he that is not against us is for us?

Question

What is your understanding of Luke 9:50?

"And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us." - Luke 9:50 KJV.

Answer 1

well, pretty much what it says...jesus is telling them not to turn someone away.....because obviously he is not against them, therefore he is with them.

Answer 2

The parallel account can be found at Mark 9:38-40. Some people feel that this shows the correctness of separate churches or denominations, each doing good work in its way. It is supposed that since they all operate on the basis of Jesus’ name, interfaith movements are fine and different denominations are all acceptable to Christ – the head of the Christian congregation.

But that position ignores the circumstances of that time period. Not all who believed in Christ actually followed him around like his twelve apostles. This can be seen from a consideration of Mark 5:18-20 where Christ himself told one who wanted to follow him to go back home and bear witness to him there. So, it really wasn’t necessary for this particular individual to physically follow Jesus to be on his side. When Jesus sent out his twelve apostles to preach, he did not tell them to establish congregations; neither did he tell the seventy he sent out. Matthew 10:1-42; Luke 10:1-16. At that time, Jesus wasn’t setting up congregational arrangements in opposition to the synagogues, the synagogues remained and believers attended services there.

But after Pentecost, distinct congregations were established. Now if one wanted to be a follower of Christ, that one couldn’t keep separate from the company of Christians, but would have to associate with Christians and function with them in order to get the outpouring of the holy spirit and the spiritual gifts. Now the using of Jesus’ name to rid someone of demons would be wrong, and would result in disaster as in the case of the sons of Sceva. Who were they? Jews who used Jesus’ name without becoming Christians. This account is recorded at Acts 19:13-20.

So the case of this person does not justify the existence of numerous sects and denominations that profess to carry on in Jesus’ name. Jesus is simply showing that at this point in the stream of time, since it was not necessary to follow him around bodily, this person was not against the work of Jesus and his apostles.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 3

Luke 9:49-50 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society



49"Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us."

50"Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."


It is showing that God can work hrough different people-not just those in your own group, (read, "church)

Answer 4

The disciples were jealous. Nine of them together were unable to cast out a single evil spirit (9:40), but when they saw a man who was not one of their group casting out demons, they told him to stop. Our pride is hurt when someone else succeeds where we have failed, but Jesus says there is no room for such jealousy in the spiritual warfare of his Kingdom. We should share Jesus' open-arms attitude toward Christian workers outside our group.

Answer 5

The same thing He meant when He said "Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven; but only he who does the will of my Father in heaven" or the same principle He taught in the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Religious labels, dogmas and theologies were not important to Jesus Christ - but only the hearts of men. That is why the Catholic Church and all organized religion in the name of Jesus Christ is so problematic on its surface. Jesus called us into relationship with God; not into obedience to the church.

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."

Answer 6

This incident of Another Exorcist is paired with the immediately previous incident of The Greatest in the Kingdom. In that incident the disciples were arguing over who was the greatest.

Both of these incidents focus on attitudes that are opposed to Christian discipleship: rivalry and intolerance of outsiders.

Yours in Christ Jesus

Answer 7

Yes.
Unfortunately I could not be there when Luke and Jesus were preaching.
But I was there when the following spoke -
so say the conservatives and the liberals also.
but they also say that he who is not for us is against us.
So said Hitler & Churchill.
So did Bush.
It is true always.

Answer 8

(46-50) These two incidents focus on attitudes that are opposed to Christian discipleship: rivalry and intolerance of outsiders.

Some would do well to remember that.

Answer 9

OK, picture this:
There is a person, you dont know him/her very well. You get in a fight one day, but the other person starts it. The person you dont know, defends you because he/she witnessed the whole thing. He/She is not against you, but for you.
Wow.. sorry that was sorta confusing haha.

Answer 10

I think that it means what it says.

Perhaps we should be more person oriented than denomination oriented?