A CAUTION AGAINST BIGOTRY.
Mark ix. 38, 39.
And John answered him saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
And Jesus said, Forbid him not.
1. In the preceding verses we read, that after
the twelve had been disputing, which of
them should be the greatest, Jesus took a little child,
and set him in the midst of them, and taking him in
his arms, said unto them, Whosoever shall receive
one of these little children in my name, receiveth me:
and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me (only)
but him that sent me. Then John answered (that
is, said with reference to what our Lord had
spoken just before) Master, we saw one casting out
devils in thy name, and we forbad him, because he
followeth not us. As if he had said, "Ought we
to have received him? In receiving him, should
we have received thee? Ought we not rather to
have forbidden him? Did not we do well therein?
But Jesus said, Forbid him not.
