John raised the question of someone who was not one of the disciples, but was casting out demons in Jesus' name. The disciples had told him to stop. It is not clear why John asked this question. He may have thought they had done the right thing and was looking for confirmation, or in the light of what Jesus had just said he may have been reconsidering the wisdom of their action.
Jesus corrects John. If someone does a miracle in Jesus' name then they are "for us". Moreover, anyone who does anything to help the disciples will be rewarded. We are not to have an exclusive attitude, but an inclusive one. The name of Jesus is a "measuring line" not whether someone belongs to our particular group or denomination. How much trouble could we have saved ourselves if as the church we had only observed this instruction?
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