Mark 9:40 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For he that is not against us, &c.— This is one of those maxims which take different senses, as they are applied to different subjects. The circumstances determine the signification. Our Lord had formerly said, Matthew 12:30. He that is not with me, is against me; thereby giving his hearers a just and necessary admonition, that on the whole, the war between him and Satan admitted of no neutrality, and that those who were indifferent would finally be treated byhim as his enemies. But here, in another view, he very consistently uses a different and seemingly opposite proverb, the counterpart of the former; directing his followers to judge of men's characters in the most candid manner, and charitably to hope, that they who did not oppose his cause, wished well to it; a conduct peculiarly reasonable, when his cause lay under so manydiscouragements. Probably, many who now concealed their regard to him, were afterwards animated courageously to profess it, though at the greatest hazard. See Doddridge and Heylin.