Matthew 17:21

 

Matthew 17:21

(KJV) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

(1611 KJV) Howbeit, this kind goeth not out, but by prayer and fasting.

(1587 Geneva Bible) Howbeit this kinde goeth not out, but by prayer and fasting.

(1526 Tyndale) How be it this kynde goeth not oute but by prayer and fastinge.

 

Counterfeit Versions

(CSB) Omitted

(NIV) Omitted

(NASV) [But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."]

(THE MESSAGE) Omitted

(AMP) But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

(NLT) Omitted

(ESV) Omitted

(CEV) Omitted - They take part of verse 20 and use it for 21

(NCV) [That kind of spirit comes out only if you use prayer and fasting.]"

(HCSB) [However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.]

(NIRV) Omitted - They take part of verse20 and use it for 21

(RSV) Omitted

(NAB-Roman Catholic) Omitted

(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) Omitted

 

Textus Receptus - Traditional Text

touto de to genoV ouk ekporeuetai ei mh en proseuch kai nhsteia

 

Hort-Westcott - Critical Text

Omitted

 

Corrupted Manuscripts

This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:

Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century

33 (Miniscule) - Ninth Century

038 - (Majuscule) Ninth century

 

Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse

Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)

C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century

D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century

L 019 - Seventh century

W 032 - Fourth/fifth century

1 (Minuscule) - Seventh century

13 (Minuscule) - Eighth century

 

Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions

Omits entire verse

Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869

Tregelles, Samuel - 1857 (in brackets or margin)

Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871 (in brackets or margin)

Westcott and Hort - 1881

Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941

Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition

Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition

United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition

 

Affected Teaching

When the Lord speaks of fasting and prayer in this verse, He is emphasizing intense prayer and if one fasts and prays in certain situations, they must realize that their dependence is totally upon God and it is not their actions that will work in their situation. (James 4:15 KJV) For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. Every believer lives within the Lord’s will for their lives and sometimes, even we go into intense prayer, God may choose to say no to our request. Keep in mind that no is an answer to prayer, as well as yes. The modern versions omit this verse and it has a great lesson that Christians need to be in intense prayer, not only in certain situations but in all of life since we live in perilous times. There is no reason why the modern versions should omit this verse. Fasting and praying went together in the old days as well as today. Fasting is designed to keep our eyes upon the Lord and not to be interrupted with the cares of this life. There is a great verse in the Old Testament which speaks of fasting. (Isa 58:5-6 KJV) Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? {6} Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? In Isaiah 58:5-6, we see that the fast in the Christian’s life is not one of food but of being involved with sending forth the Gospel.

 

When we engage in the Lord’s work, we are, in essence, fasting or giving up our own pleasures for the sake of the Gospel. (Mat 10:39 KJV) He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. We are using up the time on earth for the Gospel’s sake and that is the fast that the Lord has in view as we read in Matthew 10:39, as we lose our life (get involved with Kingdom work) we are finding our true life and that is Christ. (Col 3:4 KJV) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. As we read in Colossians 3:4, Christ is our life. So we see that fasting is much more than giving up a meal or two, it is basically for a lifetime. In Matthew 17:21, when it speaks of demon possession and casting them out comes by prayer and fasting, it is basically pointing to the fact that when a person becomes saved, the Holy Spirit lives in them and the devils no longer can reside in that person. (Mark 5:15 KJV) And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. Probably the best verse showing this is Mark 5:15 that the Gadarene Demoniac was delivered from all the indwelling devils and was in his right mind. This is a great picture of salvation, the transition from the kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God. Once again the modern versions rob the Christian of a great teaching.

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