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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Mark 9:38 - 9:41
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_9:38-41
38John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us." 39But Jesus said, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. 40For he who is not against us is for us. 41For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward."
Mar_9:38 "and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us" There are several variants in the Greek manuscripts. This verse is hard to interpret. This caused ancient scribes to modify it. The reading most modern English versions accept (following the UBS4) is found in MSS à and B and the Syriac translation tradition.
Mar_9:39 "'Do not hinder him'" This is a present imperative with a negative particle, which usually implies the stopping of an act in process.
Mar_9:40 "For he who is not against us is for us" Jesus often used cultural proverbs in His teaching (cf. Mar_2:17; Mar_2:21-22; Mar_3:27; Mar_4:21-22; Mar_4:25; Mar_7:15; Mar_8:35-37; Mar_9:40; Mar_9:50; Mar_10:25; Mar_10:27; Mar_10:31; Mar_10:43-44). Compare this with Mat_12:30 and Luk_11:23.
There is an interesting discussion of the seeming contradiction between Mar_9:40 and Luk_11:23 in Hard Sayings of the Bible published by IVP, pp. 466-467. This book is a helpful resource by well-known, evangelical scholars. They assert that the contextual settings of the references remove the seeming discrepancy.
Mar_9:41 See the parallel passages in Mat_10:42; Mat_25:40. There is a sharp contrast between Mar_9:38-41 and Mar_9:42-48. Those not officially connected with Jesus are affirmed in their good deeds, but those who know Him are warned in strong metaphors about their responsibility to new believers. This shocking paradox illustrates the truth of Mar_9:33-37.
Also this verse mentions kingdom rewards for those who faithfully serve (cf. Mar_9:41; Mar_10:21; Mar_10:28-31 and several times in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Mat_5:12; Mat_5:46; Mat_6:5-6; Mat_6:16-21). It is hard to balance a free salvation in the finished work of Christ and believers' covenant responsibilities to live out their faith.
It is also hard to balance the NT concept of degree of rewards and punishment (cf. Matt. 10:45; Mat_11:22; Mat_18:6; Mat_25:21; Mat_25:23; Mar_12:40; Luk_12:47-48; Luk_20:47). See Special Topic at Mar_12:40.