“When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.”
My Notes
What Does Mark 9:25 Mean?
"When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him." A father has brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus' disciples, who failed to cast out the spirit. Now Jesus addresses the demon directly with two commands: come out, and don't come back. The specification "enter no more into him" is unique — Jesus doesn't just liberate; he prevents reoccurrence.
Jesus acts quickly when he sees the crowd gathering — this is not theater. He addresses the spirit by its effects ("dumb and deaf"), names it with authority ("I charge thee"), and seals the deliverance with a permanent prohibition. The word "charge" (epitassō) is a military command. There's no negotiation, no ritual, no lengthy process. Just authority, spoken and effective.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What pattern in your life keeps returning that you need Jesus to command 'enter no more'?
- 2.Why do you think the disciples failed where Jesus succeeded — and what does that reveal about authority?
- 3.How do you maintain the freedom Jesus gives rather than cycling back into old bondage?
- 4.What's the difference between Jesus' authoritative 'come out' and the way you typically approach spiritual battles?
Devotional
"Come out of him, and enter no more into him." Two commands. The first breaks the current bondage. The second prevents it from ever returning. Jesus doesn't do half-rescues.
The disciples had tried to cast out this spirit and failed. The father was desperate. The crowd was growing. And Jesus steps in — not with a long prayer or an elaborate ritual, but with a direct command that allows no argument. Come out. Stay out. Done.
There's something here about the nature of Jesus' authority that should reshape how you pray. He doesn't petition the spirit. He doesn't ask. He commands. And the command includes a permanent injunction: don't come back. Whatever Jesus frees you from, he doesn't intend for you to be re-enslaved by it.
If you've been cycling through the same bondage — the same addiction, the same pattern, the same destructive relationship — hearing that Jesus said "enter no more" should give you both hope and conviction. Hope because freedom isn't meant to be temporary. Conviction because if the same thing keeps coming back, something might be different about how you're engaging with your deliverance. Jesus sealed this boy's freedom with a permanent command. He wants to do the same for you — not a revolving door of liberation and re-enslavement, but a door that closes and locks.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
When Jesus saw that the people came running together,.... "to him", as the Syriac version adds, and so the Persic; upon…
See this passage explained in the notes at Mat 17:14-21. Mar 9:14 Questioning with them - Debating with the disciples,…
I charge thee - Considerable emphasis should be laid on the pronoun: - Thou didst resist the command of my disciples,…
We have here the story of Christ casting the devil out of a child, somewhat more fully related than it was in Mat 17:14,…
I charge thee Notice the words of majestic command, Icharge thee, I, whom thou darest not to disobey, and against whom…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture