Luke 11:23

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

This means that any man who does not work with Christ and aid his mission of salvation is in fact working for his defeat. The Pharisees, so intent in their hatred of Jesus, were here warned that the defeat of Christ's purpose for Israel would "scatter." What an ominous word, and how dramatically it was fulfilled! As Geldenhuys said:

Within one generation from their final rejection of Jesus, the Jews of Palestine were overwhelmed by Rome; and ever since then, until our own times, the Jews have continued to be scattered over the world, ... and have constantly been the prey of the powers of darkness.[30]

And Jesus' words are still true, both of men and of nations. What a pity it is that America does not seem to be listening.

This verse contrasts with its opposite (Luke 9:50); but as Harrison explained it, "There Jesus was speaking of a man who was unconsciously cooperating with him, while here he was speaking of those who consciously opposed him."[31] Also, the man in Luke 9:50 was operating in the name of Jesus, a far different thing from that in view here.

[30] Norval Geldenhuys, op. cit., p. 330.

[31] Everett F. Harrison, op. cit., p. 232.