Mark 9:40 kjv
For he that is not against us is on our part.
Mark 9:40 nkjv
For he who is not against us is on our side.
Mark 9:40 niv
for whoever is not against us is for us.
Mark 9:40 esv
For the one who is not against us is for us.
Mark 9:40 nlt
Anyone who is not against us is for us.
Mark 9 40 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 9:49-50 | 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.” But Jesus said… | Parallel account of the event and Jesus' similar teaching on inclusivity. |
| Mt 12:30 | “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” | Crucial contrasting principle; one refers to opposition, the other to alignment. |
| Lk 11:23 | “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.” | Luke's parallel to Mt 12:30, reiterating the essential commitment to Christ. |
| Num 11:26-29 | But two men had remained in the camp… and the Spirit rested upon them… and they prophesied in the camp… Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake?" | Old Testament example of God using individuals outside the designated group. |
| Phil 1:15-18 | Some, to be sure, preach Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will… what then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth… | Paul rejoices in Christ being proclaimed, regardless of the preacher's motives. |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you… | Paul's emphasis on unity within the body of Christ despite differing approaches. |
| Rom 14:1 | Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. | Accepting fellow believers who may hold different practices or interpretations. |
| Jn 10:16 | "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one Shepherd." | Jesus' intention to bring diverse people into His one flock. |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity and equality within Christ transcending earthly distinctions. |
| Eph 4:1-3 | …walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love… | Exhortation to preserve unity and peace within the body of believers. |
| Rom 12:4-5 | For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ… | Diverse gifts and functions contribute to the single body of Christ. |
| Mk 9:37 | “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” | Connecting receiving "the least" to receiving Christ Himself, a call to openness. |
| Mt 7:21-23 | "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven… Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name...'" | Caution about works without true submission, but still acknowledging powerful works "in His name." |
| Jn 3:26-30 | They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you… is baptizing, and all are coming to Him.” John answered… “He must increase, but I must decrease.” | John the Baptist's humility and recognition of Jesus' growing ministry. |
| Acts 2:44-47 | Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common… daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house… | The early church's communal life and Spirit-filled unity. |
| 1 Thes 5:12-13 | And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you… and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. | Encouragement to appreciate and respect those serving, regardless of perceived status. |
| Mt 25:34-40 | “Come, you blessed of My Father… ‘I was hungry and you gave Me food…’ And the King will answer… ‘Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’" | Service to humanity is implicitly service to Christ, recognizing God's work in unexpected ways. |
| Zech 4:6 | "‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.” | God's power and work operate through His Spirit, not merely human organization or strength. |
| Is 55:11 | So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please… | God's word is effective and accomplishes His purposes, regardless of the vessel. |
| Mk 10:43-45 | "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant… For even the Son of Man did not come to be served…" | Greatness in the Kingdom is found in humble service, contrasting hierarchical views. |
| Col 3:11 | …where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. | Christ's overarching unity dissolves all human-made divisions and identities. |
| Heb 12:14 | Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. | Emphasizes peaceful co-existence and the pursuit of holiness. |
Mark 9 verses
Mark 9 40 Meaning
The verse teaches that anyone who is not actively opposing the work and mission of Christ is, in fact, an ally and working for the same divine cause. It corrects an exclusive mindset, emphasizing that God's work extends beyond a confined group and values effective ministry done in His name, regardless of formal association with the disciples.
Mark 9 40 Context
Mark 9:40 arises directly from an incident involving the disciple John. John informed Jesus that they had stopped someone casting out demons in Jesus' name because that person "did not follow with us" (Mk 9:38). The disciples, concerned about protecting their unique role and perceived monopoly on Jesus' power, showed an exclusive mindset. This follows Jesus' teaching on humility and servant leadership, where the disciples had previously been arguing about who was the greatest (Mk 9:33-34) and Jesus presented a child as an example of receiving God (Mk 9:36-37). Jesus' response in Mark 9:40 serves as a sharp rebuke to their narrow view, highlighting that effectiveness in ministry and allegiance to His name take precedence over rigid organizational affiliation.
Mark 9 40 Word analysis
- For (γὰρ - gar): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for Jesus' previous command not to stop the individual. It connects His principle directly to the disciples' exclusive actions.
- he that (ὅς - hos): A relative pronoun, used broadly, meaning "whoever" or "anyone who." It indicates that the principle applies generally to any individual, not just the specific person casting out demons.
- is not (οὐκ ἔστιν - ouk estin): Ouk is a strong negation, emphasizing a definite absence. The verb estin means "is" or "exists." It denotes a factual state: someone who truly is not.
- against (καθ᾿ - kath'): From the Greek preposition kata when followed by a genitive. Here, it denotes opposition, hostility, or moving downwards onto something. It implies actively working to hinder, destroy, or suppress.
- us (ἡμῶν - hēmōn): Refers collectively to Jesus and His disciples, or more broadly, the cause of Christ's kingdom and work. It signifies Jesus' identification with His followers and their mission.
- is (ἔστιν - estin): Reiterates a factual statement. This individual exists in a state of alignment.
- on our part (ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν - hyper hēmōn): Hyper means "on behalf of," "for," "in favor of." Combined with hēmōn (us), it declares that such a person is an ally, supportive, and working for the benefit of the Kingdom of God, even if not part of the inner circle of disciples.
Words-group analysis:
- "For he that is not against us": This phrase defines the criteria for being considered an ally. It is not necessarily about active proclamation or formal affiliation, but specifically about the absence of opposition and the presence of demonstrable positive fruit (as seen in the context of casting out demons in Jesus' name). The absence of hostility is sufficient.
- "is on our part": This declares the spiritual standing of such an individual. They are aligned with, supportive of, and contributing to the advancement of Christ's mission and purpose. It speaks to a unity of objective, despite potential differences in methodology or visible organizational structure.
Mark 9 40 Bonus section
- Tension with "He who is not with me is against me" (Mt 12:30; Lk 11:23): These two seemingly opposite statements apply to different aspects of allegiance. Mark 9:40 relates to specific acts of ministry where one demonstrates non-opposition by performing good in Jesus' name. Matthew/Luke, however, deal with a more fundamental spiritual commitment concerning Jesus' identity and the source of His power; it refers to the critical, defining line between accepting or rejecting Jesus as the Messiah and Savior. One is about activity, the other about ultimate loyalty.
- Authority and Source of Power: The episode highlights that the power to cast out demons originates from Jesus Himself and is not strictly bound to the apostolic circle. It is available to those who invoke His name, demonstrating God's sovereign prerogative to work through whom He wills.
- Critique of Religious Exclusivism: This verse stands as a powerful timeless warning against any religious or denominational spirit that restricts God's blessing and work to only its own adherents, dismissing the good done by those outside their specific organizational boundaries. It champions a broad-minded perspective on the Kingdom of God.
Mark 9 40 Commentary
Mark 9:40 is a pivotal teaching on inclusivity, correcting the disciples' initial sectarian tendency. Jesus affirms that allegiance to Him is demonstrated not only by formal association or following His immediate retinue but also by practical acts of service performed in His authority. The ability to cast out demons in Jesus’ name, regardless of one's group affiliation, showed divine sanction. This verse counters the impulse to claim exclusive rights to God’s work, urging believers to recognize and value Kingdom work done by others who, while perhaps not part of their specific group, are not hostile to Christ and are demonstrably bringing forth good fruit. It champions the broad reach of God's power and serves as a call for spiritual generosity and mutual recognition within the broader body of Christ, discouraging petty jealousies or a defensive possessiveness over divine activity.