John Chapter 8

From The Open Bible Project

8:1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

8:2 Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them.

8:3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst,

• (1) While the wicked go about to make a snare for good men, they make a snare for themselves.

8:4 they told him, "Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act.

8:5 Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such.[22] What then do you say about her?"

8:6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.

8:7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her."

• (2) Against hypocrites who are very severe judges against other men, and flatter themselves while they are sinning.

8:8 Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.

8:9 They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle.

8:10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, "Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?"

• (3) Christ would not take upon himself the office of the civil magistrate: he was content to bring sinners to faith and repentance.

8:11 She said, "No one, Lord." Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more."

8:12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world.[23] He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life."

• (4) The world, which is blind in itself, cannot come to have any light but in Christ alone.

8:13 The Pharisees therefore said to him, "You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid."

• (5) Christ is without all exception the best witness of the truth, for he was sent by his Father for that purpose, and his Father showed his approval of him to the world by infinite miracles.
• (a) You bear witness of yourself, which is worth nothing in the opinion of all men, and for a man to commend himself is very uncommendable.

8:14 Jesus answered them, "Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don't know where I came from, or where I am going.

• (b) That which he denied before in (John 5:31) must be understood as Christ granting their position in a way, for in that place he talked of himself somewhat in line with the opinions of his hearers, who acknowledged nothing in Christ but his humanity, and therefore he was content they should not regard his own witness, unless it were otherwise confirmed. But in this place he stands and affirms Godhead, and praises his Father, who is his witness, and agrees with him.

8:15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.

• (c) I am presently only teaching you, I condemn no man: but yet if I want to do it, I might lawfully do it, for I am not alone, but my Father is with me.

8:16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me.

8:17 It's also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid.[24]

8:18 I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me."

• (d) The Godhead is plainly distinguished from the manhood, or else there would not be two witnesses: for the accused party is not taken as a witness.

8:19 They said therefore to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me, nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also."

• (6) No man can know God except in Christ alone.

8:20 Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

• (e) This was a certain place appointed for the gathering of the offerings.
• (7) We live and die according to the pleasure of God, and not of men: therefore it behooves us that we constantly go forward in our calling.

8:21 Jesus said therefore again to them, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can't come."

• (8) Because men naturally abhor heavenly things, no man can be a fit disciple of Christ unless the Spirit of God makes him so: in the meantime nonetheless, the world must necessarily perish, because it refuses the life that is offered unto it.

8:22 The Jews therefore said, "Will he kill himself, that he says, 'Where I am going, you can't come?'"

8:23 He said to them, "You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world.

8:24 I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that [25] I am [See John Footnotes 25] he, you will die in your sins."

8:25 They said therefore to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.

• (9) He will eventually know who Christ is who will diligently hear what Christ says.
• (f) That is, I am Christ, and the Saviour, for so I told you from the beginning that I was.

8:26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world."

• (10) God is the avenger of Christ’s despised doctrine.

8:27 They didn't understand that he spoke to them about the Father.

• (11) Even the contempt of Christ results in his glory: and this thing his enemies will eventually feel to their great pain.

8:28 Jesus therefore said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things.

8:29 He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn't left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him."

8:30 As he spoke these things, many believed in him.

8:31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.

• (12) The true disciples of Christ continue in his doctrine, that profiting more and more in the knowledge of the truth they may be delivered from the most grievous burden of sin, into the true liberty of righteousness and life.

8:32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."[26]

• (g) From the slavery of sin.

8:33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, 'You will be made free?'"

• (h) Some of the multitude, not they that believed: for this is not the speech of men that agree with him, but of men that are against him.
• (i) Born and begotten of Abraham.

8:34 Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.

8:35 A bondservant doesn't live in the house forever. A son remains forever.

8:36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

8:37 I know that you are Abraham's seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.

• (13) Our wicked manners declare that we are obviously born of a wicked nature: but we are changed, and made part of the household of God according to the covenant which he made with Abraham by Christ alone, apprehended and laid hold on by faith: and this faith is known by a godly and honest life.

8:38 I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father."

8:39 They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.

8:40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn't do this.

8:41 You do the works of your father." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God."

8:42 Therefore Jesus said to them, "If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven't come of myself, but he sent me.

8:43 Why don't you understand my speech? Because you can't hear my word.

• (k) Or, language: as though he said, "You do not understand what I say any more than if I spoke in a strange and unknown language to you."

8:44 You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn't stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father.

• (l) From the beginning of the world: for as soon as man was made, the devil cast him headlong into death.
• (m) That is, did not continue constantly, or did not remain.
• (n) That is, in faithfulness and uprightness, that is, he did not remain in the manner in which he was created.
• (o) Even from his own head, and from his own mind or disposition.
• (p) The author of it.

8:45 But because I tell the truth, you don't believe me.

8:46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

• (14) Christ thoroughly executed the office that his Father gave him.

8:47 He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don't hear, because you are not of God."

8:48 Then the Jews answered him, "Don't we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?"

• (15) The enemies of Christ act bravely for a while, but the Father will appear in his time to avenge the reproach that is done unto him in the person of his Son.

8:49 Jesus answered, "I don't have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.

8:50 But I don't seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.

• (q) That is, that will avenge both your despising of me and of him.

8:51 Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death."

• (16) Only the doctrine of the gospel apprehended by faith is a sure remedy against death.
• (r) That is, he will not feel it: for even in the midst of death the faithful see life.

8:52 Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, 'If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.'

• (17) Against those who abuse the glory of the saints to debase Christ’s glory.

8:53 Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?"

8:54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.

• (18) There is no one further from seeking glory than Christ, but his Father has set him above all things.
• (s) In saying this Christ grants their opinion, though not agreeing with it, as if he had said, "Be it so, let this report which I give of myself be of no force; yet there is another that glorifies me, that is, that honours my name."

8:55 You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, 'I don't know him,' I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word.

• (19) There is no right knowledge of God without Christ, neither is there any right knowledge of Christ without his word.

8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad."

• (20) The power of Christ showed itself through all former ages in the fathers, for they saw in the promises that he would come, and very joyfully laid hold of him with a living faith.
• (t) Was very desirous.
• (u) A day is a space that a man lives in, or does any notable act in, or endures any great thing in.
• (x) With the eyes of faith; (Hebrews 11:13).

8:57 The Jews therefore said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"

8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, [27] I AM. [See John Footnotes 27]"

• (y) Christ, as he was God, was before Abraham: and he was the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world.

8:59 Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the midst of them, and so passed by.

• (21) Zeal without knowledge eventually breaks out into a most open madness: and yet the wicked cannot do what they desire.