John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
Comment 1: Does it matter to which denomination you belong? Obviously there are a number of issues involved. But here Jesus underlines two concepts. a) His Name is the Name in which worship and teaching is to be faithfully followed! This is not supporting heresy but Unity in Him! b) positive helpful provision for any one of His followers is rewarded. This is against the background of many ‘hating’ the followers of Jesus.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’
Comment 2: The accord, the unity, discussed above has limits. Here Jesus raises the issue of people harming (physically or probably more significantly psychologically) children who believe in Him. Agreement with sin and heresy is not included in the unity which is here encouraged. I think that this may be better interpreted thinking of all children because (for instance) I don’t think that Jesus is justifying taking pagan children and selling them as slaves! Those who believe (trust) in Him are special to Him! This is so applicable to modern society with the perversions of gender and sexual types being presented in modern education and the poor disciplinary and inadequate cultural and moral training presented in homes, schools and society. Sinners need to deal with their tendency to sin in a powerful way. The business about ‘plucking out your eye’ and ‘cutting off feet and hands’ is I am sure hyperbolic but powerful! Praying for God’s help to stop your sinning is good, but it doesn’t mean that devoted cooperation with the Holy Spirit and self control isn’t necessary!
Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 – “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Prayer: Thank You for underlining for us Your Divine Standards of Behaviour.
As I read it! 