SEV Biblia, Chapter 17:15
Y diciendo: Seor, ten misericordia de mi hijo, que es luntico, y padece malamente; porque muchas veces cae en el fuego, y muchas en el agua.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 17:15
Verse 15. My son-is lunatic] selhniazetai. One who was most affected with this disorder at the change and full of the moon. See on chap. iv. 24. But this lunacy was occasioned by a demon, see ver. 18, and Mark ix. 17; Luke ix. 38. In this case, the devil intended to hide himself under the appearance of a natural disorder, that no supernatural means might be resorted to for his expulsion. See a remarkable account on Luke ix. 39. Falleth ofttimes into the fire, and oft into the water.] The paroxysms of his disorder frequently recurred; and among his numerous falls, some were into the fire and some into the water: so that, on this account, his life was in continual danger. Those who are under the influence of the devil are often driven to extremes in every thing. Such are often driven into the fire of presumption, or the waters of despair. Satan takes advantage of our natural temper, state of health, and outward circumstances, to plague and ruin our souls.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. Lord, have mercy on my son , etc.] He addressed him with great marks of honour and respect, not only by gesture, but by words; he craves mercy, pity, and compassion; for the case he had to present, was a miserable one; and his earnestness and importunity he hoped might be excused, since it was for a child of his own. Luke adds for he is mine only child; and therefore his affection for him must be thought to be very strong, and he greatly concerned for its grievous affliction, and earnestly desirous of its health and life. For he is lunatic : not a mad man, but troubled with the epileptic disease; upon which, as on madness or lunacy, the changes and full of the moon have an influence: hence the next clause, and sore vexed , is rendered in the Arabic version, and sore vexed at the beginning of full moons; at which times, he had very grievous and frequent fits of his disorder: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water : which shows it to be the epilepsy, or falling sickness, he was afflicted with; which, whenever it seized him, whether by the fireside, or by the side of a river or brook, or any place of water, or in any other dangerous situation, he fell into it, not being able to help himself, or avoid any danger to which he was exposed. A larger account of this childs disorder, and of the circumstances of his cure, are related by ( Mark 9:17,18) where this case will be more fully considered. (See Gill on Mark 9:17). (See Gill on Mark 9:18).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 14-21 - The case of afflicted children should be presented to God by faithfu and fervent prayer. Christ cured the child. Though the people wer perverse, and Christ was provoked, yet care was taken of the child When all other helps and succours fail, we are welcome to Christ, ma trust in him, and in his power and goodness. See here an emblem of Christ's undertaking as our Redeemer. It encourages parents to brin children to Christ, whose souls are under Satan's power; he is able to heal them, and as willing as he is able. Not only bring them to Chris by prayer, but bring them to the word of Christ; to means by whic Satan's strong-holds in the soul are beaten down. It is good for us to distrust ourselves and our own strength; but it is displeasing to Christ when we distrust any power derived from him, or granted by him There was also something in the malady which rendered the cur difficult. The extraordinary power of Satan must not discourage ou faith, but quicken us to more earnestness in praying to God for the increase of it. Do we wonder to see Satan's bodily possession of thi young man from a child, when we see his spiritual possession of ever son of Adam from the fall!
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ λεγων 3004 5723 V-PAP-NSM κυριε 2962 N-VSM ελεησον 1653 5657 V-AAM-2S μου 3450 P-1GS τον 3588 T-ASM υιον 5207 N-ASM οτι 3754 CONJ σεληνιαζεται 4583 5736 V-PNI-3S και 2532 CONJ κακως 2560 ADV πασχει 3958 5719 V-PAI-3S πολλακις 4178 ADV γαρ 1063 CONJ πιπτει 4098 5719 V-PAI-3S εις 1519 PREP το 3588 T-ASN πυρ 4442 N-ASN και 2532 CONJ πολλακις 4178 ADV εις 1519 PREP το 3588 T-ASN υδωρ 5204 N-ASN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
15. Is lunatic (selhniazetai). Rev., epileptic. The A.V. preserves the etymology of the word (selhnh, the moon), but lunatic conveys to us the idea of demented; while the Rev. epileptic gives the true character of the disease, yet does not tell us the fact contained in the Greek word, that epilepsy was supposed to be affected by the changes of the moon. See on Matt. iv. 24.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
17:15 {Epileptic} (seleniazetai). Literally, "moonstruck," "lunatic." The symptoms of epilepsy were supposed to be aggravated by the changes of the moon (cf. #4:24). {He has it bad} (kakws ecei) as often in the Synoptic Gospels.
