John, speaking for the twelve, relates to Jesus how they had used their self-appointed authority to forbid one ministering in Christ’s name. One, who as John put it, “followeth not us.” It seemed to them, no doubt, no one could possibly be for Christ who did not belong to their group and do things the way they did. But, as dear Matthew Henry says, “Christ’s grace is not tied to the visible Church.”
Does the above not remind us of Joshua’s words when two men prophesied in the camp but went not up with the rest to the door of the Tabernacle? “My lord Moses, forbid them.” To which the patriarch answered, “Enviest thou for my sake? The old man went on to say, “Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that he would put his spirit upon them!” I wonder if there was not a little envy among the disciples also because of the man successfully casting out a devil. Remember, a brief time earlier when they attempted to cast of a devil from a young child? We are told “they could not.”
It is good to keep in mind that friendship and hostility toward Christ do not exist together. To quote Henry again, “That which is good, and doth good, must not be prohibited, though there may be some defect or irregularity in the manner of doing it.” Jesus did not tell his disciples to join the man, to promote him, nor to persuade him to come in with them. He simply told them, “Forbid him not.” I find it wise to heed our Lord’s admonition to Peter when he asked Jesus what He had in mind for John. “What is that to thee? follow thou me.”
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