Charles Spurgeon Commentary Mark 9:17-19

"And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever it taketh him, it dasheth him down: and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast it out; and they were not able. And he answereth them and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him unto me." — Mark 9:17-19 (ASV)

And said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

I suppose our Lord's rebuke was meant especially for his disciples. It was something like the speech of a schoolmaster, who, having taught his pupils the same lesson a great many times, and laboured hard with them, from year to year, yet finds them failing in the very elements of knowledge. Christ does not speak as if he were tired of his life, and wished to get away from his disciples; but this is his way of saying how disappointed he is that these learners have learnt so little.

How long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. Those words struck my heart very forcibly as I read them: How long shall I suffer you? Does not the Lord Jesus Christ have to put up with a great deal from every one of us?

I applied his words to myself, and I thought I heard him saying to me, How long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Often, he must derive more pain than pleasure from his dealings with many of his people.

How grieved he often must be to see their slowness to learn, their readiness to forget, and the difficulty with which they can be brought to live the lessons which he so carefully imparts to them! Then note what his action is concerning the poor child: Bring him unto me.