John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
John’s question reveals a subtle but crucial shift in perspective happening in the disciples: they were focused on who was doing the work (someone not following them), rather than the fact that the work was in Jesus' name and was clearly effective. This highlights the danger of pride and a tribal mindset, even when trying to protect what seems like Jesus' interests.
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just been teaching his disciples about humility and welcoming others, even children, in his name. John, prompted by Jesus' words, shares an incident where he and the other disciples stopped someone from casting out demons, not because the person was doing wrong, but because they weren't part of their specific group. This reveals their internal struggle with exclusivity and a desire to protect their own perceived authority within Jesus' movement.
Have you ever felt protective of a group or a cause, to the point of pushing others away? John's question reveals a common human tendency.
John, along with the other disciples, expresses a strong sense of 'us' versus 'them'. They saw someone performing miracles in Jesus' name—a sign of God's power—but because this person wasn't part of their immediate group, they felt it was right to stop him.
The Disciples' Logic:
This isn't necessarily born out of malice, but rather a zealous, albeit misguided, protection of what they perceived as Jesus' inner circle. It’s a natural inclination to want to guard the boundaries of something precious.
Even someone outside the core group was wielding incredible spiritual authority. What does this tell us about the source of that power?
The remarkable thing John reports is that the man was casting out demons . This wasn't just a random act; it was invoking the authority and power of Jesus.
Ask a follow-up
Key Insights:
John’s candor in reporting this, even though it potentially made the disciples look a bit foolish, shows a willingness to bring genuine questions to Jesus.
When the disciples wanted to shut down God's work, Jesus offered a radically different perspective. What was His core principle?
Jesus’ response to John is profound. Instead of validating the disciples' exclusivity, He redirects them toward a much broader understanding of God’s work.
Jesus' Teaching:
Jesus is teaching that genuine alignment with His purposes matters more than organizational affiliation. While He later emphasizes loyalty to Him, in this moment, He wants them to recognize and rejoice in God's work, wherever it appears.
Understand the original words
daimonion · Greek Noun
A spiritual being, an agent of the kingdom of darkness, who opposes God and oppresses humanity; casting them out manifests the authority and power of God's Kingdom.
This incident highlights a key tension during Jesus' ministry: the struggle between rigid adherence to a specific group and a broader recognition of God's work happening outside of it. The disciples' reaction reveals a nascent, yet still developing, understanding of Jesus' kingdom, which would eventually encompass people from all backgrounds.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, gathering disciples and performing miracles, which attracts widespread attention across Galilee and Judea.
c. AD 28
Disciples Sent Out
Jesus sends out his twelve disciples and later the seventy, commissioning them to preach, heal, and cast out demons in his name.
c. AD 29
Jesus Teaches About Humility
Jesus teaches his disciples about the importance of humility and welcoming the 'little ones' who believe in him, shortly before the incident with John.
c. AD 29— this verse
John Reports Unauthorized Exorcism
John tells Jesus that he and the other disciples stopped someone from casting out demons in Jesus' name because that person was not part of their group.
c. AD 29
Jesus Teaches Unity and Tolerance
Jesus responds by stating that anyone not against them is for them, and that even a small act of kindness for his followers will be rewarded.
c. AD 30
Jesus Sets Face Toward Jerusalem
Jesus begins his final journey to Jerusalem, a period marked by further teachings on discipleship, faith, and the consequences of causing believers to stumble.
This passage describes the same incident from Luke's Gospel, highlighting John's concern that the man 'followeth not *with us*,' revealing the disciples' nascent tendency towards exclusivity and partisanship.
Numbers 11:27-29When Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camp, Joshua wanted to stop them, but Moses famously replied, 'Would that all the Lord's people were prophets! Would that the Lord would put his Spirit on them all!' This echoes John's impulse to restrict God's work and Moses' more expansive view of God's Spirit.
Acts 19:13-16This passage presents a contrasting example where individuals tried to cast out demons using Jesus' name without true faith or authorization, showing that the power of Jesus' name could be invoked superficially, highlighting the importance of discerning the heart behind such actions.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27Paul's analogy of the body illustrates how diverse members, though not all the same, are essential parts of one whole, which speaks to the idea that God uses various people and gifts for His purposes, even if they aren't part of one's immediate group.
bengelMark 9:38: "And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us."
Mark 9:38 . Ἀπεκρίθη , answered ) The connection of the words of John with the preceding words of Jesus is manifold. The power of the name of Christ is asserted in the words of both, Mark 9:37-38 ; Mark 9:41 . The disciples had previously discussed with one another, which among them should be the greater: now they are made to per…
calvinMark 9:38-40: "And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us."
- And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us; and we forbade him, because he followeth him, because he followeth not us. 39. And Jesus said, Forbid him not; for there is no man who, if he has performed a miracle in my name, can easily speak evil of me. 40. For he…
John’s question reveals a subtle but crucial shift in perspective happening in the disciples: they were focused on who was doing the work (someone not following them), rather than the fact that the work was in Jesus' name and was clearly effective. This highlights the danger of pride and a tribal mindset, even when trying to protect what seems like Jesus' interests.
Jesus has just been teaching his disciples about humility and welcoming others, even children, in his name. John, prompted by Jesus' words, shares an incident where he and the other disciples stopped someone from casting out demons, not because the person was doing wrong, but because they weren't part of their specific group. This reveals their internal struggle with exclusivity and a desire to protect their own perceived authority within Jesus' movement.
Jesus has just been teaching his disciples about humility and welcoming others, even children, in his name. John, prompted by Jesus' words, shares an incident where he and the other disciples stopped someone from casting out demons, not because the person was doing wrong, but because they weren't part of their specific group. This reveals their internal struggle with exclusivity and a desire to protect their own perceived authority within Jesus' movement.
"John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”" — John’s question reveals a subtle but crucial shift in perspective happening in the disciples: they were focused on who was doing the work (someone not following them), rather than the fact that t…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026