There is an incident recorded in Mark 9:29 and Matthew 17:21 where Jesus says:
"This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting" (Mark 9:29, KJV)
Yet Jesus did not appear to fast or pray at that moment, which raises a fascinating theological and practical question: what did He mean?Let us work through this step by step, looking at both the textual and spiritual implications, with particular attention to the role of fasting.
Contextual Overview
The Scene
- A man brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus' disciples.
- They cannot cast it out.
- Jesus rebukes their lack of faith and unbelief (Matthew 17:20; Mark 9:19).
- Later, when the disciples ask why they could not cast it out, Jesus replies:
- "Because of your unbelief..."
- "This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting."
Jesus Did not Fast or Pray — Why Say It is Necessary?
That is the key puzzle. Jesus cast the demon out immediately, yet said it required prayer (and fasting). The most consistent understanding is this: Jesus lived a life of constant prayer and communion with the Father.
"He went up into a mountain apart to pray..." (Matt. 14:23)
"He withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed" (Luke 5:16)
His authority came from His ongoing relationship, not a momentary prayer. He did not need to pause to pray or fast then, because He had already lived a disciplined life of spiritual readiness.
In contrast, the disciples were not spiritually prepared. Jesus is not saying, "In that moment, you should've stopped and fasted," but rather, "You weren't equipped for this kind of situation because your spiritual life lacked the depth and authority that comes through sustained dependence on God — the kind cultivated by prayer and fasting."
Is Fasting About Power and Authority?
This links directly to the incident in Acts 19:15 — "...Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"
The sons of Sceva tried to use the name of Jesus without belonging to Jesus. The connection here is striking: authority in the spiritual realm is tied to relationship. Paul did not just use the name of Jesus — he walked with Jesus, suffered for Him, fasted, prayed, lived in step with the Spirit (cf. 2 Cor 11:27; Gal 5:25).
The disciples' failure in Matthew 17 may reflect a similar issue. They were trying to exercise delegated authority without spiritual preparedness or current dependence. Like the sons of Sceva, they had the language — but not the power that flows from intimate relationship.
That passage illustrates that spiritual authority is not automatic — it flows from relationship, submission and divine commission.
Fasting, then, is not a ritual for power, but a discipline of dependence.
It does not "twist God's arm," but aligns us with His will, weakens the flesh and makes us more spiritually sensitive and obedient.So, fasting can relate to spiritual authority, not as a badge of honour but as a sign of humility and readiness.
Does This Mean There are Situations in Life that will not Shift Without Fasting? Possibly, YES.
Not because fasting "unlocks the magic," but because some strongholds — demonic, emotional, habitual or even circumstantial — require deeper surrender and prolonged preparation to overcome.
Let us distinguish the spiritual dynamics:
- "This kind" may refer to a certain class of demon — more resistant, more rooted or more violent.
- But by application, it can refer to any stronghold — fear, addiction, generational trauma — that will not move without deep spiritual engagement.
Fasting is a way of saying, "Lord, I am serious. I need you, not just an answer."
Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:16–18 assumes fasting as normal: "When you fast..." — not "if". - Fasting is not a magic solution, but a spiritual posture.
- Some situations — demonic or otherwise — require a deeper level of surrender, authority
and spiritual clarity than we may realise. - Jesus' life showed that such authority comes not from on-the-spot reaction, but from a life
cultivated in the secret place — of which fasting can be a vital part.
There are things in life that may not shift without fasting. Not because fasting works like a key, but
because fasting changes us so that God can work through us with clarity, power and boldness. The Lesson
This event teaches us something vital: - Prayer and fasting are more than emergency tools for crisis.
- They are part of the ongoing formation of a person walking with God.
- They are about becoming the kind of person who can stand in authority — not simply acting in the moment.
Conclusion
So when Jesus says, "this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting," He is not prescribing a ritual to be performed at the moment. Rather, He is describing a life lived in spiritual readiness — one that knows God intimately, walks in His Spirit and is prepared to meet the unseen battles of the world.
The disciples had the external authority but lacked the internal formation. Fasting is one way God forms us into people of quiet authority — those who can stand before mountains and move them not by technique, but by trust.