Mark 9:39

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 9:38-40

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 9:39

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 9:39

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 9:39

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 9:38-41

The judgment of charity. It is clear, from this passage, that the influence of our Lord Jesus was wider than was known by his own immediate friends, and that his work was, even during his lifetime, advancing in directions of which they were not aware. Accidentally, as it were, we gain an insight into the progress of the kingdom of Christ outside the immediate circle of his acknowledged and professed disciples; and the incident which affords us this insight, at the same time presents to us... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 9:38-41

Parallel passage: Luke 9:49 , Luke 9:50 . Rebuke of sectarian narrowness. I. THE KEY - NOTE OF THE PASSAGE . The sentence which appears to furnish the key to the understanding of this instructive and interesting passage is contained in the following short sentence:—" He that is not against us is on our part," or, as it stands yet more concisely in St. Luke, "He that is not against us is for us." II. A seeming contradiction. The statement just quoted from the Gospel of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 9:38-42

The comprehensiveness of Christ's service. The connection with what preceded is to be sought in John's keen sense of having transgressed the spirit of the beautiful words just uttered. Christ Would acknowledge all who professed his name; John had to confess that he had forbidden such a one from working. This leads to Christ's indicating— I. MARKS OF HIS TRUE SERVANTS . The general link between the several classes is his "Name," i.e. conscious oneness and sympathy with him... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 9:38-50

Stumbling-blocks. The same spirit which had led to the disputing as to "who was the greatest," had prompted the forbidding of one who, in Jesus' Name, was "casting out devils." The only reason assigned for the authoritative prohibition was, "He followed not us." If to pride envy succeeds, and if hatred lurks near to envy, malice is not afar off. The simple correction, "Forbid him not," is supported by the assurance that such a one cannot quickly become an enemy—"speak evil of me;" and "he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 9:38-50

Marked sins. There are some sins which are singled out for peculiar denunciation by the Spirit and Word of Christ. They are extremely opposed to the ends and purport of the kingdom. I. INTOLERANCE . That is, the hindering of good, because the good is not done in our way. Christianity says the good deed justifies itself. Coming from a good source, it is not likely to be associated with evil opinions or teaching. Any one who does good nowadays may be said virtually to do it in the... read more

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