Matthew 17

Matthew 17:17

He here rebukes the father and his disciples for their weakness of faith, and the audience for their obstinate unbelief, and readiness to reflect upon him in the weakness of his disciples

Matthew 17:20-21

By a sincere faith in my power and promise, and through my assistance, ye shall be able to discharge and approve your office in doing things seemingly impossible. But such kind of faith must be exercised in the use of much fervent prayer and humiliation, without which you cannot expect to dislodge devils of so powerful and obstinate a kind as this is. 10 S

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XVII.—How mixed was the lot of our Redeemer in this world! How quickly lifted up and cast down again! Now he shines in glory; anon he is plunged into sufferings and death. Now devils and distempers flee before his infinite power and grace; anon he is discredited, or ill understood, by weak disciples, and despised by faithless and perverse Jews. Possessed of all the fulness of Godhead—of all the riches of heaven and earth—he humbly, but miraculously, borrows his tribute money from a fish, to avoid giving offence. But his resurrection from the dead wiped away all his reproach, and rendered illustrious his deepest debasement. If Moses and Elias have, in solemn manner, resigned to him all their powers and honours, let me hear him as my great, my only divine prophet! Let me rejoice in his dearness to God, and exalted dominion over men! Let me lift up my heart, and retire from the world, to hold fellowship with him, and prolong his visits to the utmost! Let no danger, no guilt, terrify my heart, while I enjoy the great Propitiation and Saviour! If the choicest saints forsake me, it is enough that Jesus remains to comfort me. Ravishing discoveries of him on earth are indeed but short lived; and suffering is the certain fate of all his followers.—I must return to depths of temptation, desertion, and trouble, in which my fellow Christians have often laboriously struggled with stubborn devils and indwelling lusts. But, if I or my friends experience their uncommon cruelty, let me with fervour and humility supplicate Jesus for relief. And let want or weakness of faith, which marr my duty and obstruct my mercies, be the grief, the burden, the detestation of my heart. And, while through manifold tribulations I follow him to his kingdom and glory, let me carefully avoid whatever could prejudice others against him, his doctrines, or ways. It is better to wave my right, and open my purse, than dishonour my Redeemer