Mark 9:20 - Exposition

And they brought him unto him . The father, it would seem, was not able of himself to bring him, so fierce and violent were the paroxysms of the disorder . And when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him ( συνεσπέραξεν )—it might be rendered, convulsed him—grievously. Observe the Greek construction ( καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν τὸ πνεῦμα ), masculine participle with neuter noun. The sight of Christ stirred the evil spirit dwelling in the child. He was irritated by the presence of Christ; for he knew his power, and feared lest he should be cast out. Then came the last and most violent convulsion. He wallowed foaming. The word "to wallow" is probably from the Latin volvo. He rolled about in his agony. St. Gregory, quoted by Trench, shows how true all this is to nature; and that "the expulsion of a deadly evil from our spiritual being is not accomplished without a terrible struggle, followed in some cases by extreme prostration."