“Embrace with a heart of love all who exalt the Lord.”

“Embrace with a heart of love

all who exalt the Lord.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“John said, ‘Master, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.’   But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you’” (Luke 9:49–50).

 

 

 

(1)    Today, as I meditate on the passage of Luke 9:49–50 together with its parallel passage, Mark 9:38–40, I would like to receive the lesson that is given through these verses.

 

(a)    First, John said to Jesus, “Lord, we saw someone who was not following with us driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him” (Lk. 9:49; Mk. 9:38).

 

(i)                 As I meditated on this passage, a question arose in my mind: “Why did John forbid that man from continuing to drive out demons in the Lord’s name?”

 

·         We find the answer in today’s passage, Luke 9:49: “…because he does not follow with us….”  This phrase vividly reveals “us-centered exclusivism” and “a sense of organizational privilege” (Internet):

 

-             “The fence of ‘us’ (supremacy of belonging): The disciples regarded belonging to the official group that directly followed Jesus as the sole qualification for ministry.  According to BibleRef’s commentary, this means that they valued ‘procedure and affiliation (Is he on our team?)’ more than the ‘fruit of ministry (demons being cast out).’

 

n    Spiritual monopolization: Embedded in the phrase ‘he does not follow with us’ is the monopolistic mindset that ‘only we have the right to use Jesus’ name.’  Looking at the contextual flow provided by the Korean Bible Society, the disciples believed that they alone were the only legitimate representatives, and they regarded ministry done outside of themselves as illegitimate” (Internet).

 

-             Why must we be extremely cautious about “us-centered exclusivism” and “organizational privilege”?

 

n    “‘Us-centered exclusivism’ and ‘organizational privilege’ may appear on the surface to strengthen a community, but spiritually they become deadly poison. The reasons Jesus sternly warned against them are as follows:

 

1.       The purpose of ministry becomes distorted—from ‘souls’ to ‘power.’

 

When one falls into exclusivism, the focus shifts from ‘people being restored’ to ‘our organization expanding.’

 

The man John saw was freeing a soul by driving out demons. However, the disciples were more concerned with procedures and territorial authority—‘He is ministering without our permission’—than with that soul’s liberation.  In the end, the essence (love and healing) disappears, leaving only form (affiliation and authority).

 

2.       God’s sovereignty is confined within human-made frameworks.

 

God is far greater than the fences of denominations, churches, and organizations that we construct.

The phrase ‘because he does not follow with us’ reflects the arrogance that ‘God must work only through us.’  A sense of privilege denies the possibility that God may work, according to His sovereignty, through other people or other methods.

 

3.       It fuels hierarchy and pride within the community.

 

A sense of privilege inevitably leads internally to disputes over rank—‘Who is greater?’  Indeed, in Luke 9:46, the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest.

 

The belief ‘we are special’ manifests as exclusivism toward outsiders and power struggles toward insiders.  This stands in direct opposition to the way of servanthood that Jesus demonstrated.

 

4.       It obstructs the expansiveness of the gospel.

 

The kingdom of God is meant to spread quietly and without boundaries, like a mustard seed or yeast.

 

The moment we build exclusive walls, the gospel becomes trapped inside those walls.

 

Jesus said, ‘Whoever is not against you is for you,’ setting the scope of gospel co-workers far broader than we imagine.

 

Ultimately, exclusivism and privilege place a person not in the position of ‘God’s representative,’ but in the position of ‘playing God.’  This is why we must remain awake and vigilant every day” (Internet).

 

·         We also find an answer in Luke 9:40: “I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

 

-          Comparison and jealousy: Just prior to this, the disciples had failed to cast out a demon (Lk. 9:40).  In contrast, this unnamed man was succeeding.  BonHD analyzes that the disciples’ sense of loss and jealousy was expressed as a desire for control—‘He’s not one of us, so we must make him stop’ (Internet).

 

n  Why must we guard against “comparison and jealousy”?

 

“‘Comparison and jealousy’ go beyond being mere emotional issues; they become the deadly root of sin that eats away at the soul and destroys the community. From biblical and psychological perspectives, the reasons we must guard against them are as follows:

 

1.    They cause us to lose the ‘unique calling’ God has given us.

 

Comparison fixes our gaze not on God but on others.

 

The reason the disciples tried to stop the other minister was jealousy—he seemed to be doing ministry better than they were.

 

Once we begin comparing ourselves to others, instead of giving thanks for the unique talents and ministry God has given us, we waste our blessings by coveting what others have.

 

2.    They cause us to see the community not as ‘co-workers’ but as ‘competitors.’

 

Jealousy destroys the spirit of the body of Christ, which is meant to rejoice together and weep together.

 

            The frightening aspect of jealousy is that we secretly delight in another’s failure and perceive another’s success as a threat to ourselves.

 

            Rather than focusing on the good result—a demon cast out and a soul set free—the disciples treated the man as a competitor, asking who did it.  This ultimately leads to division within the community.

 

3.   They distort the value system of the kingdom of God.

 

Comparison and jealousy import the world’s hierarchy battles into the church.

 

                                                            The question ‘Who is greater?’ (Lk. 9:46) begins with comparison.

 

However, in God’s kingdom, the value lies not in who is higher but in who serves from the lowest place.  When consumed by jealousy, we can no longer follow Jesus’ way of servanthood.

 

4.   They immediately dry up spiritual joy and gratitude.

 

As Scripture says, ‘Jealousy rots the bones’ (Proverbs 14:30), it devastates our inner being.

 

No matter how much grace we have received, the moment we compare ourselves to others, that grace becomes invisible.

 

Although the disciples were enjoying the immense privilege of eating and sleeping with Jesus, they became consumed with complaint and hostility because of one unnamed minister” (Internet).

 

(b)    Second, Jesus said, “Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in My name will be able immediately to speak evil of Me. For whoever is not against you (us) is for you (us)” (Lk. 9:50; Mk. 9:39–40).

 

(i)                 Here, Jesus gives two reasons why He says, “Do not forbid him.”

·            The first reason is: “for no one who does a mighty work in My name will be able immediately to speak evil of Me” (Mk. 9:39).

 

-          “This statement explains the ‘authenticity’ of ministry and ‘spiritual principles,’ and serves as a core response that broadens the disciples’ narrow perspective. Its specific meanings are as follows:

 

1.       Trust in the ‘power’ of the name of Jesus

 

The name of Jesus is not a mere incantation, but represents God’s sovereign authority.  According to the contextual explanation of the Korean Bible Society, if someone performs a miracle (a mighty work) by relying on the Lord’s name, it means that person already acknowledges Jesus as the object of faith or as an authority.  Such a person suddenly turning around to insult or oppose the Lord is, spiritually speaking, nearly impossible.

 

2.       ‘Actions’ that prove ‘faith’

 

The phrase “will not be able immediately to speak evil of Me” means that we should look at the direction of that person’s life.  BibleHub’s commentary explains that as long as the person is bearing good fruit in the Lord’s name, he is already standing on the side of the kingdom of God.  This means that outward appearance (whether he follows with us) is less important than the fruit he produces (whether he heals in the name of Jesus) in determining a person’s true identity.

 

3.       Do not turn a ‘potential ally’ into an enemy

 

Jesus did not limit the scope of ministry solely to the twelve disciples.  According to BibleRef, this statement suggests that even if someone is not currently within the official organization of the disciples, anyone who exalts the Lord’s name is a person who may eventually become a true disciple.  Rather than rejecting them and turning them into enemies of the gospel, Jesus teaches us to embrace them.

 

4.       Establishing proper spiritual priorities

 

The disciples first asked, “Is he one of us?”  Jesus, however, first asked, “Is he exalting Me?”  BonHD analyzes this as Jesus’ intention to break organizational selfishness and cultivate Christ-centered thinking.

 

In summary: A person who does good works in the Lord’s name is already someone whose heart is inclined toward the Lord; therefore, do not condemn him over trivial issues of affiliation and thereby lose a precious co-worker.”  This is a proclamation of holy inclusiveness (Internet).

 

·            The second reason is: “whoever is not against you (us) is for you (us)” (Lk. 9:50; Mk. 9:40).

 

-          This statement is a declaration that completely shatters the disciples’ closed mindset, presenting a ‘grand principle that defines the scope of co-workers in the kingdom of God.’  Its specific meanings are as follows:

 

1.       There is no true ‘neutrality’; the ‘direction’ of ministry is what matters.

 

In the spiritual realm, exalting the name of Jesus and doing good cannot happen by accident.  According to BibleHub’s commentary, casting out demons in the Lord’s name is already evidence of opposing Satan’s forces.  Therefore, anyone who does not actively oppose the Lord but instead supports His work is already a potential ally and on the same side.

 

2.       ‘Purpose’ takes priority over ‘affiliation’

 

The disciples used organizational belonging—“Is he on our team?”—as their standard, but Jesus used the purpose of ministry—“Is he for Me?”—as His standard.  According to the flow presented by the Korean Bible Society (BSK), even if someone uses a different method from ours, if they are ultimately expanding God’s reign, we should accept them and rejoice.

 

3.       The ‘openness’ and ‘inclusiveness’ of the gospel

 

Jesus did not want gospel ministry to be monopolized by the twelve disciples.  BibleRef explains that this statement urges believers to have a broad heart that embraces all as brothers, as long as there is the minimum common denominator—the name of Jesus.  This is also a strategic teaching that calls us not to create unnecessary enemies, but to form broader alliances for the sake of God’s kingdom” (Internet).

 

-          What lesson does Jesus’ statement—“Whoever is not against you (us) is for you (us)” (Luke 9:50; Mark 9:40)—give us today?

 

n  This passage gives a very powerful teaching on the spiritual inclusiveness and principle of unity that we must hold today.

 

1.       We must abandon the spiritual pride of ‘only I am right.’

 

We often tend to believe that only the church we belong to, the theology we learned, or the way we serve is correct.  According to BibleHub’s commentary, Jesus regarded criticizing another’s ministry simply because “he does not follow with us” as spiritual pride.  We must acknowledge that God’s work is far greater than the fences we build.

 

2.       If the ‘essence’ is the same, we must accept differences in ‘form.’

 

The man who cast out demons was not part of Jesus’ group of disciples (form), but he relied on the name of Jesus (essence).  As taught by the Korean Bible Society, if someone confesses Jesus Christ—the core of the gospel—and bears good fruit, then even if their style of worship or denomination differs, we should respect them as co-workers in God’s kingdom.

 

3.       We must cultivate a culture of ‘encouragement’ rather than ‘criticism.’

 

The disciples tried to forbid the other person’s ministry by finding its deficiencies, but Jesus focused on the good work he was doing.  BibleRef teaches that rather than criticizing others’ ministries, we should treasure their heart for the Lord and seek points of cooperation.

 

4.       We must focus not on ‘exclusive rights’ to ministry, but on its ‘expansion.’

 

The kingdom of God is not a competitive marketplace.  When someone does good in the Lord’s name, it means our side has grown and the kingdom of God has expanded.  BonHD analyzes this passage as a call to stop unnecessary competition between churches and to move forward together toward the world in holy solidarity.

 

One-sentence summary:  “Do not turn others into enemies simply because their methods differ from yours; instead, embrace with a heart of love all who exalt the Lord” (Internet).