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Matthew 12 · a question people ask

"He who is not with me is against me" (12:30). Doesn't Jesus say something different elsewhere?

In the text

Here are the sayings, each in its own setting. In Matthew, Jesus says this in his answer to the Pharisees' words about Beelzebul (12:24-25): "He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters" (12:30). Luke gives it in his answer to those who said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons" (Luke 11:15): "He who is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters." (Luke 11:23). In Mark, John says, "Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us" (Mark 9:38), and Jesus answers, "Don’t forbid him" (Mark 9:39), and "For whoever is not against us is on our side" (Mark 9:40). Luke tells that too: "for he who is not against us is for us" (Luke 9:50). In 12:30 Jesus says me; in Mark 9:40 and Luke 9:50, us. Each is quoted from its own verse and setting. These notes set them side by side and don't say how they fit together.

The verses

“But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This man does not cast out demons except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”
Matthew 12:24-25 · World English Bible
““He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters.”
Matthew 12:30 · World English Bible
“But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.””
Luke 11:15 · World English Bible
““He who is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters.”
Luke 11:23 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Matthew 12

Matthew 12: Someone greater is here

Three times in Matthew 12 Jesus says one greater is here: "one greater than the temple" (12:6), "someone greater than Jonah" (12:41) and "someone greater than Solomon" (12:42). And the verb of "Stretch out your hand" (12:13) comes back at the chapter's end, when Jesus "stretched out his hand toward his disciples" (12:49).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions