Why did Jesus say this, and who was it directed to?

[MH84]

I have never understood this passage:

Matthew 17:
14 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 lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
**17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. **
**19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 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, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. **
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

www.biblegateway.com

Was Jesus directing these stern words to the apostles, or to the man (and the other Jews)?

Also, I realise that v 19 and beyond are directled to the apostles. But is Jesus talking in general as well?

 

[Safe_Eagle]

Seems to me that our Lord was talking to who He said He was: …O faithless perverse generation.

 

[MusherMaggie]

I believe that everything Jesus says is directed toward us today. We are called to discover the meaning through prayer, study and instruction from the Magisterium (i.e.,those trained by the Church for this instruction).

 

[DRIVING_BEAR]

i think the rebuke from Jesus was directed at both the man and apostles . The text implies that both the father and the apostles failed because of a lack of faith