VIII. (1) It is an instructive example of the way in which the artificial division into Chapter s often mars the sense. that one verse of this section is found at the close of the last chapter, and the remainder in this. JESUS WENT UNTO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. — The Mount of Olives is nowhere mention... [ Continue Reading ]
AND EARLY IN THE MORNING HE CAME AGAIN INTO THE TEMPLE. — This agrees with His custom during the week preceding the Crucifixion. (Comp. Luke 21:37.) The words, “and He sat down and taught them,” are not found in the Cambridge MS., which is the oldest authority for the section.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES... — This is the common phrase of the earlier Gospels, but “the scribes” are never named by St. John. His word to denote the hierarchy in their opposition to Christ is “the Jews.” (See Note on John 1:19.)... [ Continue Reading ]
The Cambridge MS. reads, “the priests say unto Him, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him,” adding the word “priests,” and placing here the first words of the sixth verse of the Received text.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW MOSES IN THE LAW COMMANDED US, THAT SUCH SHOULD BE STONED. — If we interpret the words strictly, the case they contemplate is not that referred to in Leviticus 20:10, and quoted here in the margin, but that of Deuteronomy 22:23, which was the only case for which stoning was specified as a punish... [ Continue Reading ]
On the text, see Note on John 8:4. The last words, in italics, which are an explanatory gloss, should also be omitted. The verse will then read, “But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground” — or, more exactly, _was writing on the ground._ It is the imperfect of the continued act... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WHEN THEY CONTINUED ASKING HIM. — He would have avoided their question, and continued, as is here implied, for some time in the action of writing; but they will now interrupt that action. It seems to them that He cannot avoid the snare in which they have placed Him, and that He is seeking the onl... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WROTE ON THE GROUND. — The Cambridge MS. inserts, “with His finger,” as in John 8:6. The repeated action repeats His determination to avoid the office of judge. He has answered them, and He leaves His answer to do its work. There is a law written in their hearts, and this, while He now writes on... [ Continue Reading ]
The readings of the texts here differ considerably, but without any essential difference of meaning. “Being convicted by their own conscience” is probably an addition made by some copyist to explain the meaning, which is quite clear without it. BEGINNING AT THE ELDEST. — Literally, _beginning at th... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE ARE THOSE THINE ACCUSERS? — Here again the Cambridge MS. has a shorter reading — “Where are they?” “Hath no man condemned thee?” or, more exactly, _Did no man condemn thee?_ The “man” is in contrast to “thine accusers” or “they.” “Of all who brought the charge against thee, was there not one t... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE SAID, NO MAN, LORD. — She simply answers His question. There is no plea for forgiveness. There is no attempt at defence. We know not what passed in her heart; we know not what was written upon her countenance. We know not whether the word “Lord” was simply the “Sir” of courtesy, or whether it co... [ Continue Reading ]
[(2) JESUS IS TRUTH, LIGHT, AND LOVE (_cont_). (_b_) _Jesus is Light_ (John 8:12 to John 9:41). (_α_) He declares Himself to be the Light, and appeals to the witness of the Father and of Himself (John 8:12).] (12) THEN SPAKE JESUS AGAIN UNTO THEM, SAYING, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. — Omitting... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU BEAREST RECORD OF THYSELF; THY RECORD IS NOT TRUE. — Better, _Thou bearest witness of Thyself; Thy witness is not true._ (Comp. Note on John 5:31.) The Authorised version here, by a change of word, renders the connection less obvious than it really is. The Pharisees, standing probably in the fr... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH I BEAR RECORD OF MYSELF, YET MY RECORD IS TRUE. — For “record” read in each instance _witness,_ as in John 8:13. The pronoun is emphatic. “Even if _I_ do bear witness of Myself, yet My witness is true.” He had before quoted their law of evidence (John 5:31), and showed that He fulfilled its c... [ Continue Reading ]
YE JUDGE AFTER THE FLESH; I JUDGE NO MAN. — The pronouns are placed in emphatic contrast. “You on your part... I for My part.” We must beware of the common mistake of finding the origin of this thought of judgment in John 8:10, which as we have seen do not belong to this context. It arises rather fr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YET IF I JUDGE, MY JUDGMENT IS TRUE. — Though judgment was not the object of His mission, it was, as He had taught in John 3:19 (see Note there) the result of the manifestation of the Light. But in the cases in which the result followed, the judgment was not according to the flesh, but was in ac... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS ALSO WRITTEN IN YOUR LAW. — He now proceeds to show again that the technical requirement of the Law was satisfied by His witness. The term _“your_ law” is material, as addressed to those who were professed expounders of it and accused Him of being a transgressor of it. (Comp. the parallel refe... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM ONE THAT BEAR WITNESS OF MYSELF. — The Greek has no word to express the English “one.” It is more exactly, _I am He who beareth witness._ The twofold witness is (1) in His own individuality — I, who know whence I came and whither I go, testify of Myself to you who know neither; and (2) in the f... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID THEY UNTO HIM, WHERE IS THY FATHER? — The words seem to be asked in scorn. “You speak of two witnesses. We accept you as one. Where is the other? He should be present before us if his evidence is to be accepted.” They must have known well from the earlier discourse that He claimed God as H... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE WORDS SPAKE JESUS IN THE TREASURY. — Comp. Notes on Mark 12:41 and Luke 21:1. From the passage it is clear that the word “treasury” was applied to the brazen trumpet-shaped chests placed in the court of the women for the reception of alms. There were thirteen of them, and each bore an inscript... [ Continue Reading ]
[(b) _Jesus is Light_ (_continued_). (_β_) His return to the Father misunderstood by the Jews, and explained by Him (John 8:21).] (21) THEN SAID JESUS AGAIN UNTO THEM. — The best MSS. omit the word “Jesus,” and read, _He said, therefore, again unto them._ The word “therefore” connects the discours... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID THE JEWS, WILL HE KILL HIMSELF? — They see the deeper meaning of His words, and yet cannot see how that meaning is to be fulfilled. “He is going away, and He clearly refers to His death. But the issues of life are in the darkness of the future. Who can know the hour of His own departure? T... [ Continue Reading ]
There is indeed a gulf which they cannot pass, but it is not that between souls in Abraham’s bosom and souls in Hades. It is the gulf between heaven and earth. This He brings out in two pairs of antithetic clauses. (Comp. Note on John 1:3.) These clauses interpret each other, and no deeper meaning i... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAID THEREFORE UNTO YOU, THAT YE SHALL DIE IN YOUR SINS. — He now further explains what He meant by these words in John 8:21. The words, as they are twice repeated in this verse, differ in two particulars from their earlier form. One is, that the singular substantive “sin” has given place to the p... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID THEY UNTO HIM, WHO ART THOU? — They ask the question in the tone of scorn which they have already expressed in John 8:22. The pronoun is the emphatic word: “_Thou,_ who art _thou?”_ and the phrase was in frequent use to express contempt. He had said, “I am;” but they do not understand the... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY AND TO JUDGE OF YOU. — The order of thought here is not certain, and will depend, in part, upon the interpretation we give to the previous verse. These words seem to arise from their judgment of Him as expressed in their scornful question, “Who art thou?” He has, indeed, im... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY UNDERSTOOD NOT THAT HE SPAKE (better, _was speaking_) TO THEM OF THE FATHER. — We have seen in Note on John 8:21 that a new discourse commences there, and that the hearers are not necessarily the same as those who had asked the question and heard the answer of John 8:19. Still the speakers then... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID JESUS UNTO THEM. — Better, _There-fore_... The teaching arises immediately out of the want of understanding just mentioned. WHEN YE HAVE LIFTED UP THE SON OF MAN. — Better, _When ye shall have lifted up_... (Comp. Notes on John 3:14; John 6:62; John 12:32; John 12:34.) Both the Crucifixio... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FATHER HATH NOT LEFT ME ALONE. — The Greek words mean exactly, _the Father_ (or, as the better MSS. read, without change of meaning, _He_)_ left Me not alone,_ and they are sometimes taken to refer to the time of His mission into the world. The context rather points to their application to every... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY BELIEVED ON HIM. — Wonder has often been expressed at the want of apprehension spoken of in John 8:27. There is surely no less room for wonder in the faith spoken of here. Those who believe are of the rulers (“those Jews,” John 8:31). The words which they now heard (John 8:28) contain nothing o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID JESUS TO THOSE JEWS WHICH BELIEVED ON HIM. — Better, _to those Jews who had believed Him._ The act of faith is mentioned in the previous verse. They are here placed among the believers, with an expression of contrast mixed with, perhaps, something of wonder — Jews and yet believers. IF YE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH. — In the great Intercessory Prayer of John 17, Jesus prays for His disciples: “Sanctify them in the truth: Thy word is truth” (John 8:17). In the answer to the question of Thomas in John 14, He declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 8:6). It is this thou... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ANSWERED HIM — _i.e.,_ the Jews who had believed in Him (John 8:31). There is no indication that this answer was made by others standing near, nor would this supposition have been made but for the difficulty of applying some of the words which follow (John 8:40; John 8:44) to those who had ever... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER COMMITTETH SIN IS THE SERVANT OF SIN. — The Cambridge MS. and some of the Fathers omit the words “of sin”; but this is clearly to avoid the difficulty of the connection of thought, and they must be regarded as an integral part of the text. COMMITTETH SIN. — The Greek word is a present part... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SERVANT ABIDETH NOT. — Better, _Now the bondman abideth not_..., as in the last verse. THE SON ABIDETH EVER. — Better, _for ever,_ as in the earlier clause. The Greek words are precisely the same. This contrast between the position of the slave, who is a chattel that may be bought or bartere... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE SON THEREFORE SHALL MAKE YOU FREE. — Now the thought of John 8:31 is repeated in special reference to the position they had claimed for themselves. There is need for the emancipation of which He has spoken, and His mission in the world is to proclaim it. If they will enter into spiritual unio... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW THAT YE ARE ABRAHAM’S SEED. — He uses the word which they had used in John 8:33, acknowledging their merely physical descent from Abraham. He has since used the word “Son,” but does not apply it to them. In John 8:39 He refuses to acknowledge that they are Abraham’s “children.” BUT YE SEEK TO... [ Continue Reading ]
I SPEAK THAT WHICH I HAVE SEEN WITH MY FATHER. — Some of the older MSS. read “the” for “My,” but without change of sense. For the thought, comp. John 8:28, where we have the same connection between doing and speaking. He is the Word, and His work is to speak what He had seen in His eternal existence... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM, ABRAHAM IS OUR FATHER. — They feel the meaning which has not yet been expressed (comp. John 8:44), and claim the descent from Abraham which He has already allowed (John 8:37). IF YE WERE ABRAHAM’S CHILDREN, YE WOULD DO THE WORKS OF ABRAHAM. — Almost all the better M... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NOW YE SEEK TO KILL ME — i.e., As a matter of fact, in opposition to the conduct which would characterise the true children of Abraham, ye are seeking to kill Me. (Comp. Note on John 8:37.) A MAN THAT HATH TOLD YOU THE TRUTH, WHICH I HAVE HEARD (better, _which I heard_) FROM GOD. — The term “a... [ Continue Reading ]
YE DO THE DEEDS OF YOUR FATHER. — It is better to read _works_ rather than “deeds,” as in John 8:39. They did not the works of Abraham. They did the works of that father, who is now more clearly pointed out, but still not named. Before, when he was referred to (John 8:38), they could answer that Abr... [ Continue Reading ]
IF GOD WERE YOUR FATHER, YE WOULD LOVE ME. — This follows because they would then be in a relationship of spiritual affinity to Him. God’s children would bear the spiritual image of their Father, and would love Him who came from God, but they were seeking to kill Him (John 8:40). I PROCEEDED FORTH... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY DO YE NOT UNDERSTAND MY SPEECH,... MY WORD. — The distinction between “speech” (the form) and “word” (the matter which was spoken) is rightly preserved. Comp. John 12:48, “the word that I have spoken.” A good instance of the meaning of “speech is found in Matthew 26:73, “thy speech betrayeth the... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL. — “Ye” is emphatic. “Ye who have claimed Abraham and God as your father. _Ye_ are of the father, but that father is the devil.” The possessive pronoun (your) is not expressed in the Greek, and the form of the sentence is one which would have required it if it were in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BECAUSE I TELL YOU THE TRUTH. — The pronoun is full of emphatic meaning. And I, as contrary to him, because 1 tell you the truth, as contrary to the lie which is his characteristic. YE BELIEVE ME NOT — _i.e.,_ ye believe not what I say. It does not mean, Ye believe not on Me, but Ye accept not... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH OF YOU CONVINCETH ME OF SIN? — He appeals to their knowledge of His sinless life, as in John 8:29. He asserted His own knowledge of entire conformity to His Father’s will. It is an appeal that spotless purity alone could make, and is His own testimony uttered in the dignity of certain knowledg... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS OF GOD HEARETH GOD’S WORDS. — Again He answers the question which He has Himself asked, and gives more fully the same reason which He gave in John 8:43. In John 8:44 He asserted that they were of the father the devil, and therefore lived to do the lusts of the devil. In the same way he wh... [ Continue Reading ]
SAY WE NOT WELL THAT THOU ART A SAMARITAN, AND HAST A DEVIL? — The words imply that the saying was customary among the Pharisees. The knowledge of this, and the simple way in which the fact is told, is one of many instances of the writer’s minute acquaintance with what was said and done by the leade... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED, I HAVE NOT A DEVIL. — One of the disciples, who was probably present on this day, and heard these words, speaks of Christ our example, “who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:2... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SEEK NOT MINE OWN GLORY. — The words are immediately connected with those which have preceded. They dishonoured Him. This to one who sought His own glory would have been matter of concern. For Him whose whole life was one of self-denial, their dishonour finds nothing which it can wound. His wo... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A MAN KEEP MY SAYING, HE SHALL NEVER SEE DEATH. — Better, _If a man keep My word._ Our version obscures the close connection with the thought of “continuing in His word” in John 8:31; and also that with “He that heareth my word,” in John 5:24. This last passage is the key to the words before us.... [ Continue Reading ]
ABRAHAM IS DEAD, AND THE PROPHETS. — They still “do not understand His speech,” and take His words in a merely physical sense. In that sense they were impossible, for they are contradicted by the fact that death came to the great Patriarch and the prophets, and if to them, then surely, much more to... [ Continue Reading ]
ART THOU GREATER THAN OUR FATHER ABRAHAM, WHICH IS DEAD? — The question is exactly the same, with the substitution of “Abraham” for “Jacob,” as that asked by the Samaritan woman in John 4:12 (see Note). “Surely thou art not greater than our father Abraham, who indeed died?” WHOM MAKEST THOU THYSELF... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I HONOUR MYSELF, MY HONOUR IS NOTHING. — The word rendered “honour” is not the same as that in John 8:49. It is better to read _glorify_ here. Following all the better MSS. the tense is past. We have then, _If I shall have glorified Myself, My glory is nothing._ Stress is to be laid upon the pron... [ Continue Reading ]
YET YE HAVE NOT KNOWN HIM; BUT I KNOW HIM. — The frequency of lip-assertion was not accompanied by any true heart-knowledge. The Father who glorified Him was the God whom they professed to serve. Their question, “Whom makest Thou Thyself? _“_has its explanation in the fact that this service was inde... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR FATHER ABRAHAM REJOICED TO SEE MY DAY. — They had asked in scorn if He were greater than their father Abraham (John 8:53)..His words have shown that He was. He now, with the thoughts of John 8:39 still present, contrasts the exultation of him whom they claimed as father, when he saw from afar t... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART NOT YET FIFTY YEARS OLD. — There is no reason to doubt that we have the correct reading here, though some, from Chrysostom downward, have sought to avoid what seemed to them a difficulty, by substituting “forty” for “fifty.” Others, and among them were the “Elders who in Asia conferred with... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM. — Better, _Before Abraham was born, I am._ (Comp. Note on John 1:6; and see another striking instance in Luke 6:36, “Become ye merciful as your Father also is merciful.”) Here they ask in wonder, not unmixed with scorn, if He was coeval with Abraham. The answer is that Abra... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN TOOK THEY UP STONES TO CAST AT HIM. — At last the meaning of His words flashes upon them. They had heard this I AM before (John 8:24) without perceiving that in it He applied to Himself the name Jehovah. Now there is no room for doubt. His own Divinity is the only explanation of what He has sai... [ Continue Reading ]