Those Who Do Not Gather (or Stand) with Jesus

Those Who Do Not Gather (or Stand) with Jesus

 

 

 

 

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Luke 11:23).

 

 

 

(1)   This statement is also recorded in Matthew 12:30: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

 

(a)    As I meditated on this verse, I was led to revisit Luke 9:50, which I had already reflected on: “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”  Mark 9:40 similarly records: “Whoever is not against us is for us.”

 

(i)     This passage is a fundamental principle that defines the scope of co-workers in the kingdom of God, and it is a declaration that completely breaks the disciples’ narrow and exclusive mindset. Its specific meanings are as follows:

 

1.      There is no ‘neutrality’; the ‘direction’ of one’s ministry matters.

 

In the spiritual realm, exalting the name of Jesus and doing good can never happen by accident.  According to commentary from BibleHub, casting out demons in the Lord’s name is already evidence of opposing Satan’s power.  Therefore, anyone who does not actively oppose the Lord but instead contributes to His work is already a potential ally and on the same side.

 

2.      Purpose takes precedence over affiliation.

The disciples focused on organizational belonging—“Is he on our team?”—but Jesus focused on the purpose of the work—“Is he for me?”  According to the flow of interpretation from the Korean Bible Society (BSK), even if someone does not follow the same methods as we do, if they ultimately expand God’s reign, we should accept and rejoice in them.

 

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

 

Jesus did not want the work of the gospel to be monopolized by the twelve disciples.  BibleRef explains that this teaching urges us to embrace a broad mindset—accepting anyone as a brother as long as there is a minimal common ground (the name of Jesus).  It is also a strategic teaching not to create unnecessary enemies, but to unite more widely for the kingdom of God” (Internet).

 

(ii)      Then why does Jesus speak differently in Luke 11:23 (cf. Mt. 12:30) and Luke 9:50 (cf. Mk. 9:40)?

 

·        Luke 11:23 (Mt. 12:30) expresses the “principle of loyalty.”  Jesus said this to those who accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.  It is a solemn warning that in spiritual warfare, remaining neutral—like a mere observer without standing on Jesus’ side—is ultimately equivalent to siding with Satan and hindering the spread of the gospel (Internet).

 

-      As I reflected on this idea of remaining neutral in spiritual battle, I was reminded of the Israelites at Mount Carmel when the prophet Elijah confronted 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah (a total of 850). The people of Israel were “wavering” between God and Baal (1 Kgs. 18:21). Elijah challenged them: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him” (v.21).  But the people did not answer a word (v. 21).

 

n  So, what is the connection between Luke 11:23 and 1 Kings 18:21?  Both strongly call for a decisive spiritual commitment, emphasizing that there is no neutral ground in matters of faith.

The key similarities between the two passages are as follows:

 

1.      Rejection of spiritual gray areas (clarity in faith)

 

1 Kings 18:21: The prophet Elijah rebukes the people of Israel, saying, “How long will you waver between two opinions?” and calls them to choose between the LORD and Baal.

 

Luke 11:23: Jesus declares, “Whoever is not with me is against me,” making it clear that not fully belonging to Christ is, in effect, to oppose Him.

 

Connection: Both passages emphasize that in serving God, it is impossible to stand in the middle or try to hold onto both sides.  A clear and decisive choice is required.

 

2.      A moment of crisis that demands decision

 

1 Kings 18: This is a decisive moment—the dramatic confrontation on Mount Carmel—where the true identity of the one true God must be proven..

 

Luke 11: This occurs in the context of spiritual conflict, where Jesus’ ministry is slandered as being empowered by Beelzebul (the prince of demons), forcing a decision about whose side one is on.

 

Connection: The more truth is attacked or distorted, the more believers must abandon ambiguity and stand firmly on the side of truth.

 

3.      The meaning of “being with” and “following”

 

In 1 Kings, the call to “follow” and in Luke, the call to “be with” both go beyond simple agreement—they point to total commitment that determines the direction of one’s life.

 

The phrase in Luke 11:23, “whoever does not gather with me scatters,” aligns with Elijah’s mission to turn (gather) the hearts of the people back to the LORD.

 

Conclusion: Both passages teach that one cannot serve God and the world at the same time.  They remind us that only a firm confession of faith in Christ and wholehearted devotion represent the true path of faith.

 

·        Luke 9:50 (Mark 9:40) expresses the “principle of tolerance.”  Jesus said this when His disciples had a closed-minded attitude of “If he’s not on our team, he shouldn’t be allowed!”  Even if someone does not belong to their group, if he casts out demons in Jesus’ name, he should be regarded as a co-worker who contributes to the expansion of God’s kingdom (Internet).

 

-      This teaching gives a powerful lesson about the spiritual inclusiveness and unity we should have today.

 

1.      We must abandon the spiritual pride of thinking, “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 commentary, Jesus regarded criticizing others’ ministry simply because they do not “follow with us” as spiritual pride.  We must acknowledge that God’s work is far greater than the boundaries we create.

 

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

 

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

 

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

The disciples tried to forbid others by focusing on what was lacking in their ministry, but Jesus focused on the good they were doing. BibleRef teaches that instead of criticizing others’ work, we should value their heart for serving the Lord and look for ways to cooperate.

 

4.      We should focus on the ‘expansion’ of ministry, not its ‘exclusivity.’

 

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

 

One-sentence summary: “Do not treat others as enemies simply because their methods differ from yours; instead, embrace with love all who exalt the Lord.”

 

(b)   As I meditated today on the passage from Luke 11:23b, “Whoever is not with me is against me,” I was led to reflect on John 10:12: “The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep.  So, when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.”

 

(i)      Luke 11:23b (“Whoever is not with me is against me”) and John 10:12 (“The wolf snatches them and scatters them”) are deeply connected in that they explain the essence of spiritual ministry through the same term, “scatterer.”  The main connections are as follows:

 

1.      The contrast between “gathering ministry” and “scattering interference”

 

Luke 11:23: Jesus presents Himself as the true Shepherd who gathers souls.  Conversely, He warns that those who do not join Him will inevitably result in the scattering of the community.

 

John 10:12: In contrast to Jesus, the true Shepherd, the “wolf” is a being that scatters the flock.

Connection: Both verses reveal that the ministry of the Kingdom of God is one of “gathering,” and that all forces (the Pharisees, false shepherds, Satan) that hinder or neglect this are essentially “scatterers.”

 

2.      The Presence or Absence of Spiritual Responsibility (Proactivity vs. Irresponsibility)

 

Luke 11:23: This emphasizes that there is no such thing as neutrality.  Even a “bystander” who does not actively gather with Jesus ultimately plays a role in dismantling the community.

 

John 10:12: The hired hand flees when the wolf comes, thereby allowing the flock to be scattered.

 

Connection: This suggests that it is not merely malicious attacks that endanger the community, but also the very attitude of failing to fulfill one’s calling as a shepherd or refusing to commit to Jesus.

 

3.      The Spiritual Nature of the ‘Wolf’ and ‘Beelzebub’

 

In the context of Luke 11, Jesus is fighting against the forces of ‘Beelzebub,’ the prince of demons.  The ‘wolf’ in John 10 also symbolizes satanic forces seeking to destroy the flock (the saints).

 

Connection: Both passages show that the essence of Satan lies in “division and disintegration,” while the essence of Jesus lies in “unity and restoration.”

 

Summary: Luke proclaims the principle that “if you do not stand with Jesus, you become a destroyer,” while John provides a concrete example that “any force that is not the true Shepherd will inevitably destroy the community.”  In other words, these two passages together testify that Jesus Christ alone is the sole focal point who gathers the scattered sheep into one (Internet).

 

 

 

(ii)      This is an excerpt from a reflection I wrote on June 10, 2013, titled “Beware of False Prophets,” based on Matthew 7:15.

 

           Listen, a hired hand is not a shepherd. He does not care for the sheep.  When he sees a wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.  As a result, the wolf snatches them and scatters them. Indeed, a false shepherd does not care for the flock but only for himself (Ezek. 34:2).  And Zechariah 11:17 says that the false shepherd is a worthless shepherd who abandons the flock.  The Apostle Paul said the following in Acts 20:29–30: “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them.”  This passage is part of what the Apostle Paul said to the elders of the church in Ephesus after he sent for them from Miletus (v. 17).  He anticipated that after he left the church in Ephesus, “ferocious wolves”—that is, false prophets, false leaders, or false shepherds—would come among them.  The defining characteristic of such a false shepherd is that he does not spare the flock.  Furthermore, these false shepherds lead the flock astray.  In John 10:10, Jesus describes the false shepherd as a “thief,” stating that such a false shepherd comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.

 

           Friends, do you know why a false shepherd who does not care for his flock steals?  In today’s passage, Matthew 7:15, the Bible says they “plunder.”  The Greek word for “plunder” here implies “extremely (violently) greedy (covetous), like a robber or a swindler.” [(1) vicious, ravenous, destructive, like a wild animal (MT 7:15); (2) violently greedy (LU 18:11); essentially a robber, swindler (1C 6:10) (Friberg)]. ….”

 

(i)               This is an excerpt from a devotional I wrote on July 18, 2018, titled “The False Pastor”:

 

“…  Friends, a false pastor is a hired hand.  He never cares for the sheep (Jn. 10:13).  When he sees a wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away (v. 12).  A false pastor never lays down his life for the sheep (v. 11).  Rather, a false pastor strives only to fill his own belly (Ezek. 34:2).  Nevertheless, false believers follow such false pastors.  And they say “Amen” to the words coming from the false pastor’s mouth, firmly believing them. As a result, both the false pastor and the false believers sin against God.”