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Commentaries
English
Luke
  
49Now John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us."50But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side."


The disciples and we are not only foolish and proud, but are also selfish and violent. John who became thereafter the messenger of the love of God was angry when he saw a believer in Christ healing the sick and driving out demons in the name of the Savior, because that man was not of the company of the chosen apostles. John was adherent to the privilege of his being chosen, and was prepared to discount the work of that believer completely, by forbidding him from making use of the power of the name of Jesus in healing the sick. But Jesus broke the selfishness that was the central point of the young disciple, and allowed many services in his name outside the centers and organizations he appointed, for it is not the capacity of our relation to a certain church that entitles and empowers us to render spiritual services, but our faith in Christ alone. In this manner, the Son of God provided us with a great measure for our behavior toward the believers: not to oppose their good deeds. Every brother, who works in the name of Christ and lives as a servant to the world, is a true and acceptable brother to Christ, even though he does not follow with us or belongs to our societies. Beware dear brother of the profession about the law, for the kingdom of God does not end at the door of your church, but it works wherever the name of Christ is mentioned with love.

Prayer
O Lord, I confess my foolishness in perceiving your ways. I am ashamed of my haughtiness toward others, and am regretting my siding with my society, as if we were better than other believers. Please set me free into your love, humility, and wide insight that I may hear your words, and realize mercifulness. Thank you for every forsaken child who found a shelter in your name for the sake of this blessed word. Amen.
Question
What are the three spiritual diseases that Jesus detected in his disciples?