Mark 9 38

Mark 9:38 kjv

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

Mark 9:38 nkjv

Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."

Mark 9:38 niv

"Teacher," said John, "we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."

Mark 9:38 esv

John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us."

Mark 9:38 nlt

John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn't in our group."

Mark 9 verses

Mark 9 38 Meaning

Mark 9:38 describes an incident where John, one of Jesus' disciples, reported attempting to stop a man who was casting out demons in Jesus' name, because this man was not part of their immediate group of followers. The verse highlights the disciples' sectarian mindset and territorial instincts, contrasting with Jesus' more inclusive perspective regarding who may genuinely serve God and the advancement of His Kingdom. It reveals a misguided zeal on the part of the disciples, prioritizing association with their group over the effective work done in the power of Jesus' name.

Mark 9 38 Context

Mark 9:38 immediately follows a significant discussion among the disciples regarding their relative greatness, where Jesus teaches them about true humility and serving "the least of these" (Mk 9:33-37). The disciples' internal bickering about who was the greatest reveals their self-centered concerns. John's interjection in verse 38 serves as a vivid illustration of this same self-centeredness and spiritual immaturity. Having just heard Jesus speak of embracing children as a sign of true humility and receptiveness to the Kingdom, the disciples pivot to another manifestation of their possessive and exclusionary attitude, focusing on who is "with us" rather than who is for Jesus and His Kingdom. This episode is also closely linked to the subsequent warnings about stumbling blocks (Mk 9:42ff), emphasizing the serious nature of hindering those who do good work in Jesus' name. Historically, sectarianism was prevalent among Jewish groups, each believing itself to be the sole true custodian of divine revelation and legitimate action. The disciples, reflecting their cultural milieu, were exhibiting a similar "us vs. them" mentality, which Jesus promptly corrected.

Mark 9 38 Word analysis

• John (Iōannēs, Ἰωάννης): One of the twelve disciples, brother of James, and part of Jesus' inner circle (along with Peter and James). His role in reporting this indicates the perspective of the immediate, authorized group.
• said (eipes, εἶπεν): A straightforward verb, indicating a direct report to Jesus, likely with an expectation of affirmation.
• Teacher (Didaskale, Διδάσκαλε): A respectful form of address, but in this context, it underscores their plea for affirmation from Jesus for their actions. It shows they sought validation for their exclusivist move.
• someone (tina, τινὰ): Implies an individual not formally identified with the disciples' core group. He was acting independently but effectively.
• casting out demons (ekballonta daimonia, ἐκβάλλοντα δαιμόνια): This is a mighty, supernatural act, indicative of God's power at work. The term ekballonta (casting out/driving out) implies forceful expulsion. It's a clear demonstration of spiritual authority over evil forces, central to Jesus' ministry.
• in Your name (en tō onomati sou, ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου): This phrase is crucial. It signifies by the authority, power, and identity of Jesus. The man was not operating on his own power or by any other name, but explicitly invoked Jesus' authority. This is a claim to legitimate power derived from Jesus, even if the person isn't an explicit "follower" of the disciples.
• and we tried to stop him (kai ekōlyomen auton, καὶ ἐκωλύομεν αὐτόν): The imperfect tense (ekōlyomen) indicates a continuous or repeated attempt to hinder him. The disciples took active measures to prevent this person from continuing his work. Their motive was not a concern about false teaching or power source, but about their group's exclusive claim to ministry.
• because he was not following us (hoti ouk ēkolouthei hēmin, ὅτι οὐκ ἠκολούθει ἡμῖν): This reveals the specific, restrictive reasoning for the disciples' action. The core issue for them was association – the man wasn't part of their group of regular followers of Jesus. They defined the legitimacy of ministry based on group affiliation, not based on its spiritual source or efficacy. The imperfect tense ēkolouthei again emphasizes that his ongoing state was "not following alongside us."

Word-groups Analysis:

• "Teacher, someone casting out demons in Your name": Highlights the legitimacy of the activity (casting out demons, a powerful work) and its source (in Jesus' name), making the disciples' subsequent action (we tried to stop him) even more problematic.
• "and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us": This clause reveals the disciples' misplaced emphasis. They were more concerned with organizational allegiance than with the good being accomplished through Jesus' power. It showcases a form of spiritual gatekeeping. Their exclusivity here directly contradicts Jesus' teaching about humble service and welcomes that which is genuinely "for" Him.

Mark 9 38 Bonus section

The account in Mark 9:38 serves as a warning against sectarianism, where loyalty to one's group, leader, or tradition supersedes the broader mission of Christ and the effective work of the Holy Spirit. This impulse, displayed by John and the other disciples, reveals an attachment to human structures and identities rather than an openness to the divine activity wherever it might occur. It speaks to the humility required not to control or limit God's work, but to recognize and rejoice in it. The essential principle gleaned is "he who is not against us is for us," a powerful counterpoint to "he who is not with me is against me" (Mt 12:30), showing different contexts for defining allegiance and opposition within the Kingdom of God.

Mark 9 38 Commentary

Mark 9:38 acts as a pivotal moment exposing the disciples' lingering human tendencies towards spiritual elitism and territorialism. Despite being with Jesus, they had not fully grasped the expansive nature of God's Kingdom. Their action stemmed from a mindset that believed God could only work through their designated group, implying that those outside their immediate circle were illegitimate, even when producing good fruit in Jesus' name.

Jesus' implied rebuke (more fully articulated in the subsequent verse, Mk 9:39) teaches that effective service in His name should not be suppressed, regardless of formal group affiliation. The true test of legitimacy lies in the source of power (Jesus' name) and the outcome (demons cast out), not in whether the individual has gone through the specific protocols or group memberships defined by human discretion. This serves as a timeless principle: Christ's Kingdom is larger than any single human organization or denomination. It prioritizes the advancement of God's redemptive work over exclusive loyalties, unity of purpose over rigid uniformity of practice or association. It challenges believers to rejoice when Christ is proclaimed and good is done in His name, even by those who are "not of us."

• Example 1: When different Christian denominations cooperate on a community outreach project.
• Example 2: When a person finds genuine spiritual growth and performs good deeds in Christ's name through a ministry outside of one's accustomed church tradition.