Mark:9:38-41
rwp@Mark:9:38 @{Because he followed not us} (\hoti ouk kolouthei hmin\). Note vivid imperfect tense again. John evidently thought to change the subject from the constraint and embarrassment caused by their dispute. Songs:he told about a case of extra zeal on his part expecting praise from Jesus. Perhaps what Jesus had just said in verse 37| raised a doubt in John's mind as to the propriety of his excessive narrowness. One needs to know the difference between loyalty to Jesus and stickling over one's own narrow prejudices.
rwp@Mark:9:39 @{Forbid him not} (\m kluete\). Stop hindering him (\m\ and the present-imperative) as John had been doing.
rwp@Mark:9:40 @{He that is not against us is with us} (\hos ouk estin kath' hmn huper hmn estin\). This profound saying throws a flood of light in every direction. The complement of this logion is that in strkjv@Matthew: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.
rwp@Mark:9:41 @{Because ye are Christ's} (\hoti Christou este\). Predicate genitive, belong to Christ. See strkjv@Romans:8:9; strkjv@1Corinthians:1:12; strkjv@2Corinthians:10:7|. That is the bond of universal brotherhood of the redeemed. It breaks over the lines of nation, race, class, sex, everything. No service is too small, even a cup of cold water, if done for Christ's sake. See on ¯Matthew:18:6f.| for discussion on stumbling-blocks for these little ones that believe on Jesus (Mark:9:42|), a loving term of all believers, not just children.
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