Bible commentary The Lasting Word, John, chapter 8 (2023)

A. The woman taken in adultery is brought to Jesus to be judged.

1. (7:53-8:2) Jesus teaches in the temple.

And they all went to himownHouse. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he came again to the temple, and all the people came to him; and he sat down and taught them.

IN.Everyone went to their homes: The meaning of the text we have is that Jesus confused his opponents when he preached in the temple, and then they went their separate ways. Jesus leftto the Oil Mountainto sleep.

I. As to the original text, this is a passage (John 7:53-8:11) that has been the subject of some debate and controversy. Based on current manuscript evidence, it seems unlikely that this portion is part of the original text of the Gospel of John, or at least at this time.

·Most of the earliest ancient Greek manuscripts omit this section.

·Many later manuscripts mark this section with asterisks.

·One group of manuscripts adds this section after Luke 21:38.

·Several manuscripts have this section after John 21:24 and one has it after John 7:36.

·"All this evidence suggests that the scribes often did not know its exact location, although they wanted to preserve it as part of the four Gospels." (Bags) They knew it belonged, but they didn't know exactly where.

II. Some early Christians (such as Augustine and Ambrose) omitted this story, not so much because of the textual evidence as because they believed that Jesus seemed to approve of sexual immorality, or at least not to regard it seriously.

iii. At the same time, the nature of the story makes it seem obvious that it is real, with many researchers noting that it is historical and factual. Early Christian writers mention this account as early as the beginning of the 2nd century (AD 100). We have good reason to believe that it really happened and that John really wrote it. There is an ongoing discussion about thisWherebelongs to the Gospel accounts, but there are good reasons to believe that it does.

iv. "If not John, then it was a very early interpolation: perhaps it had the sanction of Simeon or Judas (early 2^ndcentury), the second and third bishops of Jerusalem, the "brothers" of our Lord, the last survivors of the apostolic era. These two seem to have been connected with the editing of this Gospel, as they are probably the "us" of John 21:24 and the two unnamed disciples of John 21:2." (Trenches)

v. "If we cannot feel that this is a part of the Gospel of John, we can feel that this story is true to the character of Jesus." (Morris)

B.He came again to the temple, and all the people came to him; and he sat down and taught them: If we take the chronology of the Gospel of John as it appears today, Jesus stayed in Jerusalem for several days after the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7,37). Although the religious authorities wanted to silence him and arrest him, he continued to preach boldly to the crowds in the most public place in Jerusalem -Temple.

2. (3-5) A woman is brought to Jesus, caught in adultery.

Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman who had been taken in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery when she did it. Now Moses commanded us to stone such. But what do you say?"

IN.He brought a woman taken in adultery to him: They did as Jesus publicly taught in the temple courts. They wanted to make it as public as possible to embarrass both the woman and Jesus.

I. "Everything indicates that her accusers were particularly vindictive towards her. It also shows that they brought the woman into the public eye. . . . There was no need for it. She may have been in custody while the case was turned over to Jesus. " (Morris)

II. Verbcaughtis in perfect tense. "Perfect indicates a meaning such as "taken with her disgrace upon him." This indicates her continued adulterous nature." (Morris)

B.This woman was caught in adultery, on maternity leave: Religious leaders brought this woman to Jesus in shameful, humiliating circumstances. She was held against her will, held in the custody of the religious police who caught her having an affair with a man who was not her husband,in the action itselfadultery.

I. To state the obvious, there was also a man involvedvery activezadultery- but he was guiltyNObrought before Jesus for judgment. It also meant that prearranged spies were sent to witness the affair and carefully record the sordid details.

II. Morris points out that from a legal point of view, the level of evidence was very high for this crime. There had to be two witnesses and they had to be in complete agreement. They must have seen the sex act taking place; it was not enough to see a couple leave the same room together or even lie in the same bed together. "The actual physical movements of the couple must have been impossible to explain in any other way... the conditions were so strict that they could only be met on rare occasions." (Morris)

iii. "In these circumstances, it would have been almost impossible to obtain evidence of infidelity if the situation had not been set up." (braces)

C.Moses in the law commanded us to stone such: It is true that adultery was a capital offense under Jewish law, but the rules of evidence in capital cases were extremely strict. The act itself had to be witnessed by many witnesses who exactly agreed in their testimony. In practice, virtually no one was executed for adultery because it was a relatively private sin.

I. "By the first century A.D. it appears that the full rigor of the law was no longer applied as a general rule, at least in urban societies." (Bruce)

II. "From the reference to the law in verse 5, it appears that she was subject to this special punishment because she sinned during the period of betrothal, and adultery at that time was considered adultery." (task man)

D.But what do you say?They set a trap for Jesus. If Jesus had said, "Let her go," it would appear that He was breaking the Law of Moses. Had he said, "Put her to death for adultery," Jesus would have seemed harsh and possibly cruel. Additionally, it would violate Roman law, since the Romans took away the Jews' right to be officially executed for religious crimes.

I. This was a similar dilemma to Jesus' question about paying taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:15-22).

3. (6) Jesus ignores the accusations as if he had never heard them.

These they said, and tried him that they might havesomethingwhat to accuse him of. But Jesus bent down and wrote on the groundHansas if he had not heard.

IN.They said this, putting him to the test, that they might have something to accuse him of: Religious leaders - though they were unhappy people - used this woman as a weapon against Jesus. They presented her as a sinner before Jesus, but ignored their own sin in the matter.

I. They did not care for true justice because it was clear that they had carefully orchestrated both the act of adultery and her arrest. They claimed sothis woman was taken in adultery, right on maternity leave– but they did not bring the culpritsMandbefore Jesus. It is possible that the man was one of them and they simply used the woman as a weapon or a pawn in their conflict with Jesus.

II. "Adultery is not a crime committed by one person alone; if she was caught in the act, how was her guilty partner allowed to escape?" (Bruce)

iii. “They did not see this woman as a person at all; they looked upon it only as an object, an instrument by which they might bring an accusation against Jesus." (Barclay)

B.Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground: That was Jesus' careful and thoughtful answer. Instead of an immediate verbal response, he sayshe bent down. saw himhe wrote on the earth with his finger, probably in the mud on the ground.

I.he leaned overshows humility. Jesus did not react with anger or immediate indignation. He did not shout at the woman or those who had brought her. Jesus stopped andhe bent down.

II.he leaned overit is a low position, identified with a woman's humiliation. Jesus did what he could to identify with this woman, care for her, and ease her embarrassment. This story can be said to illustrate a great problem: how can God show love and mercy to a sinner without being unjust, without breaking his own law? He does this by first identifying with the sinner in his low state.

iii.He wrote on the earthmeans that Jesus could write and that he wrote in the presence of a woman and these men.What Jesus wroteit is an endless source of speculation for teachers, preachers and commentators.

·Some people think that Jesus just wrote in the mud. Verb translatedhe wroteit can also mean "to draw". (Morris)

·Some believe that Jesus simply hesitated.

·Some believe that Jesus wrote the part of the law that condemned adultery.

·Some believe that Jesus wrote a passage similar to Exodus 23:1:Do not lay your hand on the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

·Some believe that Jesus wrote down the names of the accusers.

·Some believe that Jesus wrote down the sins of the accusers.

·Some believe that Jesus followed Roman legal practice and wrote down his judgment before giving it.

iv. “The normal Greek word meanswritingIsgraphite; but the word used here iskatagraficznywhat that might meanwrite a file against someone”. (Barclay)

C.As if he hadn't heard: When Jesus bent down and wrote, he acted as if he had not even heard the accusation against the woman. Perhaps Jesus ignored them because He despised their wickedness. Perhaps Jesus ignored them because he was ashamed of the woman.

I. Paul referred toThe meekness and meekness of Christ(2 Corinthians 10:1) - that's what we see here.

4. (7-8) Jesus passes judgment on the accusers.

So when they continued to question him, he stood up and said to them, "Let he who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And again he bent down and wrote on the ground.

IN.So when they kept asking him: Jesus stooped down, wrote on the ground, and acted as if he did not hear the accusations of the woman taken in adultery. The men who brought the woman did not stop asking Jesus what they should do with her -they kept asking him.

B.He stood up and said to them: Jesus said this directly to the woman's accusers and stood up to make eye contact with them.

C.He who is without sin among you shall be the first to throw a stone at her: In Jewish law, stoning was instituted by witnesses to a crime punishable by death. Jesus really said, "We can kill her, but we have to do it right. One of the witnesses must begin his execution. So which of you witnessed this crime and brought only a woman to Me and not a man? Who had thought to humiliate this poor woman?

I. Instead of passing judgment on the woman, Jesus passed judgment on his accusers. He didn't say, "Don't kill her." He simply demanded a fair and just administration of justice.

II.No sin among you: It was not because these men had sinned once or twice before that they had no right to worry about a woman's sin. The point is that they orchestrated and planned her sin, her disgrace, and used her as a weapon against Jesus.In this direct incidentthey had greater sin and greater guilt.

iii. In this, Jesus revealed a common sin: the desire to punish the sins of others while ignoring your own sin. King David exemplified this when the prophet Nathan told him the story of a man who stole and killed another man's lamb (2 Samuel 12:1-10).

iv.If we are to look at the sins of others, we must be aware that we too have sinned. There is still room to expose, rebuke, and deal directly with the sins of others in God's family, but it must always be done with a heart that recognizes oneself as a forgiven sinner. When done right, sin is more often confronted with tears and heartache than with anger and condemnation.

D.He bent down again and wrote on the ground: Jesus appeared to be doing everything he could to quell the turmoil and tension on the scene, possibly for the sake of the woman's dignity and safety. One more time, Jesuswrote on the earth.

I. He did not look down on the accusing men in an intimidation. Jesus did everything in this situation to make the situation less tense, not more tense. He did not try to change them by intimidation.

II. Jesus still cared about the woman's shame and did what he could to alleviate it. Shame can serve a useful purpose, but God never intended it to be a permanent condition.

5. (9) The accusers respond by walking out.

Then those who heardTo,judged byIconscience they went one by one, beginning with the eldesteven thoughto the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman stood in the middle.

IN.To be condemned by conscience: There is alsoconvictedknow what theyhe heardfrom Jesus. Apparently that wasn't what Jesus wrote (although it might have had something to do with it). Besides, it's Jesushe saidToconvictedIconscience.

I. It was a good testimony to these people that their consciences were not dead or burned. They still can becondemned by conscience. They were now more aware of their own sin than the woman's.

B.They went one by one, starting with the oldest to the last: We understand why they left; wascondemned by conscience. It's not immediately clear why they got out okay;oldest to hold. Perhaps the elders went first, because it was easiest for them to understand that Jesus was talking about them.

I. “The continuous tense of this last verb suggests a procession. They kept going.” (Morris)

II. Some speculate that Jesus wrote down their own sins on the earth, starting from oldest to youngest - explaining the order of their departure.

C.A woman standing in the middle: This is the only reference in relation to the woman's physical posture. It is possible that the religious leaders who brought her to Jesus forced her to endure the trial. However, Jesus' human nature and repeated stooped posture suggest that the woman lay low to the ground during all or part of this ordeal.

I. An ancient Greek word translatedstanding(feel) often means "to stand," but is sometimes understood figuratively—for example, to set or place, as in Matt. Matthew 4:5 and 18:2. Expressionstands in the middleit does not require the woman to actually be on her feet.

II. Trench speaks of later usefeelin John 18:18 and 18:25: "Luke is quite sure that they and Peter weremeet: both Matthew and Peter. John apparently speaks of them and of Peter asstandingbut these words used by John are so often idiomatic that they simply mean "be still," "go on," "be there," "be," just like the Italianstare, Atstandingcannot be printed - no more than herenp.in the other nineteen places in the Gospel of John." (Trenches)

6. (10-11) Jesus calls the woman not to sin again.

When Jesus got up and saw no one but the woman, he said to her, "Woman, where are your accusers? No one condemned you? She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

IN.When Jesus got up and saw no one but a woman: The accusers went while Jesus lay bowed to the ground and wrote on the ground.

B.Where are your accusers?No one condemned you?When her accusers left, no one was leftcondemnwoman, Jesus did not do that himselfcondemnher.

C.She said, "No one, Lord": A woman - guilty of sin and a great sin - has known the good of the absence of condemnation. She has passed from sin and death sentence to forgiveness and life.

D.I don't condemn you either: In that senseJesus took her guilt upon Himselfespecially because he was leaning so much. He was himselfno sin amongtheir. Knowing everything, he had the right to cast the first stone - but he didn't. The woman found refuge in connection with Jesus.

I. "They knew the thrill of exercising power to condemn; Jesus knew the thrill of exercising power of pardon." (Barclays)

II. In a way, Jesus modeled the great truth of Romans 8:1 here: That there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

mi.Go and sin no more: Jesus sent her away with a call to stop sinning and toTo continuestopped because of this sin. He sent her away without approving or accepting her sin.

I. "The command form means to stop doing an action already begun: "Give up your sinful habit." And "never again" indicates the idea of ​​no return. (Morris)

II. Jesus accomplished several things with these powerful words.

·He decided that what this woman had done wassinbecause he told herhang onsin.

·He told her to repent and not continue her sin.

·He gave her hope that her life could be free from sexual sin.

·He gave her a word of hope to speak to the shame that later probably threatened to overwhelm her with her life.

iii. The woman needed hope because the consequences of her sin would be severe enough. After that, she would likely be ostracized by her community and rejected by her husband, possibly even divorced (provided she was married or engaged).

B. The Light of the World Responds to Resistance in the Temple.

1. (12) Jesus, the light of the world.

Then Jesus spoke to them again and said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

IN.Jesus spoke to them again: If we accept the arrangement of the Gospel of John as it is in the Common Text, the incident of the woman caught in adultery interrupted Jesus' preaching in the temple courts in the days immediately following the Feast of Tabernacles. Now he has resumed his teaching.

B.I am the light of the world: Light was an important symbol of the Feast of Tabernacles. During the festival, many emblems and ceremonies commemorate the pillar of fire that illuminated Israel during the exodus. Now Jesus took this important symbol and simply applied it to himself:I am the light of the world.

I. Barclay and several other linkslight of the worldproverb with the ceremony in connection with the Feast of Tabernacles, the so-calledTemple lighting. “It was the custom on the first night, if not every night, of the Feast of Tabernacles, to light two large golden chandeliers in the court of the women, whose light illuminated all Jerusalem. They danced festively by the light all night long. (Alford)

II. It was a stark and telling contrast to the darkness of those who opposed Jesus, who had just brought the woman caught in adultery to him.

iii. "I am" is emphatic. It is the same style of deity that we saw earlier in this gospel.” (Morris)

C.Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness: Jesus beinglight of the worldhe brings light to those who follow him. When we follow him, we stay in the light and notwalk in the dark.

I.The one who follows me:"If a man could travel as fast as ever by following the sun, of course he would always be in the light. If ever a day comes when the speed of the railway equals the speed of the world, a man may live never to lose the light. Now he who follows Christ shall never walk in darkness."(Spurgeon)

II. The Hebrew Scriptures often presented the word of God as light.

·Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path(Verse 119:105).

·Oh, send your light and your truth! Let them guide me(Psalm 43:3).

iii. Since Jesus isOrd(John 1:1), it makes sense that he is toolys.

2. (13-16) The first witness about Jesus: Jesus himself.

Then the Pharisees said to him: you are your own witness; Your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even though I testify about myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. you judge according to the flesh; I don't judge anyone. But if I judge, my judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I amI amwith the Father who sent me.

IN.You testify about yourself; Your testimony is not true: Jesus just announced that he is the light of the world, but the Pharisees didn't see it. They did not see his light, but that was because they were blind, not because Jesus' light did not shine.

I. A seeing man needs noneprovelight; he just sees it. "The light confirms its claims. It does this not by arguing, but by shining. Light must always be accepted in itself, regardless of the objections of the blind." (Morris)

II. The Pharisees could not prove that Jesus was not the Messiah He claimed to be. They hoped to change the argument by claiming that Jesus could notproveHe himself is the Messiah and God that there are no witnesses to prove it.

iii. Jesus was his own witness, testifying that he was the Messiah and God. If they could not kill the witness Jesus, they hoped to frighten him. If they could not intimidate him, they hoped to show that he was an unreliable, unreliable witness.

B.Though I bear witness of Myself, My testimony is true: Jesus would agree that under normal circumstances a man's testimony about him could not be considered true. Yet Jesus showed that he was qualified to bear witness about himself.

I. Jesus can testify about himself because he (not they) had the vision of eternity:I know where I come from and where I am going.

II. Jesus can testify about himself because he (not they) judged righteously:you judge according to the flesh; I don't judge anyone. "They made themselves his judges and spoke against him, because "after the flesh" he was born in Galilee. (dots)

iii. Jesus can testify about himself because his testimony was fully supported by God the Father:My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me.

iv. "Onmustbear witness to himself: no one else is entitled to bear witness to his nature and essential work. (Trench)

C.I am with the Father who sent me: Although religious leaders protested, Jesus was completely grounded and sure of his identity, despite all the voices telling him otherwise. This place of stabilization and security of one's own identity is a good example for today's believers.

3. (17-18) Jesus' second witness: God the Father.

It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am he that beareth witness of myself, and the Father that hath sent me beareth witness of me."

IN.It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true: Jesus thought that his testimony was enough. But to meet them he also brought another testimony.

I. “If the Jews demandtowitnesses to fulfill the Jewish law of evidence, these two witnesses exist; they are Jesus and his Father." (task man)

B.I am he that beareth witness of myself, and the Father that hath sent me beareth witness of me: God the Father also testified that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, and God the Son.

I."Our Lord speaks here precisely as an ambassador. Such a one does not bringOther thingswith him to vouch for your truth; hisreferencefrom his king to determine his character: he represents the person of the king. So our Lord represents the Father as a witness with him.” (Clark)

4. (19-20) Jesus knows his Father; the Pharisees do not.

Then they said 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." These words were spoken by Jesus in the treasury while he was teaching in the temple; and no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.

IN.Where is your father?The Pharisees probably thought this a serious insult to Jesus. They addressed the controversy surrounding his virgin birth and the rumors that it was not a miraculous conception but an unclean one.

I. "In the East, to question a man's paternity is to greatly denigrate his legitimacy." (tenney)

B.You know neither Me nor My Father: Regarding the origin of Jesus, the Pharisees thought they had some damaging or scandalous information about him. They must have thought, "See how he reacts when we reveal what we know about him." In response, Jesus explained that they knew nothing about him or his Father.

I. "They boasted of the knowledge of their God. Jesus tells them that they do not know Him at all. (Morris)

C.He spoke these words in the vault: John reminds us that Jesus had this debate with his opponents in the most public place in Jerusalem - right on the Temple Mount. still,no one has laid hands on him, for his hour has not yet come.

5. (21-22) Jesus speaks of his coming departure; religious leaders insult him.

Then Jesus said to them again: "I am going away, and you will seek me and die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come." Then the Jews said, "Will he kill himself because he says, 'Where I go, you cannot come'?"

IN.I'm going... Where I'm going, you can't come: Jesus knew he was going to heaven. Because of their hatred for him, Jesus could say that his accusers did not go to heaven. Wherever he was going, they could not follow him.

I. If we follow Jesus on earth, we will follow him to heaven. If we do not express a desire to follow Him on earth, what would make us think that we will follow Him to heaven?

B.Will it kill itself?This was another insult to Jesus. The Jews of Jesus' day taught that the lowest levels of Hades were for those who committed suicide. Here the Pharisees tried to twist Jesus' words to imply that he would commit suicide and therefore be condemned.

I. "In Jewish thought the abyss of hell was reserved for those who took their own lives." (Barclays)

6. (23-24)Two destinies: Jesus will go to glory; on their present course they will die in their sins.

And he said to them: "You are from below; I am beforehand. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I have told you that you shall die in your sins; for if you do not believe, ​​that I amOn,you shall die in your sins.”

IN.You are from below; I am in advance. You are of this world; I am not of this world: The Pharisees who opposed Jesus suggested that he would go to hell as a suicide (according to their teachings). Jesus replied that they had different destinies, just not as they thought.

B.If you don't believe that I am, you will die in your sins: These people were religious leaders, but they lived in darkness that filled their minds and actions. The darkness remained because they rejected (don't believe) light. Jesus gave them a stern warning; the day of mercy will not last forever. Death would perpetuate their sinful darkness.

I. Men are born in sin (Psalm 51:5), and if we hold on to our sin and do not deal with it, we will die in our sins. Since all sin must be blotted out, those who die in their sins will have to pay for their sins in hell. But if we deal with our sins now, on this side of death, by trusting in who Jesus is and what He did to save us, we can avoid dying in our sins.

II. The plural "sin" is used in verse 24 as opposed to the singular "sin" in verse 21; if the singular expresses the cardinal sin of unbelief, the plural expresses the particular attitudes, words, and deeds which constitute its fruits." (Bruce)

C.If you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins: Jesus called thembelieve i am. „Onis rightly italicized and added by the translators. Title"I amis a requirement of divinity, and if the Pharisees are to be saved from death in sin, they must believe in Jesus and who he really is, God the Son.

I. "We ought probably to understand it in line with a similar expression in the LXX, which is the style of deity. . . . The same Greek expression occurs in 6:20, 18:6, neither of which is difficult to understand." (Morris)

7. (25-27) Jesus speaks of his dependence on God the Father for everything he said.

Then they said to him, "Who are you?" And Jesus said to them, "This is what I have told you from the beginning. I have much to tell you and judge, but he who sent me is true; and I tell the world what I have heard from him. " They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father.

IN.Who are you?This is a good question to ask with an honest heart. However, this question about the Pharisees was the result of a combination of deliberate confusion and contempt. Even though Jesus had repeatedly told them who he was, they kept asking, always hoping for an answer they could use to trap and judge him.

I. Some questions are not to discover the truth; they are used to oppose the truth and justify rejection of faith. Religious leaders asked many hostile questions:

·Where is your father?(Jan 8:19)

·Will it kill itself?(Jan 8:22)

·Who are you?(Jan 8:25)

II. "The question 'Who are you really?' shows the irritation of the Pharisees at Jesus' insinuations and seemingly extravagant claims." (tenney)

B.Just what I told you from the beginning: Jesus had no new answer for them. He will repeat truths and topics he has told them many times before.

I.I have many things to say and judge about you: "I could quickly expose all your wickedness—your pride and ambition, your hypocrisy and godlessness, your hatred of the light, and your malice against the truth, together with the present obstinate unbelief in your hearts, and show that these are the reasons why I say that you will die in your sins.” (Clark)

C.I tell the world what I heard from him: Jesus emphasized again that his words come from God the Father. Therefore, if the Pharisees were against Jesus, they were really against God the Father.

8. (28-30)Jesus speaks of his dependence on God the Father in all that he does.

Then Jesus said to them: "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I amOn,IToI do nothing of Myself; but as the Father taught me, I say these things. And he that sent me is with me. The Father has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him. As he spoke these words, many believed him.

IN.When you exalt the Son of Man: The "exaltation" of which Jesus spoke had nothing to do with the "exaltation" of Jesus in the way we normally think of it. It wasn't about getting applause and fame. Instead, it was about "raising" Jesus from the earth on the cross. When Jesus was crucified, they saw the Son's perfect obedience to the Father. They really wanted to see itI don't do anything for myself.

I. "His 'exaltation' was to be his justification: then it would be manifest that he acted and spoke all the time under the authority of the Father." (Bruce)

B.The Father has not left Me alone: The unity between the Father and the Son has continued and will continue. Despite the accusations of the Pharisees, Jesus was as close to the Father as ever.

C.I always do what pleases him: Jesus was bold enough to say these words to his opponents - essentially challenging his enemies to find something he has done or is doing that displeases God the Father. In response,His enemies were silent. It was an extraordinary testimony to Jesus' sinlessness.

I.I always do what pleases him:It's easyto speak"I always do the will of the Father" when you are only discussing theological issues. It is quite another thing to "always do the Father's will" when it means going to the cross. The cross was to prove Jesus' perfect obedience.

D.As he spoke these words, many believed him: When the Pharisees heard Jesus speak, they opposed him more. Yet they weremanywho heard the same words andhe believed him. They believed despite the clear opposition of religious leaders.

I. Jesus' message of oneness with the Father was so well received by some because his life was in harmony with that message. Unlike the Pharisees, it was clear that Jesus was close to God. The Pharisees cherished an image of intimacy with God, but it was clear that they were not really close to God.

9. (31-32) Jesus offers discipleship and freedom to those who believe in him.

Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

IN.Jesus said to the Jews who believed him: The previous verse tells us thismany believed him(John 8:30). Jesus spoke to those who had this beginning of faith and told them what they needed to continue in faith.

I. “This part of the lecture is addressed to those who believe and yet do not believe. Apparently they were inclined to believe that what Jesus said was true. But they were not ready to give him the far-reaching allegiance which true trust in him entails. This is the most dangerous spiritual condition.” (Morris)

B.If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples: If we are disciples of Jesus, then we aremustabide in his word. There is no other way. To be a follower of Jesus – the Word made flesh – that isobserve(live, live, arrange a house) Hansord.

I.If you stay in My word"To those who have just been described as believing in him, Jesus went on to say, "If"—emphasized in contrast to those who did not believe—"abide in my word"—not content to take the first step toward faith and obedience - "then" - but not before - "You are truly my disciples". (Dods)

II. Tasker described what that meansobservei hansord"To receive it, to be at home with it, and to live with it so constantly that it becomes a part of the believer's life, a constant influence and impetus to every new advance in goodness and holiness." (task man)

iii. This is also another statement that reflects the unity of the Father and the Son. Jesus called people to endureHansword. From anyone but Jesus these words would be absurd.

iv. "Our treatment of the words of our Lord discriminates us: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, it is he that loveth me." (Mayer)

C.You will know the truth and the truth will set you free: This is the result of holding fast to the words of Jesus. We prove that we are His disciples, and we areDiscover the truthand God realizes his freedom in our lives through hisRight. The freedom Jesus spoke of is not just an academic pursuit of truth in general; but from abiding in his word and being his disciple.

I. Nothing compares to the freedom we can have in Jesus. No amount of money can buy it, no status will ensure it, no job deserves it, and nothing compares to it. Tragically, not every Christian experiences this freedom that can only be found by remaining in God's word and being a disciple of Jesus.

10. (33-36) Jesus responds to their protest that they are now free.

They answered him, "We are the seed of Abraham, and we have never been in bondage to anyone. HowHooksdo you say, 'You will be freed'?" Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the slave of sin. And a slave shall not remain at home forever,Menson lasts forever. Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

IN.Minare descendants of Abraham ithey were never in servitude to anyone: The response from religious leaders was not, "That's great! Tell us more about what it means to be free, trust your word." Instead, they answeredwe don't need it. Were good.

I. It was an unusual and ill-considered statement. The Jewish people were in slavery under Egypt and the Philistines; under Babylon, Persia, Syria and Rome. "Did not the Roman garrison descend from the castle into the court of the temple, where the boastful lie was told?" (The Maclaren)

II. But many Jews at that time had a strong sense of their own independence. "Joseph writes of the followers of Judas in Galilee, who led the famous revolt against the Romans: 'They have an unbreakable attachment to liberty, and say that God shall be their only Ruler and Lord' (Joseph,Antiquities of the Jews, 18:1,6). (Barclay)

iii. "The power of unconverted man's self-deception is infinite." (Ryla)

B.He who commits sin is a slave to sin:Sinin this passage is in the verb tense indicating habitual, continuous action. A person in sin is a slave to sin.

I. "The participial construction 'anyone who sins' is in the present tense, implying a constant habit of sinning rather than an occasional lapse." (tenney)

II. "There is a different form of slavery than social or economic slavery. Sin is the master of slaves, and even men who consider themselves free can be slaves to sin.” (Bruce)

iii. "It is far more common for a man to never do anything wrong, never get drunk, never steal, etc., than he did just once." (The Maclaren)

iv. "We should not underestimate the power of the 'slave'. It does not mean a person who receives a salary and has a lot of freedom. I mean slave. (Morris)

C.A slave does not live in a house forever, but a son lives forever: The slavery of sin is the worst form of slavery because there is no escape from ourselves. The Son shall set us free, and the Son of God sets us free and brings us into the house of God.

I. “The slave has no stable home; can be released or sold." (dots)

D.If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed: If we have been freed from the bondage of sin - freed by the Son and freed by remaining in the word of Jesus and being his disciple - then we areactually freeto have real freedom, which contrasts with the "freedom" that the Pharisees blindly claim in John John 8:33.

I.The Son sets you free"So the slave of sin cannot change his status by himself. He cannot repent alone, nor can any fellow sinner... The deliverer from our bondage must come from outside the ranks of enslaved humanity." (task man)

II. "If we are slaves to sin, we can be removed from its habitation and brought to our true home in our Father's house. So this is a blessed hope for us all.” (Maclaren)

iii. An 82-year-old Hong Kong Christian spoke about her life in China, but still used the vocabulary used by the Communists to describe her revolution - they called it "liberation". She was asked, "When you were back in China, were you free to gather with other Christians for worship?" "Oh no," she replied. "Since the liberation, no one is allowed to gather for Christian services." "But surely you were able to gather in small groups and talk about the Christian faith?" "No, we weren't," the woman replied. "Since liberation, all such meetings are prohibited." "Were you allowed to read the Bible?" "Since liberation, no one has been able to read the Bible freely."

iv. The point is clear: freedom does not consist in the word "freedom" or in words, but in the relationship with Jesus Christ, by staying in his word and being his disciple.

11. (37-41a) They prove to be different from their father Abraham.

"I know you are descendants of Abraham, but you are trying to kill Me because you have no place for My word. I say what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your Father. " They answered and said to him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were children of Abraham, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you want to kill Me, the man who told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not. You are doing the works of your father. "

IN.I know that you are descendants of Abraham: Jesus would admit that they aredescendants of Abrahamin a genetic sense, but Abraham was not theirsfarwspiritualmeans. When messengers from heaven came to Abraham, he welcomed them (Genesis 18); but these genetic descendants of Abraham rejected and persecuted itkillThe one sent from heaven.

I. "Cultivating murderous designs against one who has given them God's truth is not a mark of the children of Abraham." (Bruce)

B.Because My word has no place in you: Their rejection of Jesus' words and Jesus' words proved that they were not like Abraham and that they did not have the freedom that comes from staying on His word.

I. Spurgeon considered several ways that the Word of God should haveplacein the believer.

·God's word should haveinner place.

·God's word should havehigh place of honor.

·God's word should haveplace of trust.

·God's word should haveseat of government.

·God's word should havethe place of love.

·God's word should havefixed place.

C.I say what I saw in my Father: Jesus reminded them that what he did was in line with his Father and what they were doing was in line with their Father (you do what you saw with your father). Jesus would soon make it clear to them who their father was.

D.Abraham is our father: Religious leaders protested that Abraham was their real father. This was true in a genetic sense, but not in a spiritual sense. Jesus agreed that they weredescendants(John 8:37) Abraham, but nochildrenAbraham because they wanted to kill Jesus when Abraham embraced him. They didactionsIfar.

I. Jesus revealed inconsistencies in their lives. They said they were Abraham's children, but they didn't act like it. "If their origin could be traced entirely to Abraham, their behavior would resemble his." (dots)

II. Jesus' attention was important. Our spiritual origin is what defines our nature and our destiny. If we are born again and God is our Father, it will be seen in our nature and destiny. But if our father is Satan or Adam, it will also be evident in our nature and destiny - just as it is with these opponents of Jesus.

12. (41b-43) Religious leaders again question the origin of Jesus.

Then they said to him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, God. Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I proceeded and came from God; nor did I come of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.”

IN.We are not born of adultery: As before in John 8:19 they insulted Jesus' parentage again by calling him an illegitimate child. The implication was:Minthey were not born of adulterybut we don't know about itTy, Jesus."

I. "Although John does not directly speak of the virgin birth, there may be evidence that he knew it, and that some people knew that there was a mystery surrounding the parentage of Jesus." (tenney)

B.If God were your Father, you would love Me: Jesus again made the remarkable statement that he and his father were and are so close to nature that if one really lives as if God were theirFarthey tooLoveJesus. There is no longer room for the person who says, "I love God, but I reject Jesus."

C.For I went out and came out of God: Jesus here described his unity of nature, purpose and will with God the Father.

I."I have arrivedsends the resultmoved forwardto be understood in its deeper theological sense, the origin of the Eternal Son from the essence of the Father." (Alford)

II.I went out and came out of God"This indicates that his earthly life is the permanent result of an initial act that was voluntary and his own, and followed by life indefinitely." (The Maclaren)

iii. “As long as the Jews believed that there was only one person in the Godhead, they could not really believe in our Lord: hence his insistence upon their theologians that he has a father; that he is not the Father, but the Son; that the Son, though not the Father, is the whole of this God. (Trench)

D.Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word: Jesus explained that the problem of their lack of understanding was rooted in their failure or even inabilityTo listento hisord. This reminds us that the ability to hear His word is a gift to be thankful for.

I. “The impossibility was spiritual. Prejudice, envy, and antagonism made the true Christ inaudible to them, though every syllable of his was audible." (Morrison)

13.(44-47) Jesus reveals the identity of their real father.

“You're inFROMyour father is the devil and you want to do your father's wishes. He was a murderer from the beginning andNOabide in the truth, for there is no truth in it. When he tells a lie, he speaks for himselfresourcesbecause he is a liar and the father of it. But because I'm telling the truth, you don't believe me. Which of you convinces Me of sin? And if I'm telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He that is of God heareth the word of God; therefore you do not obey, because you are not of God.”

IN.You have the devil for your father, and your father's wishes you will do: Religious leaders raised the issue of parentage by insulting Jesus in John John 8:41. Jesus answered by explainingIspiritual origin - they were the spirit children of the devil. This was evident in the fact that their desires matched those of the devil: the desire to kill and deceive.

I. “This verse is one of the most decisive testimonies about Jesusobjective personalityThe devil. It is quite impossible to accept an adaptation to Jewish views or a metaphorical form of expression in so solemn and direct a statement as this." (Alford)

II.He was a killer from the beginning"Cyril and some others think that it is the first murder, the murder of Abel (1 John 3:15), but it is much more likely that the first sin introduced death." (dots)

B.When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own means: Jesus gives us an insight into Satan's character. Thatliehe is the devil's core character, and he is the most dangerous deceiver of all—the self-deluded deceiver.

C.But because I tell you the truth, you don't believe me: They rejected Jesus because he told them the truth they did not want to hear. Not because he lied.

D.Which of you convinces Me of sin?Again, Jesus gave his enemies - who hated him so much that they wanted to kill him - the opportunity to confess some sin in him - and they could not. It was another remarkable testimony to the sinlessness of Jesus Christ.

I. "Often we are so interested in that they have not minded saying that we overlook the other fact that it is really striking to rise to the challenge. Foretells a clear and calm conscience. Only those who were in the closest and deepest communion with the Father, could utter such words.(Morris)

mi.You do not listen because you are not of God: Jesus emphasized the point of spiritual parentage, which was evident in their actions - especially in their rejection of Jesus and His words.

14. (48-50) Jesus answers the accusation that he is possessed.

Then the Jews answered and said to him: Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon? Jesus answered, "I have no demon; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. And I am not looking for myownpraise; there is One who searches and judges.

IN.Do we not rightly say that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?Jesus' enemies were frustrated and irritable. They couldn't make Jesus look bad, and even more believed in him (John 8:30). So they launched their final attack: insults.

·You are a Samaritan(one of the most despised races of Jews).

·And has a demon(saying that Jesus was possessed by a demon).

B.I have no demon; but I honor my Father: Jesus' desire to worship God and his personal humility refuted all accusations of demonic possession. Because those whose spiritual parent is Satan will have certain satanic characteristics, they will have a marked pride and selfishness—things that were and are absent in Jesus.

I.“No man can be said to have a devil who worships God; for from the beginning the evil one was an enemy of all that glorifies the Father."(Spurgeon)

15. (51-53) A great promise to those who accept Jesus and keep his word.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, If any man keep my word, he shall never see death." Then the Jews said to him: Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died and the prophets; and you say, "If any man keep my word, he shall never know death." Are you greater than our father Abraham who died? And the prophets are dead. Who do you claim to be?”

IN.If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death: This is another amazing claim that only makes sense if Jesus is God and is one with God the Father. Jesus promises eternal life to those who obey himHansord.

I."To keep my word, How, 'stand by my word’, verse 31, is not only outward obedience, but also endurance and obedience in faith.” (Alford)

II.Never see death:“Our face is turned away from death...Greek is not fully interpreted by the word "see": it is a more intense word. According to Westcott, the sight referred to here is "a long, steady, exhausting sight, by which we slowly learn the nature of the object it is aimed at." ... Although I have no forgiveness, I cannot help but look at it and foresee it as my regret. When the gospel of the Lord Jesus comes to my soul, and I keep his word in faith, I am completely converted. My back is to death and my face to eternal life.(Spurgeon)

B.Now we know you have a demon! Abraham is dead:Jesus' great claim excited the religious leaders; they thought they had finally caught him with a clearly blasphemous claim. They denied Jesus' claim of eternal life.

I. Notice that the religious leaders have twisted the words of Jesus a little. He said that those who keep His word will never face death; they claimed he said this one would never do ittaste death. The believer will indeed taste death, but will not be terrorized by this defeated enemy.

C.Are you greater than our father Abraham?: They clearly asked Jesus a question. Hoping that Jesus would continue to fall into the trap, they asked:Who do you claim to be?”

16. (54-55) Jesus' claim to know God contrasted with the claim of religious leaders.

Jesus answered, "If I respect myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who worships Me, whom you say is your God. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, "I do not know him," I will be a liar like you; but I know him and keep his word."

IN.If I respect myself, my honor is nothing: Before Jesus answered their questions in Fr. John 8:53, returned to the issue of spiritual parentage. Jesus was sure that he knew that God was his Father andit is my Father who honors Me.

I. “It is not difficult to respect oneself; easy enough—deadly, in fact—to bask in the sun of self-approval. (Barclays)

B.However, you have not known him, but I know him: Religious leaderstaken overthat the Father in heaven was theirsGudbut it was not a true claim. In fact, they did not know God, but Jesus did.

C.I know him and I keep his word: Jesus could not lie and deny his true knowledge of God the Father, as evidenced by his life of obedience to Godord.

17. (56-59) Jesus makes greatstatement, I AM.

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw itToand he was happy." Then the Jews said to him: You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? Jesus said to them: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was made, I AM." Then took those stones to throw at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, and went among them, and so he departed.

IN.Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, he saw it and was happy: Jesus made another remarkable claim in answering their questions in Ms. John 8:53. Not only did Jesus claim to be greater than Abraham, but Abraham himself admitted it.

I. “But when did he 'rejoice' to see the day of Christ? Perhaps when he said to Isaac on the way to the place of sacrifice, "God will give himself a lamb for a burnt offering" (Genesis 22:8). (Bruce)

II. "It is also interesting that the Hebrew expression in Genesis 24:1, which says that Abraham was "gone in days" (the phrase translated in our Bible as "he was old"), has been adopted by some Rabbis to mean that he looked into the distant future." (task man)

B.You are not yet fifty, and have you seen Abraham?The remarkable statement that Abraham had seen and recognized the greatness of Jesus was more than they could understand. They asked, "How did you know that Abraham was pleased with you? You were there?"

I. "Perhaps the strains of his life had aged him prematurely, but he was evidently under fifty." (tenney)

II. "'fifty years' may be used as a round number, accurate enough for its purpose and without the intention of determining the age of Jesus." (dots)

iii. "Why fifty? This was the age when the Levites retired from service (Numbers 4:3). The Jews said to Jesus, 'You are a young man, still in your prime, not even old enough to walk on pension. Why did you see Abraham?'" (Barclay)

C.Before Abraham was, I AM: With these dramatic words, Jesus told them that he was the eternal God who existed not only in the time of Abraham, but before eternity. Jesus claimed to be greatI AM, revealed the voice of Israel's covenant God at the burning bush (Ex 3:13-14).

I.I AM: This is the third time Jesus uses this phrase in this chapterI AM(John 8:24, 8:28) and here in John 8:58. The ancient Greek phrase goesthis money, the same term was used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament at the time of Jesus for the voice from the burning bush. "All previous lightning fades in the brilliance of this transition." (Barclays)

II. Use of the expressionI AM(John 8:24, 8:58, 13:19) Jesus used a distinct divine title belonging only to Yahweh (Exodus 3:13-14, Deuteronomy 32:39, Isaiah 43:10) and was interpreted as such of the followers of Jesus (John 8:58-59). "I AM" was recognized by the Jews as a title of deity. (tenney)

iii. "Before Abraham began to exist, I am eternally existing ... There is no stronger confirmation of preexistence." (dots)

iv. "If Jesus' claim was not well founded, then his words were patently blasphemous: He used language that only God could use." (Bruce)

D.Then they took stones to throw at him: This shows that the religious leaders clearly understood what Jesus meant. He claimed to be the eternal God, and they considered it blasphemy. They considered him worthy of death, and he intended to execute it at that moment.

I. "Their passions have been roused. They were enraged. So they took the law into their own hands." (Morris)

II. "The stones they picked up would be found in the court of the Gentiles: because the temple (i.e., its courts) was still under construction." (Trench)

iii. "The stoning of the temple is mentioned by Josephus Flavius,antiquities, 17.9.3". (dots)

mi.Jesus hid himself and left the temple and passed by them: Ofwishedkill Jesus, but could not becauseHis hour has not yet come(Jan 7:30).

I. “It appears that there is notwonderfulescape intended here, though the assumption of a certain one is natural under the circumstances. (Alford)

II. Adam Clarke had a fanciful view of Jesus' flight: "Probably he became invisible - although some say he drifted away from the Jews who were his enemies and mingled with many who believed in him. (Clarke)

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