Mark 9:28-29 Meaning: When Your Prayers Fall Short
28When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?”
29He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but by prayer and fasting.”
28And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
29And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
28And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, How is it that we could not cast it out?
29And he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer.
28And he having come into the house, his disciples were questioning him by himself--`Why were we not able to cast it forth?'
29And he said to them, `This kind is able to come forth with nothing except with prayer and fasting.'
28And when he was entered into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Wherefore could not we cast him out?
29And he said to them, This kind can go out by nothing but by prayer and fasting.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus explains why the disciples failed to cast out a demon: some spiritual battles require prayer and fasting, not just authority.
Context
Right after the transfiguration, Jesus came down the mountain to a troubling scene. A father had brought his son to the disciples, but they could not drive out the spirit that tormented the boy. Jesus healed the child with a word. Later, in a quiet house away from the crowd, the disciples asked Him privately: Why could we not cast it out? Their confusion was real. Jesus had already given them authority over unclean spirits, and they had used it before. Why did it fail now? The answer He gave pointed not to a flaw in their authority, but to the kind of battle they faced. Some demons, He said, require more than a command. They call for a deeper kind of dependence on God.
Key Words
The Greek word for kind here is genos, meaning a family, class, or sort. Jesus was not talking about a different species of demon. He was describing a level of resistance that demands more than routine authority. The verb can come out (dunatai exelthein) carries the idea of ability and power. The disciples had the power, but it was not enough for this particular situation. Jesus points them to prayer (proseuchē, focused address to God) and fasting (nēsteia, voluntarily going without food). These are not magical techniques. They are ways of clearing space for God. Prayer turns our attention to Him. Fasting weakens our self-reliance. Together, they train the heart to depend on God when our own strength runs out. Jesus was not rebuking the disciples for lacking a method. He was inviting them into deeper intimacy with the Father, the place where real power is found.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read these verses with care. Many note that the words “and fasting” are absent from some early manuscripts, which is why some Bibles leave it out. That textual question does not change the main point: prayer is essential. Catholic and Orthodox Christians have long understood this passage as a call to combine prayer with fasting, especially when facing persistent evil. Protestant interpreters often tie it to Matthew’s parallel account, where Jesus first says “because of your unbelief” and then adds “this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary suggests that Jesus was preparing the disciples for a future when He would no longer be with them physically. Most traditions agree: some battles require extraordinary dependence on God, expressed through focused prayer and self-denial.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that this verse teaches we can earn God’s power by fasting long enough. In fact, Jesus does not say “fast enough and you will have power.” He says this kind requires prayer and fasting. The point is not to manipulate God but to remove the distractions and pride that block our reliance on Him. Fasting is not a transaction. It is a way of saying, “I need You more than I need food.” The failure of the disciples was not that they forgot a technique; it was that they faced something beyond their usual experience without first pressing into God.
Living This Out
Maybe you have been facing something stubborn: a habit that keeps returning, a relationship that stays stuck, a worry that will not leave. You have prayed about it, maybe even tried harder. Jesus’ words here are for you. He does not say you lack authority. He invites you to a deeper dependence. This week, when you hit that wall, try a different approach. Instead of rushing through your prayers, take time to be quiet before God. Consider setting aside a meal or two to focus your hunger on seeking Him. Not as a formula, but as a way to remind yourself that your help comes from the Lord alone. The battle belongs to Him. Let prayer and fasting be the way you hand it over.
Main takeaway: Some battles are won only when we set aside our own strength and seek God with focused prayer and self-denial.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus told His friends that sometimes we need to pray a lot and even skip a meal to ask God for help. When something is really hard, we can stop and talk to God with all our heart.
For ages 9, 12
Have you ever tried your best at something and still failed? The disciples felt that way. They had cast out demons before, but this time it didn’t work. Jesus told them that some problems are so tough they need extra prayer, and even fasting, giving up food for a while to focus on God. It’s not about trying harder. It’s about trusting God more deeply. Next time you face something that feels too big, ask God to help you depend on Him completely.
Questions People Ask
What did Jesus mean by 'this kind' in Mark 9:29?
Jesus used the word 'genos,' which means a family, class, or sort. He was referring to a particular level or type of demonic resistance. It wasn't a different species, but a situation that required more than routine authority. Some spiritual battles are more entrenched and need a deeper dependence on God through prayer and fasting.
Why did the disciples fail to cast out the demon if Jesus had given them authority?
The disciples had authority over unclean spirits, but authority alone wasn't enough for this case. Jesus pointed to their need for prayer and fasting. The failure wasn't that they lost their authority, but that they faced a battle that demanded a more intense reliance on God. Their faith needed to be strengthened through deep communion with the Father.
Is fasting required for all exorcisms or difficult situations?
Jesus specifically said 'this kind' requires prayer and fasting. Not every situation demands fasting, but some persistent spiritual battles do. Fasting is a way to humble ourselves and focus entirely on God. It's not a rule for every problem, but a tool for when we realize our own strength is not enough.
Some Bible versions leave out 'and fasting.' Which is correct?
The earliest Greek manuscripts of Mark vary: some include 'and fasting,' some do not. Most scholars think the shorter reading (prayer only) may be original, but the longer reading (prayer and fasting) is very early and reflects Jesus' teaching elsewhere. Many Bibles include it in a footnote. Either way, the core truth remains: complete dependence on God is essential.
How does this passage connect to Matthew 17:20 about faith as a mustard seed?
In Matthew's account, Jesus first told the disciples their failure was due to unbelief, then added that this kind requires prayer and fasting. The two accounts complement each other. Faith is not a quantity you possess, but a dependence you practice. Prayer and fasting are ways to grow that dependence, making room for God to work through even small faith.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study