How does Matthew 17:21 emphasize the importance of prayer and fasting in faith? Setting the Scene - Matthew 17 recounts Jesus’ transfiguration and the disciples’ inability to cast a demon out of a boy. - After Jesus delivers the child, He explains why the disciples failed: “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21) Why Prayer and Fasting Matter - Jesus treats prayer and fasting as non-negotiable tools for confronting stubborn spiritual opposition. - The verse underscores that certain breakthroughs require more than ordinary faith-expressions; they demand focused dependence on God. Prayer: Direct Dependence - Prayer keeps believers aligned with God’s power and will (John 15:7). - James 5:16 links effective prayer with righteousness, highlighting the spiritual readiness Jesus refers to here. Fasting: Intensified Devotion - Fasting voluntarily lays aside physical needs to pursue spiritual urgency (Matthew 6:16-18). - Throughout Scripture, fasting precedes decisive acts of God—see Acts 13:2-3 (sending missionaries) and Acts 14:23 (appointing elders). The Combined Force - Jesus couples prayer with fasting, showing they function best together for deep spiritual challenges. - Mark 9:29 records the parallel teaching, reinforcing that both practices are essential, not optional extras. Faith Strengthened Through Discipline - Matthew 17:20 notes the disciples’ “little faith.” Verse 21 provides the remedy: faith grows stronger when disciplined by prayer and fasting. - Isaiah 58:6 links fasting to loosening “the bonds of wickedness,” illustrating its power to break spiritual chains. Practical Takeaways • Make regular prayer a first response, not a last resort. • Integrate periodic fasting to seek clarity, victory over sin, or guidance. • Approach stubborn spiritual problems expecting that intensified devotion will invite God’s decisive intervention. Living It Out Daily, intentional communion with God—deepened through fasting when needed—positions believers to exercise mountain-moving faith and walk in Christ’s victorious authority. |
    |