Knowing The Word in Luke 9:49-50

Anyone Not Against Us Is For Us

9:49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

Comments

The disciples had failed in the most recent exorcism, and now someone else succeeded who was not part of their team. After asking them not to compare, John did not follow Jesus’ command. He and the others had much to learn. From this short passage, we learn that anyone using Jesus’ name to fight evil is welcomed by Jesus.

Application

If we consider the group of twelve to be the first “church,” we see that right from the beginning there are problems in the church arising from comparison. The first sin of comparison is within the group and the second is outside the group. Why do you suppose people get so caught up in comparison?

Prayer

Comparison with others, O Lord, is a sin I cannot seem to break. I need your help to break this sin that I may always walk in your joy and not in my need to be better than.