He that is Not with Jesus is Against Him - Luke 11:23

The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus said, “When a strong man armed keeps his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he takes from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divides his spoils”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-three of his book Luke shared how Jesus says, “he that is not with me is against me” where we read:

He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathers not with me scatters.

The verse reads, “He that is not with me is against me:” Luke began with the words, “he that is not with me” or “the person whether male or female who is not alongside and after Jesus” “is against me” which means “is in opposition to and in confrontation toward Jesus”. Luke shared how Jesus declared any person who is not “in agreement” with Him is actually in “opposition” to Him.

The verse continues, “and he that gathers not with me scatters.” Luke added the words, “and he that gathers not with me” or “and the person whether male or female who does not assemble and come together with Jesus” “scatters” which means “dissipates, puts to flight, wastes and disperses abroad”. Luke shared how Jesus said the person who is not “assembling” with Him actually “disperses” and “wastes”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn the state of people who are either “with” Jesus or in “opposition” to Him. People who do not “gather together” with Jesus “disperse” not only themselves but also others from a relationship with Him. The people who were “doubting” Jesus and saying He “cast out devils by Beelzebub” were saying things that would keep people from believing and trusting in Him, and because “Satan” did not “cast out Satan”, which would depict a “divided kingdom”, Jesus showed Himself “stronger” than “Satan's power” and spoiled His goods. Those who yield their lives to Jesus “gather to” Him, and anyone who “opposes” Jesus condemns themselves and anyone who follows their lead.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says what happens, “when the unclean spirit is gone out of a man”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".