“he that is not against you is
for you”: ος γαρ ουκ εστιν καθ’ ημων περ ημων εστιν, a general statement or axiom
that is the basis for Jesus’ decision concerning non-apostolic work in the name
of Jesus. It would not apply to someone who is neutral or indifferent to Jesus
but is not actively in opposition to Jesus. Such people are against Jesus,
especially since Jesus has made it clear he requires a positive or negative
response and will not accept indifferentism or lukewarmness. Matthew (12:30)
has Jesus saying the axiom in the opposite vein but with the same meaning (“He
who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters”).
Here those who meet Jesus and are not persuaded by him have already implicitly decided
against him and will show it explicitly sooner or later. Of course, those who
meet Jesus and see no reason to be hostile toward him is already implicitly for
Jesus’ cause and it will manifest itself in due time. (Robert A. Sungenis, Commentary
on the Catholic Douay-Rheims New Testament from the Original Greek and Latin,
4 vols. [State Line, Pa.: Catholic Apologetics International Publishing, Inc.,
2022], 1:109-10 n. 233)
