Sermons on Matthew 17:21
The various sermons below converge on the interpretation of Matthew 17:21 as emphasizing the indispensable role of both prayer and fasting in overcoming particularly stubborn spiritual strongholds, especially those linked to demonic oppression and addiction. They collectively portray fasting not merely as a personal discipline but as a strategic, spiritual weapon—often described with military metaphors such as “acts of war,” “applying pressure,” or “battering rams”—that intensifies the believer’s spiritual authority and effectiveness in warfare. Several sermons highlight the textual debate surrounding the verse’s inclusion in modern translations but affirm its truth through early church tradition and lived experience. The theme of fasting as a means to break entrenched demonic influence is consistently tied to the necessity of humility, repentance, and aligning with God’s will, with fasting serving as a catalyst for spiritual breakthrough, clarity, and deliverance. Notably, some sermons extend the metaphor of fasting as a communal, militant act that transforms the church into an active army, while others emphasize the personal and relational dimensions, such as fasting’s role in strengthening marriages and family bonds.
In contrast, the sermons diverge in their theological emphases and analogies. One sermon uniquely grounds fasting within a broad biblical theology of bodily discipline, linking gluttony and self-denial to spiritual victory or defeat, and using Old Testament typology to illustrate how unchecked appetites weaken spiritual authority. Another sermon focuses on the hierarchical nature of demonic opposition, interpreting “this kind” as a specific category of evil spirits that require extraordinary spiritual measures, thus framing fasting and prayer as heavy-duty spiritual weaponry rather than routine practices. While some sermons stress fasting as a way to “position oneself” to receive what God desires to give, others underscore fasting as a form of spiritual pressure that must be sustained until breakthrough occurs, likening it to “kicking it up a notch” in spiritual warfare. Additionally, one sermon uniquely integrates the theme of fasting with relational dynamics, particularly within marriage, suggesting fasting as a mutual, sacrificial discipline that enhances both spiritual authority and relational intimacy. Finally, there is variation in how fasting’s connection to holiness and lifestyle is presented, with some sermons emphasizing that effective prayer and fasting require genuine obedience and heart transformation, while others focus more on fasting’s direct impact on spiritual power and deliverance.
Matthew 17:21 Interpretation:
Engaging in Spiritual Warfare: A Call to Arms (Royal City Church) interprets Matthew 17:21 as a direct and literal statement about the necessity of both prayer and fasting to break certain forms of spiritual bondage, particularly those related to demonic oppression and addiction. The sermon uniquely frames fasting as an "act of war"—not a diet or mere spiritual discipline, but a weapon wielded in the context of spiritual battle. The preacher uses the analogy of an army going to war, emphasizing that fasting is a collective, militant response to the enemy's attacks. The personal testimony of the preacher’s mother’s deliverance from decades-long addiction through a period of prayer and fasting is presented as a modern-day fulfillment of the verse, reinforcing the interpretation that some strongholds are only broken by this combined spiritual effort. The sermon also notes the textual variance in Bible translations, acknowledging that some omit the verse, but affirms its truth through lived experience.
Fasting: A Journey to Spiritual Breakthrough and Insight (SermonIndex.net) offers a notable insight by describing fasting as a means of "applying pressure to the spiritual realm." The preacher highlights the manuscript debate over the inclusion of Matthew 17:21, but argues for its validity based on early church fathers and the practical demonstration of its truth in Christian experience. The sermon uses the metaphor of "sharpening the spiritual axe" to explain how fasting increases spiritual effectiveness, and draws a parallel between the persistent effort required in fasting and the persistence needed to break through in spiritual warfare. The preacher also emphasizes that fasting is not about bending God's will, but about positioning oneself to receive what God already desires to give, and that some demonic strongholds require this intensified spiritual discipline.
Fasting: A Powerful Weapon in Spiritual Warfare (SermonIndex.net) provides a highly detailed and unique interpretation by connecting Matthew 17:21 to a broad biblical theology of gluttony and self-denial. The sermon asserts that the omission of the verse in modern translations is a spiritual attack, arguing that fasting is essential for breaking the power of Satan. The preacher draws a sharp contrast between being "defeated by gluttony" and "victorious in fasting," using extensive Old Testament typology to show that physical appetites have always been a battleground for spiritual victory or defeat. The analogy of Israel’s battles, Esau’s loss of birthright, and the failures of Eli’s house are all used to illustrate how unchecked appetites can lead to spiritual defeat, while fasting is presented as a means of regaining spiritual authority and power over demonic forces. The sermon also notes that Jesus’ own victory over Satan in the wilderness was achieved through fasting, making it a non-negotiable weapon in spiritual warfare.
Fasting: A Path to Spiritual Strength and Clarity (SermonIndex.net) provides a notable insight by connecting Matthew 17:21 to the concept of "applying pressure" in spiritual warfare. Drawing from Arthur Wallis, the sermon likens fasting to maintaining pressure on a stronghold until breakthrough occurs, suggesting that some demonic influences are so deeply entrenched that only sustained, combined prayer and fasting can dislodge them. The preacher also discusses the textual debate around the verse, referencing early church fathers and manuscript traditions, but ultimately affirms the principle as biblically sound. The analogy of "kicking it up a notch" is used to illustrate that certain spiritual battles require a more intense, focused approach—prayer and fasting as the spiritual equivalent of escalating force in a conflict.
Fasting: A Path to Spiritual and Physical Health (SermonIndex.net) references Matthew 17:21 but does not provide a unique or in-depth interpretation beyond what is already covered in the other sermons; it repeats the idea that fasting applies pressure to the spiritual realm but does not add new metaphors or linguistic analysis.
Matthew 17:21 Theological Themes:
Engaging in Spiritual Warfare: A Call to Arms (Royal City Church) introduces the theme of fasting as a communal, militant act—transforming the church from a passive congregation into an "army" engaged in active spiritual combat. The sermon uniquely applies the concept of fasting to a wide range of personal and corporate bondages, encouraging participants to identify specific "weapons" the enemy uses against them and to fast for their destruction, thus reclaiming what the enemy has stolen. The preacher’s testimony adds a new facet by showing fasting as a catalyst for miraculous deliverance and family restoration, not just personal piety.
Fasting: A Journey to Spiritual Breakthrough and Insight (SermonIndex.net) presents the theme that fasting is a form of spiritual pressure that can break through otherwise immovable strongholds. The preacher adds the angle that fasting is not a legalistic work but a spiritual weapon that positions the believer for breakthrough, and that the absence of fasting may explain the lack of miraculous power in the modern church. The sermon also explores the idea that fasting is a means of humbling oneself, repenting, and aligning with God’s will, which in turn releases spiritual authority over demonic forces.
Fasting: A Powerful Weapon in Spiritual Warfare (SermonIndex.net) develops the theme that spiritual warfare is fundamentally tied to bodily discipline, and that gluttony is not merely a physical issue but a spiritual vulnerability. The preacher’s detailed typology between Old Testament battles and New Testament spiritual warfare is a distinct theological contribution, as is the assertion that fasting is a form of prayer uniquely suited to confront and defeat the powers of darkness. The sermon also introduces the idea that the church’s lack of fasting is directly correlated to its lack of spiritual power and discernment in the last days.
Commitment and Contentment: God's Design for Relationships (SermonIndex.net) introduces the theme that prayer and fasting are not just personal disciplines but are essential, even non-negotiable, for breaking certain spiritual bondages—especially those affecting marriages, families, and communities. The sermon develops the idea that spiritual victory is not achieved by casual or routine prayer but by a sacrificial, all-in approach that includes fasting, which disciplines the body and starves the flesh to make room for the Spirit. The preacher also adds the facet that fasting in the context of marriage (referencing 1 Corinthians 7) is a mutual, agreed-upon act that strengthens both spiritual and relational bonds, linking bodily discipline to spiritual authority.
Fasting: A Path to Spiritual Strength and Clarity (SermonIndex.net) brings a fresh angle by emphasizing that the effectiveness of prayer is directly tied to the holiness and spiritual state of the believer. The sermon asserts that "you only pray as well as you live," meaning that a carnal, flesh-driven life undermines the power of prayer, while fasting helps align the believer with God's will, increasing spiritual authority and effectiveness. The preacher also highlights the necessity of repentance and right living as prerequisites for effective fasting and prayer, referencing Isaiah 58 to show that God rejects fasting that is not accompanied by genuine obedience and heart change.
Matthew 17:21 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Fasting: A Journey to Spiritual Breakthrough and Insight (SermonIndex.net) provides historical context by referencing the early church fathers’ acceptance of Matthew 17:21 and their testimonies of its truth in practice. The preacher also discusses the cultural shift in eating habits over the past century, noting that abundance and overindulgence have made fasting more difficult but also more necessary. The sermon references the practice of John Wesley and the early Methodists, who required regular fasting as a sign of spiritual discipline and readiness for ministry, highlighting how fasting was once a normative part of Christian life and leadership.
Fasting: A Powerful Weapon in Spiritual Warfare (SermonIndex.net) offers extensive historical and cultural context by drawing on Old Testament narratives to illustrate the spiritual significance of fasting and gluttony. The preacher explains that in biblical times, feasting and fasting were both recognized as spiritually significant acts, and that the discipline of fasting was seen as essential for leaders and prophets. The sermon also references the practice of partial fasts (such as Daniel’s) and the communal fasts called by Israel’s leaders in times of crisis, showing how these practices were embedded in the life of God’s people as responses to spiritual warfare and national emergencies.
Commitment and Contentment: God's Design for Relationships (SermonIndex.net) provides historical context by discussing the persecution of Christians in Paul's time, referencing how believers were martyred under Nero and faced severe trials for their faith. This context is used to explain why Paul advocated for singleness in 1 Corinthians 7, but it also frames the urgency and seriousness of spiritual warfare, suggesting that the early church's reliance on prayer and fasting was born out of desperate, life-and-death circumstances. The sermon also touches on the cultural understanding of marriage, singleness, and bodily discipline in the Greco-Roman world.
Fasting: A Path to Spiritual Strength and Clarity (SermonIndex.net) offers historical insight into the manuscript traditions behind Matthew 17:21, explaining the difference between the majority (Byzantine) and Alexandrian text families, and referencing early church fathers like Ignatius, Polycarp, and Irenaeus to support the inclusion of the verse. The preacher also situates the practice of fasting within the broader history of the church, noting its prevalence among early Christian leaders and its gradual neglect in modern times.
Matthew 17:21 Cross-References in the Bible:
Engaging in Spiritual Warfare: A Call to Arms (Royal City Church) references Daniel chapters 1 and 10 to explain the Daniel fast and its spiritual power, drawing a parallel between Daniel’s experience and the church’s current call to fasting. The preacher also references the story of the paralyzed man in the Gospels (where Jesus says, "Son, your sins are forgiven") as a providential confirmation during a moment of deliverance, connecting the power of forgiveness and healing to the context of prayer and fasting. Additionally, the sermon cites Galatians 5:1 ("It is for freedom that Christ has set us free...") and Isaiah 54:17 ("No weapon formed against you shall prosper") to reinforce the theme of victory over bondage through spiritual warfare.
Fasting: A Journey to Spiritual Breakthrough and Insight (SermonIndex.net) references 2 Chronicles 7:14 to draw a parallel between national repentance and the personal discipline of fasting, suggesting that the principles of humbling oneself, praying, seeking God, and turning from wickedness are all embodied in the act of fasting. The sermon also cites Matthew 6:17-18 (Jesus’ teaching on fasting in secret), Matthew 26:41 ("watch and pray...the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"), and a host of Old Testament and New Testament examples (Ezra, Esther, Nehemiah, David, Moses, Paul, Acts) to show the biblical precedent for fasting as a means of spiritual breakthrough. James 4:7 ("resist the devil and he will flee") and Zechariah 4:6 ("not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit") are also used to reinforce the spiritual dynamics at play.
Fasting: A Powerful Weapon in Spiritual Warfare (SermonIndex.net) provides an exhaustive list of cross-references, including Mark 9:29 (the parallel to Matthew 17:21), Matthew 6 (Jesus’ assumption that his followers will fast), Ephesians 6:18 (all kinds of prayer), 2 Corinthians 6:5 and 11:27 (Paul’s frequent fastings), Deuteronomy 21:20-21 (gluttony as a capital offense), Proverbs 23:20, 13:25, 25:16 (warnings against gluttony), 1 Corinthians 6:12-13 (not being mastered by anything), Genesis 3 (Eve’s temptation), Genesis 25 (Esau’s loss of birthright), Numbers 11 (Israel’s lust for meat), Psalm 78 and 106 (God’s response to Israel’s cravings), 1 Samuel 7 (Samuel’s call to fasting), 2 Chronicles 20 (Jehoshaphat’s fast), Daniel 1, 5, and 10 (Daniel’s fasts), Esther (Esther’s three-day fast), Ezra 8 (Ezra’s fast for protection), Matthew 4 (Jesus’ fast and temptation), and Deuteronomy 8 (God’s purpose in Israel’s hunger). Each reference is used to build a comprehensive biblical theology of fasting as both a spiritual and physical discipline essential for victory over demonic forces.
Commitment and Contentment: God's Design for Relationships (SermonIndex.net) cross-references 1 Corinthians 7 to connect the discipline of fasting and prayer within marriage to spiritual authority and self-control. The sermon also alludes to Old Testament examples of prayer as warfare, referencing the role of intercessors in Ezekiel and the power of prayer to "part the seas," "close the mouths of lions," and "overcome kingdoms," drawing on stories from Exodus, Daniel, and the prophets to illustrate the transformative power of prayer and fasting.
Fasting: A Path to Spiritual Strength and Clarity (SermonIndex.net) references Mark 9:29, which parallels Matthew 17:21 and also includes the phrase "this kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting," reinforcing the principle across Gospel accounts. The sermon also cites 1 John 2:16 (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life) to explain the spiritual dynamics at play, and Isaiah 58 as a foundational text on the kind of fasting that pleases God. Additionally, the preacher references 1 Corinthians 9:27 ("I discipline my body and bring it into subjection") to support the necessity of bodily discipline in spiritual warfare.
Matthew 17:21 Christian References outside the Bible:
Fasting: A Journey to Spiritual Breakthrough and Insight (SermonIndex.net) explicitly references several Christian authors and teachers in relation to Matthew 17:21. The preacher cites A.W. Tozer’s quip about fasting ("I fast often enough to let my stomach know who’s boss"), Jensen Franklin’s book on fasting (using the "sharpening the axe" analogy), Arthur Wallis’s book on fasting (noting that "pressure has to be maintained before there is a breakthrough in heavenly warfare"), Ronnie Floyd’s book on the power of prayer and fasting (with examples of breakthrough after seasons of fasting), K. Neil Foster’s observation that the absence of the miraculous may be due to the lack of fasting, and Leonard Ravenhill’s critique that churches call fasting "legalism" when they want to avoid it. The preacher also references John Wesley’s requirement that Methodist pastors fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, and the early church fathers’ affirmation of fasting as a prerequisite for ministry and baptism. Oswald Smith is quoted on the difference between presumptuous faith and genuine faith, and David Wilkerson’s "A Call to Anguish" is mentioned as a modern prophetic call to prayerful travail.
Commitment and Contentment: God's Design for Relationships (SermonIndex.net) explicitly references the Pulpit Commentary, quoting its interpretation that "this kind can mean only this kind of evil spirit or demons in general," and uses this to support the idea of a hierarchy within the demonic realm. The sermon also mentions Focus on the Family's research on divorce rates among couples who pray together, using it to underscore the practical impact of spiritual disciplines.
Fasting: A Path to Spiritual Strength and Clarity (SermonIndex.net) explicitly references Arthur Wallis, quoting his statement that "often pressure has to be maintained before there is breakthrough in heavenly warfare," and uses this to frame fasting as a sustained spiritual assault on entrenched demonic opposition. The preacher also mentions early church fathers (Ignatius, Polycarp, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Justin Martyr) as authorities who affirmed the inclusion and practice of prayer and fasting in the early church.
Matthew 17:21 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Engaging in Spiritual Warfare: A Call to Arms (Royal City Church) uses a highly detailed personal and family story as a modern illustration of Matthew 17:21. The preacher recounts his mother’s 35-year battle with addiction, homelessness, and near-death experiences, culminating in her deliverance through a period of prayer and fasting during the Christmas holidays. The story includes vivid details of her living in a tent in the forest, facing bears, and the emotional toll on the family. The breakthrough moment comes when, after fasting together, the mother is miraculously delivered from addiction without withdrawal symptoms, which the preacher notes is medically impossible. This testimony is used as living proof of the power of prayer and fasting to break demonic strongholds, making the biblical principle tangible and immediate for the congregation.
Fasting: A Journey to Spiritual Breakthrough and Insight (SermonIndex.net) employs several secular analogies and references to illustrate the power of fasting. The preacher uses the story of a young and old lumberjack (from Jensen Franklin’s book) to explain how taking breaks to "sharpen the axe" (i.e., fasting) leads to greater effectiveness, even if it appears less productive on the surface. The sermon also references modern health trends such as intermittent fasting, ketogenic diets, and the work of secular doctors and researchers (Valter Longo, Alan Goldhamer, Jason Fung) to explain the physiological benefits of fasting, including autophagy, brain health, and addiction recovery. The preacher discusses the addictive nature of processed foods, referencing the deliberate use of chemicals in fast food to create dependency, and draws a parallel between food addiction and drug addiction, noting that the same biochemical pathways are involved. The sermon also humorously references the abundance of snacks in modern culture and the challenges of resisting temptation, making the spiritual discipline of fasting relatable to everyday life.
Commitment and Contentment: God's Design for Relationships (SermonIndex.net) uses the metaphor of "going Jason Bourne" on spiritual assassins, referencing the action movie character as an analogy for aggressively rooting out anything that threatens one's marriage or spiritual life. The preacher also describes prayer as a "battering ram," "trumpet call to battle," and "hammer that crushes Satan," drawing on imagery from warfare and construction to make the spiritual struggle vivid and relatable. Additionally, the sermon references the experience of a nurse witnessing the tragic consequences of addiction and abuse in the emergency room, grounding the spiritual message in real-world suffering and the need for urgent action.
Fasting: A Path to Spiritual Strength and Clarity (SermonIndex.net) uses the analogy of "kicking it up a notch," a phrase popularized in sports and cooking, to illustrate the need for escalating one's spiritual efforts (prayer and fasting) when facing particularly stubborn spiritual opposition. The preacher also references the experience of Olympic athletes training at a higher level than amateur teams, using this as a metaphor for the intensified discipline required in spiritual warfare. The sermon further employs the imagery of a "whimpering dog" to describe the flesh when it is brought into submission through fasting, making the internal struggle more tangible for listeners.