does Mark 9:29 emphasize prayer for casting out certain demons?
8.How does fasting enhance the power of prayer in Mark 9:29?
9.What does Mark 9:29 reveal about spiritual warfare?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Mark 9?
11.What did Jesus mean by "prayer and fasting"?
12.What did Jesus mean by 'prayer and fasting'?
13.Why were certain verses removed from the NIV Bible?
14.Why do the Gospel accounts of Jesus' baptism by John differ significantly?What Does Mark 9:29 Mean
Jesus answeredThe scene follows the disciples’ failed attempt to cast a demon out of a boy (Mark 9:14-18). When they come to Jesus privately, He responds: “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer” (Mark 9:29).
• His reply underscores His authority—He does not speculate; He declares truth, just as He did when He stilled the sea (Mark 4:39) or forgave sins (Mark 2:10).
• Jesus’ answer exposes the disciples’ self-reliance. Earlier they had cast out demons successfully (Mark 6:7, 13), yet this time they assumed past victories guaranteed present power.
• The Lord’s gentle but firm correction echoesProverbs 3:5-6 andJohn 15:5: without abiding dependence on Him, nothing of eternal value is accomplished.
This kindBy saying “this kind,” Jesus acknowledges varying degrees of demonic resistance (compareLuke 11:26;Matthew 12:45).
• Scripture portrays a structured realm of evil spirits (Ephesians 6:12), some more entrenched and destructive than others.
• The phrase reminds believers that spiritual battles differ in intensity. Not every challenge is identical; deeper entrenchment demands deeper dependence.
• Jesus is not teaching fear of the demonic but recognition of reality. His authority remains supreme (Mark 1:27), yet He calls His followers to walk in His strength, not their own.
Cannot come outHere is a hard limit on human ability. Good intentions, religious activity, and even past experience cannot dislodge certain strongholds.
• The disciples’ visible struggle (Mark 9:18) illustrates2 Corinthians 10:4—“The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world.”
• “Cannot” signals impossibility apart from divine intervention. It parallels the man’s cry inMark 9:22, “But if You can do anything…”; Jesus’ reply, “All things are possible for one who believes” (v. 23), directs faith toward God, not method.
• Deliverance ministries, counseling, programs—helpful as they may be—must bow to the reality that only the Lord’s power sets captives free (Isaiah 61:1;John 8:36).
Except by prayerPrayer is not a last-ditch ritual but the primary conduit of God’s power.
• Throughout Mark’s Gospel Jesus models prayer (Mark 1:35; 6:46), demonstrating continual communion with the Father.
• By calling for prayer, He invites the disciples into the same dependence:
– Aligning with God’s will (1 John 5:14-15)
– Acknowledging personal weakness (James 4:6)
– Accessing divine authority (James 5:16;Mark 11:24)
• Some manuscripts include “and fasting,” and many believers have found fasting deepens focus on God, yet the core issue remains a heart humbly seeking Him.
• Practical takeaways:
– Maintain a lifestyle of prayer rather than occasional bursts in crisis.
– Approach spiritual conflict with worship and Scripture-saturated petition (Psalm 149:6-9;Revelation 12:11).
– Expect God to act, because He has already triumphed over every power through the cross (Colossians 2:15).
summaryMark 9:29 teaches that certain spiritual challenges yield only to believers who abide in prayerful dependence on the Lord. Jesus’ authority is unquestioned, yet He calls His followers to exercise faith through persistent, humble prayer. Victories of the past do not substitute for present reliance on God. When prayer becomes the atmosphere we breathe, His power flows, strongholds fall, and lives are set free.
(29)
But by prayer and fasting.--The better MSS. omit the last two words. It is possible that they may have been added, like the "tears" of
Mark 9:24, to strengthen the words actually spoken, by bringing in what had been found to bring with it a new intensity of spiritual volition, and therefore of power to rescue human souls from the frenzy and despair into which they had been plunged by the unclean spirits that possessed them. A like addition of "fasting" to prayer, apparently from a like ascetic tendency, is found in
1Corinthians 7:5, where see Note. In St. Matthew both words are found, but some of the most ancient MSS. omit the whole verse. On the whole, however, there is a balance of evidence in their favour; and, as shown in the Note on
Matthew 17:21, what they teach is in harmony with other portions of the teaching both of our Lord and His Apostles.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
[Jesus] answered,εἶπεν(eipen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036:Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.“ThisΤοῦτο(Touto)Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778:This; he, she, it.kindγένος(genos)Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1085:Offspring, family, race, nation, kind. From ginomai; 'kin'.cannotδύναται(dynatai)Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1410:(a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.come out,ἐξελθεῖν(exelthein)Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 1831:To go out, come out. From ek and erchomai; to issue.exceptεἰ(ei)Conjunction
Strong's 1487:If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.byἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.prayer.”προσευχῇ(proseuchē)Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4335:From proseuchomai; prayer; by implication, an oratory.
Links
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NT Gospels: Mark 9:29 He said to them This kind can (Mar Mk Mr) 
