Mark 9:40 Meaning: Not Against, So For Us
For whoever is not against us is on our side.
For he that is not against us is on our part.
For he that is not against us is for us.
for he who is not against us is for us;
for he who is not against us is for us.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus says if someone isn't against us, they're for us. How this fits with Matthew 12:30 and what it means for how we judge other believers.
Context
Jesus had just taken a child in his arms and told the disciples that welcoming a child in his name is like welcoming him, and the Father who sent him. Then John spoke up. He had seen a man driving out demons in Jesus' name, but the man wasn't part of their group. So John stopped him. Jesus answered with two truths: first, no one who does a miracle in his name will quickly turn and curse him. Second, the principle in this verse: if a person is not working against the kingdom, treat him as working for it. The disciples were learning that following Jesus means something bigger than their own circle.
Key Words
The Greek preposition kata (against) pictures a direct opposition, someone lined up against you. The word huper (for) means acting in someone's behalf, on their side. Jesus chooses plain prepositions to draw a simple line: the real divide is between active opposition and anything else. A person doing good work in his name cannot be neutral in a bad sense. The verb estin (is) points to present reality, not past membership or future allegiance, but what is happening now. That matters because it frees us from needing to know someone's whole story before we recognize God at work through them. We can say yes to what God is doing today.
How Christians Read This Verse
Commentators have wrestled with how this verse fits with Jesus' statement in Matthew 12:30 that 'he who is not with me is against me.' Wesley explained that in Matthew the issue was neutrality toward Jesus himself, while here the disciples are told to judge others charitably. Calvin cautioned that Jesus does not approve everyone who meddles, but only says we should not hinder the kingdom's advance through unexpected people. Clarke linked the moment to Numbers 11, where Moses told Joshua not to be jealous when others prophesied. Christians across traditions agree: this verse widens our vision beyond our own group, though they describe the boundaries differently. The core point is that God's work can show up where we least expect it.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse as saying anyone who is not openly hostile to Christians is automatically saved or on God's side. But that misses the context. Jesus is talking about a man who is casting out demons in his name, a person actively doing kingdom work. The verse does not say the neutral or indifferent are fine. It says that believers should recognize those doing genuine good in Jesus' name as allies, even if they don't belong to the same club. The line is not between 'us' and 'them' but between those who work for Christ and those who oppose him.
Living This Out
This week you might encounter a Christian from a tradition different from yours, a different denomination, a different style of worship, a different way of praying. It could be easy to keep your distance because they don't 'follow us.' What if instead you looked for the good they are doing in Jesus' name? Maybe they run a food pantry, lead a Bible study, or care for the poor. You don't have to agree on everything. But you can say, 'If they are not against the Lord, they are for him.' That small shift opens the door to partnership, or at least to gratitude. The kingdom is bigger than your circle.
Main takeaway: Jesus calls us to recognize allies in his work, not to narrow the circle based on our group.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
John saw someone helping people in Jesus' name, but he wasn't in John's group. Jesus said that's okay. If someone is not against Jesus, they are for him. We can be happy when anyone helps in Jesus' name.
For ages 9, 12
In this story, John tried to stop a man from casting out demons because the man wasn't one of Jesus' disciples. But Jesus corrected him. The man was doing real good in Jesus' name, he wasn't against them. Jesus teaches us not to think our group is the only one God uses. When you see another Christian doing something good for God, you can say, 'That's awesome, they're on our team!' even if they go to a different church.
Questions People Ask
Does Mark 9:40 contradict Matthew 12:30, where Jesus says 'he who is not with me is against me'?
Not really. Matthew 12:30 is about personal loyalty to Jesus himself, you can't be neutral about who he is. Mark 9:40 is about how we treat other believers. Wesley explained it well: we should be strict with ourselves and generous with others. The man casting out demons was not neutral about Jesus; he was using Jesus' name. So the two verses address different situations.
Who is the 'us' in 'whoever is not against us is on our side'?
The 'us' refers to Jesus and his disciples. Some early manuscripts actually have 'you' instead of 'us,' meaning Jesus was speaking directly to the disciples. Either way, the point is that the person was not opposing Jesus' work or the disciples' mission. He was on the same side, even though he didn't travel with them.
Why did the disciples try to stop the man from casting out demons?
John said, 'he doesn't follow us.' The disciples were protective of their group. They thought that only those who physically accompanied Jesus had the right to use his name. But Jesus showed that the kingdom of God is bigger than any one group. The man's work proved he was on their side, even if he wasn't in their company.
Does this verse mean Christians should never correct false teaching or wrong practice?
No. Calvin noted that Jesus does not give a free pass to anyone who stirs up trouble or disturbs the church. The verse is about recognizing genuine good done in Jesus' name. If someone is clearly opposing the gospel or leading people away from Christ, that's a different matter. But when someone is doing real good and honoring Jesus, we should not forbid them just because they don't fit our mold.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study