Luke 9:49 kjv
And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
Luke 9:49 nkjv
Now John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us."
Luke 9:49 niv
"Master," said John, "we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us."
Luke 9:49 esv
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."
Luke 9:49 nlt
John said to Jesus, "Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't in our group."
Luke 9 49 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mark 9:38-41 | John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone... forbad him." Jesus said, "Do not forbid him... whoever is not against us is for us." | Parallel passage where Jesus clarifies His stance against exclusivity. |
| Num 11:26-29 | Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!" | Moses' open-minded response to unauthorized prophecy, echoing Jesus' sentiment. |
| Matt 7:22-23 | "Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord... did we not cast out demons in Your name?’... then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you...’" | Contrasts external acts (even in Jesus' name) with true relationship. |
| Acts 19:13-16 | Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus... The evil spirit answered... "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" | Highlights the difference between invoking the name and having true authority/relationship. |
| Phil 1:15-18 | Some indeed preach Christ from envy... but others from goodwill... What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed... | Paul rejoices in Christ being proclaimed, regardless of the preacher's motive or affiliation. |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Emphasizes unity in Christ transcending social/religious divisions. |
| 1 Cor 12:4-6 | Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but the same God who empowers them all... | Illustrates the diversity of spiritual gifts and ministries, all originating from the same God. |
| Rom 14:1-4 | As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions... Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? | Calls for welcoming believers and avoiding judgmental attitudes over non-essential differences. |
| Luke 11:23 | Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. | This often-cited verse needs careful interpretation alongside Lk 9:50; true allegiance means gathering rather than scattering Christ's work. |
| Matt 10:40 | "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives Him who sent me." | Shows that legitimate ministry in Jesus' name implies a connection to Him. |
| John 15:5 | "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." | All effective spiritual work stems from abiding in Christ, not mere group affiliation. |
| Acts 3:6 | Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" | Example of ministry being done explicitly "in the name" of Jesus. |
| Acts 4:10 | "Let it be known to all of you... that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified... by Him this man is standing before you well." | Reaffirms the power and authority inherent in the name of Jesus. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... | The supreme authority and power invested in Jesus' name. |
| Col 3:17 | And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. | General exhortation to perform all actions with the authority and glory of Jesus. |
| Luke 9:46 | An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. | The immediate preceding context highlights the disciples' self-centeredness and desire for status. |
| Luke 9:38-43 | One man said, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him... I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." | Disciples had just failed to cast out a demon, making their action against the successful exorcist more ironic. |
| Luke 9:54-55 | When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them...?" But He turned and rebuked them. | Another instance of James and John displaying a harsh, exclusive attitude, needing Jesus' correction. |
| Jude 1:8 | Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. | Illustrates unauthorized/unrighteous activity; contrasted with the legitimate act in Lk 9:49. |
| 1 Pet 4:10-11 | As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God... | All spiritual gifts are given to serve; spiritual pride contradicts this purpose. |
| John 3:26-27 | They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, He is baptizing, and all are going to Him." John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven." | John the Baptist's humility and recognition that God grants gifts and ministry as He wills. |
Luke 9 verses
Luke 9 49 Meaning
Luke 9:49 records John, one of Jesus' disciples, informing Jesus that they had encountered an individual casting out demons in Jesus' name, and they had stopped him because he was not part of their immediate group or following alongside them. This reveals the disciples' restrictive and exclusive mindset regarding who was authorized to perform spiritual ministry, presuming that only those directly associated with them had the right to act in Jesus' name. It sets the stage for Jesus to correct their narrow understanding of Kingdom work and divine authority.
Luke 9 49 Context
Luke 9 begins with Jesus commissioning the twelve disciples, giving them "power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases" (Lk 9:1-2). This experience likely fostered in them a sense of exclusive right to such miraculous abilities. Just prior to Luke 9:49, the disciples had themselves encountered a situation where they failed to cast out a demon from a boy, a task Jesus successfully completed (Lk 9:37-43). This public failure, immediately followed by Jesus’ prediction of His suffering and death (Lk 9:44-45), might have contributed to their defensiveness and a desire to control what little "spiritual turf" they perceived they had. Furthermore, Jesus had just addressed a dispute among the disciples about who was the greatest among them (Lk 9:46-48), emphasizing humility and welcoming those who are least. John's report in verse 49 thus stems from a desire for group exclusivity and possibly an attempt to reassert their perceived authority, highlighting their ongoing struggle to grasp the true nature of God's inclusive Kingdom.
Luke 9 49 Word analysis
- John: (Greek: Ἰωάννης, Ioannēs). One of the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17), alongside his brother James. This nickname points to their zealous, often impulsive, and intense personalities. It is fitting that John, known for his fiery spirit and perhaps protective nature over Jesus, would bring this complaint to Him. This characteristic appears again later when he and James want to call down fire on a Samaritan village (Lk 9:54).
- answered and said: (Greek: ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν, apokritheis eipen). A common biblical phrase that signifies the start of a new statement or question, but in this context, it shows John initiating a topic for Jesus' judgment, seeking His approval for their action.
- Master: (Greek: Ἐπιστάτα, Epistata). A specific title for Jesus used only by Luke's gospel writers (and in James 3:17), usually translated as "teacher" or "master." It suggests respect for Jesus' authority and wisdom, indicating that John expects a ruling or validation from Jesus regarding their conduct.
- we saw one: (Greek: εἴδομέν τινα, eidomen tina). The plural "we" (disciples) implies a shared observation and a collective decision or agreement among them. "One" (tina) signifies an unidentified individual, someone not recognized as part of their inner circle or designated fellowship.
- casting out devils: (Greek: ἐκβάλλοντα δαιμόνια, ekballonta daimonia). This action signifies a direct act of spiritual authority and power over demonic forces. It is the very work Jesus Himself performed and empowered His disciples to do, making the man's activity intrinsically good and aligned with Jesus' ministry.
- in thy name: (Greek: ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου, en tō onomati sou). This is a crucial phrase. It implies that the person invoked Jesus' authority and recognized His power as the source of their ability. This distinguishes his act from sorcery or magic and confirms it was a legitimate work, performed under the sanction and power of Christ Himself. It suggests belief in Jesus and submission to His authority.
- and we forbad him: (Greek: καὶ ἐκωλύσαμεν αὐτόν, kai ekōlysamen auton). "And we hindered/prevented him." This is the disciples' proactive intervention, reflecting their immediate judgment and decision to stop the individual. It reveals their exclusive understanding of ministry and authority.
- because he followeth not with us: (Greek: ὅτι οὐκ ἀκολουθεῖ μεθ' ἡμῶν, hoti ouk akolouthei meth' hēmōn). This phrase states the precise reason for their intervention. Their concern was not with the efficacy or nature of the work (which was good) but solely with the individual's affiliation. It reveals a restrictive view where belonging to a particular group or circle of disciples was deemed a prerequisite for ministry, highlighting a spirit of sectarianism and a misunderstanding of how God's Spirit operates beyond human-defined boundaries.
Words-group analysis:
- "Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name": This group of words sets up the problem. John respectfully appeals to Jesus' authority, acknowledges the divine power (casting out demons in Jesus' name) being demonstrated, yet simultaneously highlights the source of the disciples' concern—that the individual was "one" outside their immediate recognized fellowship.
- "and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us": This explains the disciples' misguided action. Their decision to prohibit the activity was rooted purely in an issue of association and perceived group exclusivity rather than in the validity or goodness of the work being performed. This reveals their narrow understanding of God's broader Kingdom purposes.
Luke 9 49 Bonus section
The broader context of Luke 9 (specifically verses 37-48) sheds further light on the disciples' misunderstanding:
- They had just failed to cast out a demon from a boy, even with their previous commission (Lk 9:37-43), while the anonymous man succeeded. This ironic juxtaposition highlights the disciples' inadequacy despite their privileged position, making their exclusionary act even more striking.
- Immediately before this verse, Jesus addressed their argument about who was the greatest among them (Lk 9:46-48), emphasizing humility and embracing the least. Their act of forbidding someone not "with them" directly contradicts this teaching on humility and inclusivity, showcasing their struggle to truly grasp Jesus' values for His Kingdom.
- Jesus' response in Mark 9:39-40, a parallel account, contains the famous words, "For no one who does a mighty work in My name will soon be able to speak evil of Me. For whoever is not against us is for us." This directly addresses the heart of the disciples' error, emphasizing that genuine work done in His name reveals alignment, not opposition. It reminds us that our concern should be whether individuals are truly for Christ and doing His work, rather than only if they are with our particular group.
Luke 9 49 Commentary
Luke 9:49 illustrates a common human tendency to establish exclusive boundaries around spiritual work. John and the other disciples, having recently been given power over demons and experiencing the challenges and failures of their own ministry (Lk 9:37-43), reacted protectively to an individual successfully exercising power in Jesus' name but outside their immediate, recognized fellowship. Their logic was simple: "He's not with us, so he can't be working for you, Master."
This incident, and Jesus' immediate correction in the subsequent verse (Lk 9:50), underscores a crucial lesson about the Kingdom of God. Divine power and God's work are not confined to particular groups, denominations, or "official" structures that humans establish. God's Spirit empowers as He wills (1 Cor 12:11), and His authority is effective through anyone who sincerely invokes the name of Jesus and performs works in alignment with His will. The disciples’ perspective was a form of spiritual elitism or sectarianism, valuing their group's exclusivity over the genuine expansion of God's benevolent work. Jesus' teaching corrects this, implying that efficacy and allegiance to Christ are more important than rigid organizational affiliation when it comes to spreading the Kingdom's influence.
Examples: In a contemporary context, this principle calls for humility and cooperation among Christians from different churches, denominations, or parachurch organizations. If genuine spiritual fruit is being produced (people are being saved, healed, discipled, or delivered) through efforts "in Jesus' name," then Christians should rejoice and not forbid it based on non-essential differences or lack of formal affiliation. It cautions against territorialism and fosters an inclusive mindset in pursuing the Great Commission.