Mark 9:38-39

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 9:30-40

Here, I. Christ foretels his own approaching sufferings. He passed through Galilee with more expedition than usual, and would not that any man should know of it (Mark 9:30); because he had done many mighty and good works among them in vain, they shall not be invited to see them and have the benefit of them, as they have been. The time of his sufferings drew nigh, and therefore he was willing to be private awhile, and to converse only with his disciples, to prepare them for the approaching... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 9:38

9:1 "Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he used to say to them, "This is the truth I tell you--there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste of death until they shall see the Kingdom of God coming with power." One thing leaps out from this passage--the confidence of Jesus. He has just been speaking of his death;... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 9:38-40

9:38-40 John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons by the use of your name, and we tried to stop him because he is not one of our company." "Don't stop him," said Jesus. "There is no one who can do a work of power in the strength of my name and lightly speak evil of me. He who is not against us is for us." As we have seen over and over again, in the time of Jesus everyone believed in demons. Everyone believed that both mental and physical illness was caused by the malign... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 9:38

And John answered him, saying ,.... Taking notice of what Christ just now said, and observing how well pleasing it was to him, to receive in a meek and humble manner, the least believer in his name; and reflecting upon an action, in which he and some of his fellow disciples were concerned, and which he perceived was not so agreeable to this rule of Christ, thought proper to relate it to him; that he might have his sense of it, and give him an opportunity of enlarging on a subject, so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 9:39

But Jesus said, forbid him not ,.... Neither him, nor any other they should hereafter meet with, who might be casting out devils in his name, giving this as a reason for it; for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name ; or "miracles", as the Syriac version, as to cast out devils, or heal any sickness and disease, that can lightly speak evil of me : such a man can never reproach and blaspheme that name, which he makes use of in doing, and by which he does wonderful works;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 9:38

We saw one casting out devils in thy name - It can scarcely be supposed that a man who knew nothing of Christ, or who was only a common exorcist, could be able to work a miracle in Christ's name; we may therefore safely imagine that this was either one of John the Baptist's disciples, who, at his master's command, had believed in Jesus, or one of the seventy, whom Christ had sent out, Luke 10:1-7 , who, after he had fulfilled his commission, had retired from accompanying the other... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 9:39

Forbid him not - If you meet him again, let him go on quietly in the work in which God owns him. If he were not of God, the demons would not be subject to him, and his work could not prosper. A spirit of bigotry has little countenance from these passages. There are some who are so outrageously wedded to their own creed, and religious system, that they would rather let sinners perish than suffer those who differ from them to become the instruments of their salvation. Even the good that is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 9:38

Verse 38 Mark 9:38.Master, we saw one. Hence it is evident that the name of Christ was at that time so celebrated, that persons who were not of the number of his intimate disciples used that name, or perhaps even abused it, for I will not venture to avouch any thing on this point as certain. It is possible that he who is here mentioned had embraced the doctrine of Christ, and betaken himself to the performance of miracles with no bad intention; but as Christ bestowed this power on none but... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 9:39

Verse 39 39.Forbid him not. Christ did not wish that he should be forbidden; not that he had given him authority, or approved of what he did, or even wished his disciples to approve of it, but because, when by any occurrence God is glorified, we ought to bear with it and rejoice. Thus Paul, (Philippians 1:18,) though he disapproves of the dispositions of those who used the Gospel as a pretense for aggrandizing themselves, yet rejoices that by this occurrence the glory of Christ is advanced. We... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 9:38

This verse, according to the best authorities, should begin simply, John said unto him —although in St. Luke ( Luke 9:49 ) they stand, "And John answered and said"— Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name: and we forbade him, because he followed not us . The casting out of evil spirits was one of the foremost signs of apostleship; and what surprised St. John was that one who followed not Christ should have been able to work this miracle—a miracle in which, it will be... read more

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