And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

People's New Testament

9:14-22 And when he came to his disciples. After the transfiguration.

He saw a great multitude. For notes on this miracle, see Mt 17:14-21. Compare Lu 9:37-42. Mark's account is the fullest.

Wesley's Notes

9:17 And one of the multitude answering - The scribes gave no answer to our Lord's question. They did not care to repeat what they had said to his disciples. A dumb spirit - A spirit that takes his speech from him.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

17. And one of the multitude answered, and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son-"mine only child" (Lu 9:38).

which hath a dumb spirit-a spirit whose operation had the effect of rendering his victim speechless, and deaf also (Mr 9:25). In Matthew's report of the speech (Mt 17:15), the father says "he is lunatic"; this being another and most distressing effect of the possession.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

9:14-29 The father of the suffering youth reflected on the want of power in the disciples; but Christ will have him reckon the disappointment to the want of faith. Very much is promised to our believing. If thou canst believe, it is possible that thy hard heart may be softened, thy spiritual diseases may be cured; and, weak as thou art, thou mayest be able to hold out to the end. Those that complain of unbelief, must look up to Christ for grace to help them against it, and his grace will be sufficient for them. Whom Christ cures, he cures effectually. But Satan is unwilling to be driven from those that have been long his slaves, and, when he cannot deceive or destroy the sinner, he will cause him all the terror that he can. The disciples must not think to do their work always with the same ease; some services call for more than ordinary pains.