Mark 9:16

Study note

Setting — Jesus speaks to His disciples at the mountain base immediately following the crowd’s awe-filled approach and a man’s petition about a demon-possessed son.

The words — συζητεῖτε (suzēteite) translates literally as “are you disputing,” and ἐπηρώτησεν (epērōtēsen) means “He asked.”

The thread — This confrontational dialogue mirrors Luke 5:30, where scribes complain about table fellowship, and Mark 8:11, where Pharisees argue with Jesus to demand a sign.

Why it lands — The question interrupts factional conflict and forces the reader to abandon debate in favor of addressing the immediate human need through Christ.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.