KJV ORIGINAL
And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
But Jesus told him, 'Don't stop him. Anyone who's not working against us is actually on our side.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Jesus said if someone's not your enemy, they're your friend, don't gatekeep doing good.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of Luke 9, Jesus is responding to His disciples who reported that a man was casting out demons in Jesus' name but wasn't part of their group, so they tried to stop him. This incident reflects the disciples' mindset shaped by Jewish cultural norms of exclusivity, where only authorized figures were seen as legitimate. Jesus uses this moment to teach a broader principle of acceptance, emphasizing that anyone not opposing His work is aligned with it.
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