Explanation of Scripture read by Orthodox Christians on the 10th Sunday after Pentecost Matthew 17:14-23 QUESTION 1 "And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, {15} Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water." (Matthew 17:14) What was the belief at the time about lunatics? What was the real cause of their affliction? QUESTION 2 "And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, {15} Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water." (Matthew 17:14) What is the spiritual meaning of the fire? QUESTION 3 "And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, {15} Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water." (Matthew 17:14) What is the spiritual meaning of the water? QUESTION 4 "And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him." Which disciples did he bring his boy to for a cure? Some were missing. Which. Where were they? QUESTION 5 "Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?" (Matthew 17:17) Who is Jesus calling "faithless and perverse", and why? QUESTION 6 "Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?" (Matthew 17:17) Jesus is making a prophesy here. Which? QUESTION 7 "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? " (Matthew 17:19) Why were the disciples unable to cast out the demon? QUESTION 8 "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, aye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. "