Matthew 12:30
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad.
American King James Version (AKJV)
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad.
American Standard Version (ASV)
He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Whoever is not with me is against me; and he who does not take part with me in getting people together, is driving them away.
Webster's Revision
He that is not with me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad.
World English Bible
"He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn't gather with me, scatters.
English Revised Version (ERV)
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
Clarke's Matthew 12:30 Bible Commentary
He that is not with me is against me - In vain do men seek for methods to reconcile God and mammon. There is no medium between loving the Lord and being his enemy - between belonging to Christ or to Satan. If we be on the side of the devil, we must expect to go to the devil's hell; if we be on the side of Christ, we may expect to go to his heaven. When Christ, his truth, and his servants are assaulted, he who does not espouse their cause is not on Christ's side, but incurs the guilt of deserting and betraying him. There are many, (it is to be feared), in the world who are really against Christ, and scatter abroad, who flatter themselves that they are workers together with him, and of the number of his friends!
Scattereth abroad - This seems to have been a proverbial form of speech, and may be a metaphor taken from shepherds. He who does not help the true shepherd to gather his flock into the fold is, most likely, one who wishes to scatter them, that he may have the opportunity of stealing and destroying them. I do not find any parallel to this proverbial mode of speech in the Jewish rabbins, if it be one, nor have I met with it among the Greek or Roman writers.
Barnes's Matthew 12:30 Bible Commentary
He that is not with me ... - In addition to his other arguments, Jesus urges this general principle, that there can be but two parties in the universe.
If anyone did not act with him, he was against him. If he gathered not with him, he scattered. This is taken from the practice of persons in harvest. He that did not gather with him, or "aid" him, scattered abroad, or opposed him. The application of this was, "As I have not united with Satan, but opposed him, there can be no league between us." The charge, therefore, is a false one.
Wesley's Matthew 12:30 Bible Commentary
12:30 He that is not with me is against me - For there are no neuters in this war. Every one must be either with Christ or against him; either a loyal subject or a rebel. And there are none upon earth, who neither promote nor obstruct his kingdom. For he that does not gather souls to God, scatters them from him.