Luke 9:49-50 (ESV) John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”
One of the disciples, John, had noticed that others were beginning to do the same thing the disciples were going, casting out demons. In fact, they were casting demons out in Jesus’ name, but were not among the twelve disciples. The disciples thought that they had a monopoly on the casting our demon franchise. So, they tried to stop this other person and proudly told Jesus about their loyalty.
Jesus was not impressed with the disciple’s behavior again. He told John, don’t try to stop this person from casting out demons. Why leave him alone? Because this person is not against you, he is actually for us. This person had learned from Jesus and his disciples and were helping them defeat the common enemy of Satan.
Luke 9:52-53 (ESV) And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
The Samaritans did not worship at the temple in Jerusalem and had different believes then the Jews. So, as Jesus had sent messengers ahead to this Samaritan village, they were not received. These Samaritans didn’t want anything to do with Jesus, they didn’t receive Him. What was the response of Jesus’ disciples?
Luke 9:54-55 (ESV) And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them.
The disciples did not have enough faith to cure a demon-possessed boy. Now they thought they had faith to call fire down from heaven and incinerate an entire village. Jesus rebuked them and told them this was not what they should do, nor have such an attitude in their hearts. Jesus had previously instructed them what they were to do when not received in a town. They were to shake the dust off their feet and leave the place that did not receive them and go on to another place. Leave judgment to God and pray that people’s hearts will be changed. Practice kingdom cooperation.
Here is see some more of the disciple’s bad attitudes toward those not in their inner group or who did not receive their message. We must again learn from the failure of the disciples to check our own attitudes. There are many types of followers of Jesus in the world. Some are of lesser maturity and some are in organizations that do not understand God’s Word correctly in important areas.
We must have an attitude to cooperate with all those who are believers. I believe we must also cooperate with those who are not believers but who are seeking to advance kingdom principles. It is certainly possible for people to follow biblical principles in some areas and not be saved. For those who will not receive our message as believers, we are to lovingly move on to others who are more receptive. Perhaps in time, the hearts of those who are unreceptive will be changed. We are to practice kingdom cooperation in a spirit of love and acceptance.