And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus said to him, “Don’t forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us.”
- BSB “Do not stop him,” Jesus replied, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”
- NKJV But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.”
- NASB But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for the one who is not against you is for you.”
- NLT But Jesus said, “Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus tells them not to forbid the man, for whoever is not against them is for them. He warns against a narrow, exclusive spirit toward genuine kingdom work.
Overview
Jesus corrects the disciples' sectarianism, affirming the man's ministry done in His name. The principle that one not against them is for them welcomes all genuine allegiance to Christ. It guards against pride that would restrict the Lord's work to one's own group while keeping the focus on loyalty to Jesus Himself.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 12:30He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
- Luke 11:23He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
- 1 Cor 12:3Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
- Phil 1:15–18Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
- Luke 16:13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
- Prov 3:5–6Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
- Mark 9:41For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
- Matt 17:26Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
- Matt 13:28–30He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
- Matt 17:24And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
- Josh 9:14And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 9:50 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.