Who Is for Us, the Danger of Stumbling, and Salt

John reports that the disciples tried to stop someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name because he was not following their group. Jesus rejects the attempt to monopolize faithful work and warns with severe imagery against causing “little ones” to stumble. The section closes with sayings about fire, salt, and peace with one another.

Where this fits in the story: the disciples have just argued about rank, and now they police status boundaries. Jesus turns attention from controlling outsiders to disciplining oneself. Isaiah’s final judgment image—worm not dying and fire not quenched—supplies the language behind the warning.