Luke 9:50
What does Luke 9:50 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 9:50 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 9:50 means
Jesus replies, “Forbid him not: for he that is not against you is for you.” He broadens their perspective: anyone acting in Jesus’ name toward good ends should not be stopped simply because they are not part of the inner circle. The principle discourages petty jealousy and affirms that God’s work can be done through unexpected agents. Jesus invites the disciples to trust God’s broader activity, seeing allies where they might see rivals, and to value the kingdom’s advancement over institutional exclusivity.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against you is for you.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against you is for you.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But Jesus said to him, Let him do it, for he who is not against you is for you.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and Jesus said unto him, `Forbid not, for he who is not against us, is for us.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Jesus said to him: Forbid him not: for he that is not against you is for you.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Jesus said to him, Forbid [him] not, for he that is not against you is for you.
Context
This verse resolves the incident introduced in v.49 and expands the chapter’s lesson on receiving the least (vv.47–48). Luke shows Jesus enlarging the disciples’ vision: ministry is not threatened by outsiders who do good in Jesus’ name. This teaching leads into the next narrative shift: Jesus sets his face toward Jerusalem (v.51), pressing forward on the path that will reveal both rejection and the need for radical discipleship.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Proverbs 3:5
Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:
- Luke 11:23
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
- Mark 9:41
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink, because ye are Christ’s, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
- Matthew 12:30
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
- 1 Corinthians 12:3
Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit.
- Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
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