Mark 9:39
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
When the disciples found a man casting out demons in Jesus' name who had not joined their company, and John forbade him, Jesus commanded that such work in His name is not to be stopped for lack of outward fellowship with them. No one who does a miracle in His name can readily turn to speak evil of Him, so whoever is not against Christ and His followers is on their side and none who show themselves in any way friendly to Him are to be repulsed. Their attempt to forbid him came from jealousy and desire for preeminence, narrow exclusiveness and self-sufficiency that presumed to decide who could work and control leadership, though they thought stopping him honored the Lord. Followers must therefore not forbid or hinder someone doing God's work merely because he does not belong to their group, share their opinions, or carry out their plans, but are to show Christ's broad sympathy with tenderness and forbearance toward sincere believers outside their circle. Zealous new workers and those without ordination may make mistakes and use new methods and distinct gifts and assignments to reach people others cannot reach, so they are to be welcomed, instructed, corrected and sustained rather than discouraged or cast off.
Setting and Meaning
During their early evangelistic labors John, with James, found a man casting out demons in Jesus' name who was not an acknowledged follower and had not joined their company, forbade him, and then John in sincerity told Jesus what they had done. Jesus answered by commanding that such work done in his name is not to be stopped for lack of outward fellowship with the disciples. The reason given is that there is no one who does a miracle in his name who can readily speak evil of him. The corollary is that one who is not against Christ and his followers is on their side, so none who show themselves in any way friendly to Christ are to be repulsed.
The attempt to forbid the man sprang from jealousy and desire for preeminence and self-preeminence, narrow exclusiveness, self-sufficiency that presumed to decide who could join them and control leadership, and a controlling spirit. They thought that stopping him honored the Lord, but they acted without concern for Christ's honor. Since they could not read another person's motives, their interference was not service to him.
The disciples acknowledged their error and meekly accepted the reproof. The lesson sets forth meekness and humility and love as essential to growth in grace and fitness for work. It is to be treasured and lived until, under the transforming influence of Christ's love, the heart becomes meek and lowly with self hidden in Christ in harmony with the divine pattern.
Breadth Toward Fellow Workers
No one doing God's work in Christ's name is to be forbidden or hindered merely because he does not belong to the disciples' group, share their opinions, or carry out their plans, and this stands as a warning against hindering even a humble servant of Christ. The reason is that no one who does a miracle in His name can readily speak evil of Him, and one who is not against Christ and His followers is on their side. Those who forbid such a worker act without ability to read another person's motives, and their interference comes from jealousy rather than concern for Christ's honor.
Instead of judging, commanding, or discouraging those whom God makes willing to serve and who are opening to Christ in faith, followers are to humbly learn from Him and show the same broad, far-reaching sympathy seen in Jesus. That sympathy requires tenderness and forbearance toward sincere believers outside one's own group, rejecting bigotry and contempt toward them. It also rebukes the narrow, exclusive, controlling spirit that seeks to rule others, and calls for zeal and wisdom to correct leaders whose example turns people from the right path. The disciples thought that stopping the man honored the Lord, but they were jealous for themselves, and when reproved they acknowledged their error and meekly accepted the reproof.
Zealous new workers whom God chooses and sends with a message are to be welcomed and strengthened, not discouraged or cast off, even though they may make mistakes and use new methods. They need instruction and correction, and God Himself will heal and strengthen His servants for the truth. Christ may give different workers distinct messages, assignments, and gifts, enabling one to reach people another cannot reach and to break the hold upon the people. Believers therefore are to let Him work through whom He chooses rather than trying to control the work by their own ideas or insisting on their own plans.
Those doing a work for God are not to be forbidden even when the hands of ordination have never been laid upon them. As Christ took fishermen-disciples to Himself without placing them in a school to be educated, bidding them follow Him, so men will go straight from the churches to work in the harvest field hunting and fishing for souls. Their labor in advance lines, including labor for the Jews and in cities and towns and villages, is to be encouraged and sustained until a multitude is convinced of the truth and takes a stand for God, with as many converted in a day as on the day of Pentecost after the disciples received the Holy Spirit. The same breadth encourages those God appoints to serve in unusual spheres and carry truth to unlikely places, including former enemies who may become valuable helpers through means and influence, the book-selling work that helps spread the message, and those who enter new fields or take up new kinds of missionary work through different agencies rather than through only one organization or group.
Applied to Elder Franke, "forbid him not" means not to bar him from service but to treat him kindly and help him despite his mistakes. God had given him a work and a message, with gifts to reach people whom another worker cannot reach, different gifts and workers being needed to break the hold upon the people. He was a man appointed by God if he would learn Christ's way, so he was to be recognized accordingly while being directed to work elsewhere rather than near Haskell's hall.