Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 9:40
For he that is not against us is on our part.
Verse 40. He that is not against us, is on our part.] Or rather, Whosoever is not against YOU, is for YOU. Instead of , us, I would read , you, on the authority of ADSHV, upwards of forty others, Syriac, Armenian, Persic, Coptic, AEthiopic, Gothic, Slavonic, Vulgate, Itala, Victor, and Opt. This reading is more consistent with the context – He followed not us-well, he is not against YOU; and he who is not against you, in such a work, may be fairly presumed to be on your side.
There is a parallel case to this mentioned in Nu 11:26-29, which, for the elucidation of this passage, I will transcribe. “The Spirit rested upon Eldad and Medad, and they prophesied in the camp. And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua, the servant of Moses, said, My lord Moses, forbid them! And Moses said unto him, Enviest THOU for MY sake? Would God, that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them.” The reader will easily observe that Joshua and John were of the same bigoted spirit; and that Jesus and Moses acted from the spirit of candour and benevolence. See the notes on Nu 11:25-29.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
40. For he that is not against us ison our partTwo principles of immense importance are here laiddown: “First, No one will readily speak evil of Me who has thefaith to do a miracle in My name; and second, If such a person cannotbe supposed to be against us, ye are to consider him forus.” Let it be carefully observed that our Lord does not saythis man should not have “followed them,” nor yetthat it was indifferent whether he did or not; but simply teaches howsuch a person was to be regarded, although he did notnamely,as a reverer of His name and a promoter of His cause.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For he that is not against us, is on our part. Many copies read, “he that is not against you, is for you”; as this man; he was not against either Christ, or his disciples; he was doing the same work, promoting the same interest, and destroying the kingdom of Satan: and therefore, though he did not follow them, and had not his commission immediately from Christ; yet, inasmuch as he was opposing the same common enemy, and did nothing against them, he ought to be reckoned as one for them, and on their side. It is a proverbial expression, signifying that all that are not against a man, and take not the part of his enemy, are to be accounted his friends.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He that is not against us is with us ( ‘ ). This profound saying throws a flood of light in every direction. The complement of this logion is that in Mt 12:30: “He that is not with me is against me.” Both are needed. Some people imagine that they are really for Christ who refuse to take a stand in the open with him and for him.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) ”For he that is not against us,” (hosgaroukesin kath hemon) ”Because the one that is not against us,” Luk 11:23.
2) “Is on our part.” (huper hemon estin) “He is(working) on our behalf,” doing work for Jesus, even if he is not following, fellowshipping, or directly associating with us, for none can serve two masters, Mat 6:24; Luk 16:13; Mat 12:30.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
40. For he who is not against us is for us. He does not enjoin us to give a loose rein to rash men, and to be silent while they intermeddle with this and the other matter, according to their own fancy, and disturb the whole order of the Church: for such licentiousness, so far as our calling allows, must be restrained. He only affirms that they act improperly, who unseasonably prevent the kingdom of God from being advanced by any means whatever. And yet he does not acknowledge as his disciples, or reckon as belonging to his flock, those who hold an intermediate place between enemies and friends, but means that,. so far as they do no harm, they are useful and profitable: for it is a proverbial saying, which reminds us that we ought not to raise a quarrel till we are constrained.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
40. He that is not against us Every expeller of demons that works separately from us must be held to be on our part, unless he is against us. He who thus is not against us is on our side.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Mar 9:40. For he that is not against us, &c. This is one of those maxims which take different senses, as they are applied to different subjects. The circumstances determine the signification. Our Lord had formerly said, Mat 12:30. He that is not with me, is against me; thereby giving his hearers a just and necessary admonition, that on the whole, the war between him and Satan admitted of no neutrality, and that those who were indifferent would finally be treated byhim as his enemies. But here, in another view, he very consistently uses a different and seemingly opposite proverb, the counterpart of the former; directing his followers to judge of men’s characters in the most candid manner, and charitably to hope, that they who did not oppose his cause, wished well to it; a conduct peculiarly reasonable, when his cause lay under so manydiscouragements. Probably, many who now concealed their regard to him, were afterwards animated courageously to profess it, though at the greatest hazard. See Doddridge and Heylin.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
Ver. 40. Is on our part ] Is to be esteemed among such as favour me in this furious age.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
40. ] This saying is not inconsistent with that in Mat 12:30 . They do not refer to the same thing. This is said of outward conformity that, of inward unity of purpose two widely different things. On that saying, see note there. On this, we may say all those who, notwithstanding outward differences of communion and government, believe in and preach Jesus Christ, without bitterly and uncharitably opposing each other, are hereby declared to be helpers forward of each other’s work . O that all Christians would remember this! Stier (Red. J. iii. 24) strongly deprecates the reading ; “The us in the mouth of our Lord here confuses and destroys nearly the whole purport of his weighty saying. For this is the very fault of the disciples, that they laid down outward and visible communion with them as the decisive criterion of communion with the Lord: and this very fault the Lord rebukes with his repudiatory .” Still, there is a propriety, a tempering the rebuke with a gracious reminiscence of their unity with Him, and something exceedingly suiting the below, in . In the divided state of the critical evidence, the reading must be ever doubtful.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 9:40 . The counterpart truth to that in Mat 10:30 . Both truths, and easily harmonised. It is in both cases a question of tendency; a little sympathy inclines to grow to more, so also with a lack of sympathy. Vide on Mat 12:30 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
against. Greek. kata. App-104.
on our part = for (huper = on our behalf. App-104.) us.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
40.] This saying is not inconsistent with that in Mat 12:30. They do not refer to the same thing. This is said of outward conformity-that, of inward unity of purpose-two widely different things. On that saying, see note there. On this, we may say-all those who, notwithstanding outward differences of communion and government, believe in and preach Jesus Christ, without bitterly and uncharitably opposing each other, are hereby declared to be helpers forward of each others work. O that all Christians would remember this! Stier (Red. J. iii. 24) strongly deprecates the reading -; The us in the mouth of our Lord here confuses and destroys nearly the whole purport of his weighty saying. For this is the very fault of the disciples, that they laid down outward and visible communion with them as the decisive criterion of communion with the Lord: and this very fault the Lord rebukes with his repudiatory . Still, there is a propriety, a tempering the rebuke with a gracious reminiscence of their unity with Him, and something exceedingly suiting the below, in -. In the divided state of the critical evidence, the reading must be ever doubtful.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 9:40. -, you-on your part) Comp. ver. foll., Mat 12:27. Jesus spake in the first person plural as to external things; Luk 22:8; Luk 18:31 : but not so as to the internal principles of His kingdom [Joh 20:17]. He thus gently corrects the we-us of Mar 9:38.[7]-, is) He is speaking of those who undertake something for Christs sake.
[7] Lachm. agrees with Beng. in reading – here, Mar 9:40, with ADGabc Vulg. But Tisch. – with BC Memph.-ED. and TRANSL.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Mat 12:30, Luk 11:23
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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There is no actual neutrality with regard to matters pertaining to Christ. A man may not be very active in an unrighteous life, but unless he is active in the service for Christ he is counted as being “on the other side” (Oba 1:11).
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 9:40. Against us is for us. Mat 12:30;
He that is not with me, is against me. As regards Christ and His people, there is no neutrality. In certain cases, the absence of hostility is a proof of friendship; in others, the failure to cooperate is the proof of enmity; and both might occur in the experience of the same person. But in all cases there is either friendship or enmity. The apparently contradictory proverbs suggest the need of discrimination in applying them. The saying in Matthew refers more to inward unity with Christ; this one to outward conformity with His people. The former may exist independently of the latter, and its existence unites real Christians, whatever their name and outward differences.