Comparison of Matthew 7:21-23 and Mark 9:38-41
Matthew 7:21-23 and Mark 9:38-41 present two different but complementary teachings of Jesus, addressing who truly belongs to Him and what it means to do His work.
Matthew 7:21-23 (True Disciples vs. False Disciples)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Mark 9:38-41 (Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us)
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,
40 for whoever is not against us is for us.
41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.”
Comparison and Contrast
| Aspect | Matthew 7:21-23 | Mark 9:38-41 |
|---|---|---|
| Main Message | Not all who claim Jesus’ name truly belong to Him. True disciples do God’s will. | Those who act in Jesus’ name, even outside the inner circle, should not be opposed. |
| Attitude Toward Miracles | Miracles, prophecy, and exorcism do not guarantee true discipleship. | Performing miracles in Jesus’ name suggests some alignment with Him. |
| Jesus’ Judgment | Some who perform miracles in His name will be rejected as evildoers. | Jesus affirms that doing good in His name has value. |
| Inclusion vs. Exclusion | Warns about false disciples who claim Jesus’ authority but disobey Him. | Encourages acceptance of those who act in His name, even if they are outsiders. |
| The Will of God | Obedience to God, not just miracles, defines a true disciple. | Acts of kindness and service in Jesus’ name are acknowledged by God. |
Reconciling the Two Passages
At first glance, these passages may seem contradictory. In Matthew 7, Jesus warns that some who perform miracles in His name will be rejected because they did not do God’s will. In Mark 9, He defends those casting out demons in His name, even if they were not part of the disciples’ group.
However, the key distinction is obedience and relationship with Jesus:
- Matthew 7:21-23 warns against people who use Jesus’ name without truly knowing Him or following God’s will.
- Mark 9:38-41 highlights that sincere acts done in Jesus’ name—even by those outside the core discipleship group—are still valuable and should not be opposed.
Conclusion
Both passages emphasize that calling on Jesus’ name alone is not enough—one must be genuinely aligned with Him. The difference is that Matthew warns against false disciples who misuse His name, while Mark affirms that even those outside the inner circle can truly serve Him if they act sincerely in His name. True discipleship is not about position or miracles but about knowing Christ and doing the will of God.