Mark 9:17-19 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And one of the multitude answered and said,— From the man's narrative before us, in answer to what Jesus said to the scribes, What question ye with them? it appears that the scribes had been disputing with the disciples about the cure of this youth, which they had unsuccessfully attempted. Perhaps their want of success had given the scribes occasion to boast, that a devil was found, which neither the disciples nor their Master were able to cast out; but the disciples affirming that this devil, however obstinate, was not able to withstand their Master, the debate was drawn out to some length: and to say the truth, as Jesus had already given many undeniable demonstrations of his power, the behaviour of the scribes in this, as in every instance, discovered the most criminal infidelity: wherefore he treated them no worse than they deserved, in calling them a faithless and perverse generation, altogether intolerable, because they had resisted demonstrations of his power sufficient to have convinced the most abandoned. He answereth him and saith;—He answered the man by saying to the scribes, O faithless and perverse generation! (see Luke 9:41.) how long shall I be with you ere you be convinced? How long shall I suffer you? Must I always bear with your infidelity?—A reproof much more applicable to the scribes than to the disciples, whose wrong notions proceeded rather from weakness of capacity, than from perverseness of disposition; though even in them there was much unbelief. At the same time, that he might give a fresh demonstration of the greatness of his power before them all, and put the folly of the scribes in particular to shame, he ordered the youth to be brought to him. Compare Luke 9:41.