Why Was The Lord Frustrated?

I would like to ask about Matthew 17:17 when Jesus healed the demon possessed boy. Jesus seems very frustrated with His disciples lack of faith, but I’m quite taken aback by what He said. How much longer must I be with you? Why must I put up with you? Doesn’t this seem an odd thing for Jesus to say?

Q. I thank you for your ministry dear brother in Christ, I find it a valuable asset to my walk.

I would like to ask about Matthew 17:17 when Jesus healed the demon possessed boy. Jesus seems very frustrated with His disciples lack of faith, but I’m quite taken aback by what He said. How much longer must I be with you? Why must I put up with you? Doesn’t this seem an odd thing for Jesus to say? He knew how long He would have to be there and why He must put up with them, did He not? Does His reaction here mean that its ok for for us to get verbally frustrated with those we serve in the name of Jesus? I wouldn’t have thought so, but Jesus never sinned so it must be OK? I’m confused, can you help?

A. This same event is recorded in Mark 9:14-28 and Luke 9:37-42. You really have to read all three to get the full meaning. In the first place, Jesus is not addressing his comments to the disciples alone, but to everyone around Him. And notice that the disciples were arguing with some teachers of the Law who were there, and that the spirit possessing the boy made him deaf and mute. Finally when the disciples asked why they couldn’t cast the demon out, they were told that the spirit would only come out of the boy by prayer.

Armed with all that information we can begin to see why Jesus was frustrated. By the way, the reason for the argument is probably that the Jews had a procedure for exorcism that required the evil spirit to identify himself and they wanted the disciples to follow the procedure. But since this one had struck the boy deaf and mute, their procedure was rendered ineffective. That’s why Jesus said that only prayer would work. By arguing with the disciples, the teachers of the Law had caused them to doubt their abilities. Doubt destroys belief and made the disciples’ attempts ineffective too.

The message we’re supposed to take away from this event is contained in Mark 9:23. Everything is possible for him who believes. Religious formulas won’t work without it, and doubt will destroy it, but the one who believes will receive whatever he asks for. (Matt. 21:22) It was their lack of belief that frustrated Jesus then and does so now.