23<\/strong>. He that is not with me is against me<\/em> ] Neutrality is sometimes opposition, see on Luk 9:51<\/span> (where we have the complementary truth).<\/p>\n Luk 11:23<\/span><\/p>\n He that Is not with Me is against Me<\/em><\/p>\n Neutrality in religion impossible<\/strong><\/p>\n There is no device by which the god of this world more fatally deceives the souls of unwary men, than by leading them to suppose that they can take neutral ground in regard to the character and cause of Christ.<\/p>\n Now, in proof of the assertion that neutrality in regard to the character and cause of Christ is impossible, let me–<\/p>\n 1.<\/strong> Adduce the testimony of the Word of God. The text is explicit. He that is not for Me is against Me, and He that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad. The same thing is taught in language not less explicit in our Saviours sermon on the mount. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other; ye cannot serve God and Mammon. Take another passage equally decisive. The friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. <\/p>\n 2.<\/strong> The same is evident from the nature of the human mind, and the laws under which it acts. Every man has some commanding principle of action, some supreme object of affection and pursuit; and he can have but one such object. <\/p>\n 3.<\/strong> The truth of our doctrine is proved from the nature of the Divine requirements. These requirements are positive in their character, and cannot be satisfied with mere negative obedience. <\/p>\n 4.<\/strong> The character and cause of Christ are in their nature such as render it impossible for any to feel indifferent or take neutral ground in respect to them. <\/p>\n 5.<\/strong> The disclosures and decisions of the judgment day prove that neutrality in regard to Christ and religion is impossible. <\/p>\n In conclusion, I am led to remark–<\/p>\n 1.<\/strong> It may be expected that those who assume neutral ground will take it unkindly when their deception and danger are exposed. <\/p>\n 2.<\/strong> If all who are not for Christ are against him, then it is immensely important that this truth should be clearly set forth and fully known. (J. Hawes, D. D.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Opposition to Christ<\/strong><\/p>\n 1.<\/strong> Nothing shows men more than their attractions and aversions. Mark the objects of their choice and of their preference; see with whom they most readily and pleasingly associate; and then call to remembrance the adage, Tell me a mans company, and I will tell you his character. Congeniality is the inducement and the bond of union. To be against some individuals would expose you to general indignation. Which of you would like to be opposed to a Thornton, a Reynolds, a Howard, a Leighton, a Fenelon: But here we have the brightness of Gods glory, and the express image of His person. <\/p>\n 2.<\/strong> Again: nothing is more unreasonable, vile, and shameful than to oppose a Benefactor and Friend, who has laid you under peculiar obligations, upon whom you had no claim, and who has yet spared no expense, no pains, in order to serve you. <\/p>\n 1.<\/strong> Can you overcome Him? <\/p>\n 2.<\/strong> Can you endure Him? <\/p>\n 3.<\/strong> Can you escape from Him? <\/p>\n 1.<\/strong> He has a people, and they that persecute them persecute Him. <\/p>\n 2.<\/strong> He has a cause in this world: the gospel of our salvation. And how it has been opposed! It offends because it is the enemy of self and sin, and because of its sanctifying influence. <\/p>\n 3.<\/strong> He has also a providential agency on earth; and the dispensations of His providence are designed to promote the purposes of His grace. Yet with some this is all in vain. They will have none of Him. <\/p>\n Christian neutrality impossible<\/strong><\/p>\n 1.<\/strong> The design which Christ is pursuing is the greatest of all possible designs in every point of view. <\/p>\n (1)<\/strong> It is great in its origin. <\/p>\n (2)<\/strong> Great in extent. <\/p>\n (3)<\/strong> Great in duration. <\/p>\n 2.<\/strong> The great design which Christ is pursuing is totally opposed to all the selfish designs of mankind. <\/p>\n 3.<\/strong> Christ, in carrying on His great, comprehensive, and benevolent design, employs all mankind as instruments in promoting it. <\/p>\n 4.<\/strong> None of the inhabitants of the invisible world are indifferent towards the great and interesting design which Christ has undertaken, and is determined to accomplish. <\/p>\n 1.<\/strong> If none can be indifferent towards the design which Christ is carrying on, then none have any ground to imagine that they are neuters in religion. <\/p>\n 2.<\/strong> If none can be indifferent towards the design which Christ is carrying on, then all who do not act for Him, act against Him. As all must be for Him or against Him in their hearts, so all must be for Him or against Him in their conduct. <\/p>\n 3.<\/strong> If all who are with Christ are united to Him in His great and glorious design, then all who are united to Him are more firmly united to one another than any other persons in the world. <\/p>\n 4.<\/strong> If all who are not for Christ are against Him then the most regular and amiable sinners may be as much against Him as any other sinners. <\/p>\n 5.<\/strong> We learn from what has been said the great criminality of sinners. They are all against Christ in their hearts and in their conduct, without a single exception. And by opposing this great and glorious purpose they oppose the glory of God, and all the holiness and happiness in the universe. Is this a small error, or a mere venial fault: Is it not a sin of the first magnitude? Can they be guilty of a greater? <\/p>\n 6.<\/strong> This subject shows the imminent danger of all who are against Christ and opposing His great and glorious design. (N. Emmons, D. D.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n No neutrality in religion<\/strong><\/p>\n We are all either gatherers or scatterers; either workmen in the erection of a vast spiritual fabric, or destroyers who lay its honour in the dust. <\/p>\n 1.<\/strong> We remind you, then, in the first place, that you are scattering Christs seed in the world, if you are not gathering it. The absence of the Christian temper in your daily conduct, the absence of Christian charitableness in your judgment of your fellow-men–nay, the mere absence of all concern for the glory and spread of the Redeemers triumphs, will all be, in effect, an absolute accession to the strength of His adversary; and that for this simple reason–that the war which Christ is carrying on is essentially aggressive. To stand still, therefore, in spiritual things is to help Satan. If you are not with Christ, you are against Him; if you gather not with Him, you are scattering abroad. <\/p>\n 2.<\/strong> Again: you are scattering Christs flock in your families, if you do not gather them. <\/p>\n 3.<\/strong> Again: you are scattering Christs precious gifts in your own hearts, if you are not gathering them. Consider, then, what use you are making of the gifts which Christ hath given you. <\/p>\n 4.<\/strong> But this text must have a more awful illustration still. Christs scatterers and Christs gatherers must have one more meeting yet; and only one. The gathered seed shall expand and ripen, till it becomes fit for the garners and the stores of heaven. The gathered flock shall rise from earth and sea, and pass under the portals of the everlasting dome. The gathered graces of the Redeemer shall be purged from their earthly dross, forming by their clustered brightness the new name upon His brow. But the scattered seed which you did not prize, the scattered flock which you would not feed, the scattered graces that you would neither seek nor keep nor bind up, shall all rise up in judgment against you, and in their turn shall scatter you. Christ Himself will be the only gatherer then. (D. Moore, M. A.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n What it is to be with Christ<\/strong><\/p>\n What can the words mean for us? Not actual, personal, visible fellowship with Him. That is impossible now, or so long as we are in the flesh. Yet do we say, at times, to any teacher or leader who may have won our confidence, I am with you in that, meaning that we accept the same doctrine, cherish the same convictions, have the same practical aims as he holds and is trying to reach. And that is substantially what is meant, I take it, by being with Christ: we are with Him, that is, if at all, in sympathy, in affection, and in active endeavour. Faith, love, obedience, in other words, constitute the triple cord which binds men to Christ. (J. H. Rylance, D. D.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n A half-Christian<\/strong><\/p>\n He that is not with Me. Such is our Lords description of a half-Christian. Let us think what we are. And then let us consider why such a person not being with should be said to be against Him. Who then is not with Christ? Of course, and most obviously, he who never visits Christ, he who never seeks Christ, is not with Him. We may do both, and yet not live with Him. We may pray to Him and communicate with Him now and then, and yet not be with Him. That is quite possible. But it is too plain that, if we do not ever seriously pray to Him, or seek His presence, in our hearts by faith, we cannot be with Him. Those of us are not with Him who do not pray heartily and earnestly as well as regularly. Those of us are not with Him who, having been confirmed, do not habitually come to His holy table to have their faith strengthened and refreshed by His Holy Spirit. But this is not enough to explain the words. To be with Christ is to be on His side. It implies that there is a daily strife going on where we are, and that Christ is one of two parties in it. It implies that life, our own life, is a struggle, and that Christ is concerned in that struggle; interested in its progress, and interested in its end. And if this be the meaning of the words, He that is with Me, we can all understand the meaning of their opposite, He that is not with Me. You see that it does not necessarily imply active opposition to Christ. You need not have ever thwarted or ridiculed one of Christs servants in order to expose you to the charge of not being with Him. It is a negative expression. It implies only that you have felt no deep interest in being yourself, or in inducing others to be, such as Christ would have you and them. It implies only that you have not taken pains to cherish the thought of God with reverence and love, to claim your position as His son, and to live up to it. It implies only that it has not been a great and constant object with you to get to heaven at last, and while upon earth to live as an expectant, as an heir, of heaven. But we were to inquire why those who are thus not with Christ are said to be against Him. The two ideas seem to be different. Surely there is a difference between a want of decision and an adverse decision; between being a faint-hearted or even a cowardly soldier on the one side, and being positively enrolled and enlisted on the other? Yes, there is a difference; we do not deny it. But what the text impresses upon us is this, that, for many practical purposes, and so far as the final personal issue is concerned, the faint-hearted, cowardly, treacherous soldier of Christ is rather an enemy to Him than a friend. (Dean Vaughan.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Spiritual waste and wealth<\/strong><\/p>\n In spiritual affairs we find we are subject to this condition in respect to one Supreme Spirit–that if we are not serving Him we are wronging Him; if we are not gathering with Him–gathering wisdom and strength and purity and greater capacity for good and other fruit unto everlasting life–then we are wasting what belongs to Him. We are in a necessary stewardship, and this is one of its laws. The law may look exacting in the statement, but it is glorious in its operation. Neutrality, not only in the posture of our affections, but in the use of our active powers, is impossible. Not far from each of the great scenes of our Saviours ministry there was a third party, taking no apparent share in the transaction. Those that sided openly with Him and publicly confessed their loyalty, on the one hand, and those that expressly opposed Him, on the other, became, of course, conspicuous in the conflicts that sprang up about Him. By their direct opposition to each other, Apostles and Pharisees, the family at Bethany and the Council at Jerusalem, John and Judas, Zaccheus and Herod, Joseph of Arimathea and Pilate, immediately suggest to us two distinct classes of people–the friends and the enemies of the Son of God. Decided convictions always throw men into definite positions. Near by, however, you might always find another class, more numerous, probably, than either of them. They are not brought forward into notice, because no real interest or choice brought them visibly into the struggle that was going on. Other things absorbed their attention. He speaks to that large third class among you to-day. If there is any question about that position–as to its rightfulness, or its safety, or where those that are trying to hold it really belong–does He not settle that question by the text? He that gathereth not with Me scattereth. It is remarkable, in all the gospel, how invariable and how clear Christ makes this doctrine of absolute and necessary separation. There is no <\/em>third party after all. There is no place for one. Non-profession does not make non-allegiance or neutrality. It makes allegiance to the enemy. It makes disloyalty. He that is not with Me is against Me. The next truth to be remembered is our dangerous liability to be deceived just at that point–i.e., to reckon as harmless or safe courses of life that are really anti-Christian. If there are any, here or elsewhere, who think they do enough because they are not positive opponents, mockers, or infidels; who think that, because they never persecute, or revile, or take a traitors silver, or meet to plot with scribes and Pharisees for Herod, therefore they are not secretly fighting against their eternal King, Christ here assigns them their place with terrible distinctness. Unlike the politic leaders of earthly kingdoms, He fearlessly casts this middle party from Him–that it may thereby become truly His. All are scatterers that are not gatherers with Him. There is a striking record, in the Book of Numbers, of-a prophet who tried, in perilous days, to be on neither side, and paltered with a double tongue between the true God and His enemies; but at last the issue between the two armies could be no longer evaded, and, after the battle, the body of this compromising neutral, Balaam, was found on the enemys side, where it fell fighting against the Lord. It is in this sense that Christ comes to put men and families of men at variance–with one another–a strange thing to be written of Him. It is not for divisions sake, but only that truth may not be confounded with a lie, darkness be called light, and the very foundations of all honour guilt. There can be no lasting harmony, no healthy peace, but in Him in whom all things in their unity consist. All is wasted then that is not done with a heart of love and that toward God; all time that is not spent for Him–these days of busy labour in trades and professions; these unsatisfying contortions of effort to be a little richer, or a little more noticed, or to climb one round more on the ladder that you will slip from the instant death touches your fingers; these plans, schemes, travels, bargains, buildings–they look like gathering, but they are only scattering, unless in the midst of them all your character is daily built up, a spiritual house, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner-stone. Gather with Him and all the parts of your life which are yet alien or infirm He will steadily draw into the unity of His own body, making it strong and pure and immortal, knit together and making increase by the edifying of His love. (Bishop F. D. Huntington.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Neutrality impossible in religion<\/strong><\/p>\n You dont mean to call me an enemy of religion, do you? said a farmer to a gentleman who was urging him to become a friend of Christ. He that is not for Me is against Me, are Christs words. Are they not decisive of your question? replied the gentleman. But I am friendly to religion, rejoined the farmer. Friendly! How? You do not revile Christ, I know; but do you serve Him? Do you avow yourself His disciple? Are you His disciple? Do you by your life and speech declare that faith in Christ is necessary to salvation? I do not profess faith in Christ, sir, said the farmer; and, of course, I cannot consistently urge that faith on others. Then, you see, replied the gentleman, that your influence is against the acceptance of Christ by others. Its voice is: Personal faith in Christ is not a very important matter; if it were, I should seek it. The farmer was silenced. He felt that his friend was right. He saw that not to be on Christs side was to be against Him; not to be marching with His pilgrims to heaven was to be marching with His enemies to hell. He was right. There was no middle course. <\/p>\n Impossible neutrality<\/strong><\/p>\n Pythagoras, being asked what he was, answered that if Hiero were ever at the Olympian games, he knew the manner–that some came to try their fortune for the prizes, and some came as merchants to utter their commodities, and some came to make good cheer and meet their friends, and some came to look on; and that he was one of them that came to look on. But men must know that, in this theatre of mans life, it is reserved only for God and the angels to be lookers-on. (Lord Bacon.<\/em>)<\/p>\n 23. gathereth . . .scattereth<\/B>referring probably to gleaners. The meaning seems tobe, Whatever in religion is disconnected from Christ comes tonothing.<\/P><\/p>\n He that is not with me, is against me<\/strong>,…. Our Lord does not mean one, that was not personally with him; for there might be some, and doubtless were many, who were not in person with him, and yet were not against him, but friends to him, and to his interest; nor one that was not a professed disciple of his, or not a follower of him, and his apostles; for there were some who called themselves John’s disciples, and did not attend on Christ, and yet were not against him, but cast out devils in his name; and such an one perhaps was he, that is made mention of in Mr 9:38<\/span> on occasion of whom, Christ there says some words, which may seem at first view, not so well to accord with these: but such are intended, who acted a neutral part between him and the Pharisees; who could bear to hear them accuse him of casting out devils by the prince of devils, and be easy at it: and such persons are condemned, who can hear all manner of blasphemy against the deity, sonship, blood, righteousness, and sacrifice of Christ, and express no indignation at it; these, as they cannot be said to be with Christ, may be truly ranked among those that are against him:<\/p>\n and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth<\/strong>; whoever did not encourage persons to attend on the ministry of Christ, which was confirmed by such miracles the Pharisees spoke so reproachfully and contemptuously of, were reckoned by Christ as such, who were the means of hindering persons gathering unto him; as well as those who menaced and excommunicated them for so doing: the allusion is either to the gathering of the sheep into the fold, and the scattering of them by the wolf; or to the gathering of the wheat, and binding it in sheaves, and bringing it home in harvest; and to the scattering of the wheat loose in the field, whereby it is lost, and comes to nothing; [See comments on Mt 12:30]<\/span>.<\/p>\n He that is not with me <\/B> ( ‘ <\/SPAN><\/span>). This verse is just like Mt 12:30<\/span>. <\/P> <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1) “He that is not with me is against me:” <\/strong>(ho me hjon met’ emou kat’ emou estin) “The one who is not (exists not) with me is (really) against me,” in soul, body, mind and spirit, as set forth Mat 6:24<\/span>; Mat 12:30<\/span>. There is no middle ground.<\/p>\n 2) “And he that gathereth not with me scattereth.” <\/strong>(kai ho me sunagon met’ emou skorpizei) “And the one who does not gather in colleague with me scatters,” Mat 12:30<\/span>. He scatters like an idle man rambling over a field of ripe grain, knocking it down or over.<\/p>\n “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.”<\/p>\n He then summarises the situation that this produces. There are those who are with Him, and who with Him gather in the harvest of God’s chosen ones (Luk 3:17<\/span>), and there are those who are against Him and who simply scatter those who would be God’s grain so that they are lost to the winds. Others see the sentence in terms of gathering and scattering sheep (Eze 34:21<\/span> in context; Mat 9:36<\/span>; Joh 10:12 ; 1Ki 22:17<\/span>; Jer 50:17<\/span>; Ezekiel 34<\/span>), but the idea is the same. And these Scribes and Pharisees have shown which they are. Who is it now who are showing themselves to be influenced by Satan?<\/p>\n Luk 11:23<\/span> . After Jesus has repelled the accusation: . . ., Luk 11:15<\/span> , He pronounces upon the relation to Him of those men spoken of in<\/em> Luk 11:15<\/span> (see on Mat 12:30<\/span> ), and then adds <\/p>\n 23.<\/strong> ] See on Mat 12:30<\/span> .<\/p>\n Luk 11:23<\/span> = Mat 12:30<\/span> .<\/p>\n 23.] See on Mat 12:30.<\/p>\n [23. , with Me) No mortal man could by his own strength (powers) have assisted Jesus, and many were fighting against Him: yet notwithstanding He performed such stupendous miracles. He is therefore , the stronger man, Luk 11:22.-V. g.]<\/p>\n Luk 9:50, Mat 12:30, Rev 3:15, Rev 3:16 <\/p>\n Reciprocal: Dan 11:17 – upright ones Mar 9:40 – General Luk 16:13 – servant<\/p>\n FOR OR AGAINST?<\/p>\n He that is not with Me is against Me.<\/p>\n Luk 11:23<\/p>\n As we look around the world we see some are for Christ, and we see others are against Him. In fact, this is the thing which divides the whole world.<\/p>\n I. If you are for Christ, yours is great joy.Christ infinitely increases the joys of life and lessens the sorrows.<\/p>\n II. To be for Christ often necessitates great sacrifices (Read Luk 12:49-54). Duty is a great word, a noble, a grand word, but love is a higher, nobler, greater, grander word. Men will do for love, they will make sacrifices for love, which they would not do for duty.<\/p>\n III. To live for Christ ensures great reward (Mat 25:21; Rev 22:12).Your feet shall stand at last within the New Jerusalem, and there Christ will give you eternal rest, and light perpetual will shine upon you.<\/p>\n Rev. F. Harper.<\/p>\n Illustrations<\/p>\n (1) The application of this expression, He that is not with Me is against Me, is differently interpreted by different commentators. Some think that it should be confined strictly to the subject of which our Lord is speaking: that is, the utter division which exists between His kingdom and that of the devil. They think our Lord is enforcing the absurdity of the idea that He cast out devils by Beelzebub, and that His argument is, There can be no alliance between Me and Satan: he is not with Me, and so he is against Me: he is not gathering with Me, and so he scatters. Others think that the expression is of much wider application, and that it is a general truth concerning all waverers, and doubters, and half-hearted and excuse-making people, of whom no doubt there were many among our Lords hearers. They argue that our Lord is exposing the awful danger of many of His Jewish hearers, who had been a little roused by John the Baptist, and seemed likely to receive Christ when He appeared. And yet, when He did appear, they hung back and affected to be troubled with doubts, and so continued neutral and undecided. This last opinion appears to me by far the most probable, and is confirmed by the passage which immediately follows. The sentence is directed against undecided Jews, who were like the man from whom the unclean spirit had gone forth. Their hesitating neutrality was a most dangerous position. Their last end was likely to be worse than their first.<\/p>\n (2) At first sight it seems difficult to reconcile our Lords words in this verse with His words in another place. We find Him saying of one who cast out devils in His name, but did not follow His disciples, Forbid him not; for he that is not against us is for us (Luk 9:50). Here, however, we find Him saying, He that is not with us is against us. The reconciliation of the two sentences in reality is not difficult. They were spoken of two entirely different classes of persons. In the former case, our Lord was speaking of one who was really working for Christ and against the devil, and was doing good, though perhaps not in the wisest way. Of him He says, He that is not against us is for us. He works against the same enemy that we work against, and therefore he is on our side. In the case before us, our Lord is speaking of men who refused to join Him and become His disciples, who held aloof from Him, and were afraid or ashamed of His service. Of them He says, He that is not with us is against us. He does not avow himself our friend, and so he becomes practically one of our foes.<\/p>\n (SECOND OUTLINE)<\/p>\n NO NEUTRALITY<\/p>\n In this wide world there are two, and but two, opposing armies; the army of good, which is of Jesus; and the army of eviland every soul belongs to one or the other.<\/p>\n I. No neutrality.We know from our Lords words in the text that neutrality is impossible. Under every mask of appearances there beats a heart in every human bosomand that heart is the Lords, or it is notit belongs to Jesus, and it has chosen goodor it has chosen evil and sin. You may not be able to see whichit is, perhaps, not desirable that you should be able. But, nevertheless, we learn, without a shadow of doubt, that every one of us makes the choice between good and evilbetween right and wrongand cannot avoid making it.<\/p>\n II. Fatal facility of choice.And we learn, in the next place, that there is a fatal facility of choicethat it is terribly easy to choose wrongly in this momentous and important matter. As the first beginnings of good, so the first beginnings of evil in the soul are for the most part hidden and secretopen only to the eye of God. An unhappy person who has chosen to be on the wicked side, as I may say, may not at all realise or understand that he has so chosen. For it is but seldom that any one chooses evil by any one great and decisive act. He chooses it by degrees.<\/p>\n III. Under which flag?There are, as we have seen, two armies; to which do we belong? There are two leaders; which of them do we follow? What a deeply and vitally important matter this is! and yet, I fear, we give it very little thought. Many there are who drift into evil ways, without any specially evil purpose, because they have not taken the trouble to choose aright. To make no choice is to make a bad choice; let us never forget that.<\/p>\n IV. Faithful soldiers.But the choice, though of the greatest importance, is not all. We have not done all needful for our salvation when the choice is made, and made rightly. You choose to be Christs soldiers and servants. You do well. But that is not the end of your duty in this life; it is, indeed, only the beginning. Soldiers have battles to fight; servants have duties to perform; and when we have chosen Christ for our Master and Leader, we must not sit down and fold our hands, and think that we have done all when we have, in fact, done nothing. He would be but a poor soldier who never made a campaign; he would not be a very valuable servant who did nothing in the way of service to his master. No; if we choose Jesus as our Master, we must do something for Him; we must in some way do Him service. To this refers the words, He that gathereth not with Me scattereth. What does this mean? Why, it means that the man, the woman, the child even, who does not help Christs work, hinders it. What is Christs work? It is the salvation of the whole world.<\/p>\n Illustration<\/p>\n There is a picture called Diana or Christ? It is really a story of the early days of the Christian Church. There in the foreground of the picture stands a young Christian maid. By her side is the altar-fire burning before the image of the goddess, and by it sits the Roman governor waiting to see Romes cruel law carried out. Let her cast the incense upon the flame, but one grain of it, and she is free. Loving hands and lips all about her urge her to do the thing she is bidden, and there dimly sketched in the background of the picture you see the dark outlines of the Roman amphitheatre. Is the old question never put to us: Diana or Christ? But one grain of the incense, and thou art free. Yet there were some who dared to die because they loved Christ too well to deny Him. Bishop Patteson was found lying dead, killed by the savages, with five wounds on his body as on his Masters. To come down to the Chinese massacres of 1901; mark the heroism of the Chinese native Christians; out of sixty in one town there were fifty-nine who chose martyrdom, that is, to lose their heads, rather than renounce Christ, the executioner standing by meanwhile.<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n There is no “neutral” ground in matters of right and wrong. Regardless of how inactive a man may be, if he is not active for Christ he is his enemy.<\/p>\n Verse 23 <\/p>\n This seems to be a proverbial expression, meaning, generally, that they who act in opposition to one another, are enemies, not friends. In this view, its application to what precedes is obvious.<\/p>\n Luke 11:24-26. The class of sufferers here alluded to were sometimes, it would seem, apparently relieved by the arts of exorcists, and perhaps by medical treatment; but then it often occurred, in such cases, that, after a short interval of rest and composure, the demoniacal frenzy would return with new and more terrible violence than before. So Jesus predicted that the Jewish nation, upon which his ministry produced a temporary good effect, would soon abandon itself to oduracy and wickedness again.<\/p>\n 11:23 {5} He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.<\/p>\n (5) Against indifferent men, and such as love to have a compromise, who seek means to reconcile Christ and Satan together.<\/p>\n Continuing the figure of battle, Jesus reminded His hearers that whoever was not on Jesus’ side was on His enemy’s side. Changing the figure to reaping and herding, He made the same point again. Laborers in God’s field and among God’s flock who did not gather people as sheaves and sheep into the barn and fold of the kingdom with Jesus scattered them abroad. There was no neutral ground. People either supported Jesus or opposed Him.<\/p>\n He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 23. He that is not with me is against me ] Neutrality is sometimes opposition, see on Luk 9:51 (where we have the complementary truth). Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Luk 11:23 He that Is … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 11:23”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25410"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25410\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
I. <\/strong>The DISGRACEFULNESS of being against Christ. In order to make this appear a little, you will observe–<\/p>\n
II. <\/strong>The DANGER of befog against Christ. <\/p>\n
III. <\/strong>The POSSIBILITY of being against Him. <\/p>\n
IV. <\/strong>The evidence of being against Him. The question is, Are you with Him? Are you with Him in sentiment, in disposition, in action, in pursuit: Are you with Him as scholars are with their teacher, as servants are with their master, as soldiers are with their commander, as subjects are with their sovereign: Does He occupy the highest place in your regard? Does He dwell in your hearts by faith: Do you say, Other lords besides Thee have had dominion over me, but henceforth will I make mention of Thy name? And do you feel what is done against Him as done against yourselves: (W. Jay.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I. <\/strong>THE DESIGN CHRIST IS CARRYING ON. Redemption. <\/p>\n
II. <\/strong>THAT NO MAN CAN BE INDIFFERENT TOWARDS IT. <\/p>\nFuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Greek Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"