1JesusG2424 aberG1161 gingG4198 nachG1519 dem ÖlbergG3735 G1636. 2FrühmorgensG3722 aberG1161 kam erG3854 wiederumG3825 inG1519 den TempelG2411 , undG2532 allesG3956 VolkG2992 kamG2064 zuG4314 ihmG846; undG2532 er setzte sichG2523 und lehrteG1321 sieG846. 3Die SchriftgelehrtenG1122 undG2532 die PharisäerG5330 aberG1161 bringenG71 ein WeibG1135 [zuG4314 ihm]G846, imG1722 EhebruchG3430 ergriffenG2638, undG2532 stellenG2476 sieG846 inG1722 die MitteG3319 4und sagenG3004 zu ihmG846: LehrerG1320, diesesG3778 WeibG1135 ist im EhebruchG3431, auf der Tat selbstG1888, ergriffen wordenG2638. 5InG1722 dem GesetzG3551 aberG1161 hat unsG2254 MosesG3475 gebotenG1781, solcheG5108 zu steinigenG3036; du nunG3767, wasG5101 sagstG3004 duG4771 ? 6DiesG5124 aberG1161 sagten sieG3004, ihnG846 versuchendG3985, auf daßG2443 sie etwas hättenG2192, um ihnG846 anzuklagenG2723. JesusG2424 aberG1161 bückteG2955 sich niederG2736 und schriebG1125 mit dem FingerG1147 aufG1519 die ErdeG1093. 7AlsG5613 sie aberG1161 fortfuhrenG1961, ihnG846 zu fragenG2065, richtete er sich aufG352 und sprachG2036 zuG4314 ihnenG846: Wer von euchG5216 ohne Sünde istG361, werfeG906 zuerstG4413 den SteinG3037 aufG1909 sieG846. 8UndG2532 wiederumG3825 bückte er sichG2955 niederG2736 und schriebG1125 aufG1519 die ErdeG1093. 9Als sie aberG1161 dies hörtenG191, gingenG1831 sie einer nach dem anderenG1527 hinausG1831, anfangendG756 vonG575 den ÄltestenG4245 bis zuG2193 den LetztenG2078; undG2532 JesusG2424 wurde alleinG3441 gelassenG2641 mitG2532 dem WeibeG1135 inG1722 der MitteG3319 G2476. 10Als aberG1161 JesusG2424 sich aufrichteteG352 [undG2532 außerG4133 dem WeibeG1135 niemandenG3367 sah]G2300, sprach erG2036 zu ihrG846: WeibG1135, woG4226 sindG1526 jeneG1565, [deineG4675 Verkläger]G2725 ? HatG2632 dichG4571 niemandG3762 verurteiltG2632 ? 11Sie aberG1161 sprachG2036: NiemandG3762, HerrG2962. JesusG2424 aberG1161 sprachG2036 zu ihrG846: So verurteileG2632 auchG3761 ichG1473 dichG4571 nichtG3761; gehe hinG4198 undG2532 sündigeG264 nichtG3371 mehrG3767.] 12WiederumG3825 nun redeteG2980 JesusG2424 zu ihnenG846 und sprachG3004: IchG1473 binG1510 das LichtG5457 der WeltG2889; wer mirG1698 nachfolgtG190, wird nichtG3364 inG1722 der FinsternisG4653 wandelnG4043, sondernG235 wird das LichtG5457 des LebensG2222 habenG2192. 13DaG3767 sprachenG2036 die PharisäerG5330 zu ihmG846: DuG4771 zeugstG3140 vonG4012 dirG4572 selbstG4572; deinG4675 ZeugnisG3141 istG2076 nichtG3756 wahrG227. 14JesusG2424 antworteteG611 undG2532 sprachG2036 zu ihnenG846: Auch wennG2579 ichG1473 vonG4012 mirG1683 selbst zeugeG3140, istG2076 meinG3450 ZeugnisG3141 wahrG227, weilG3754 ich weißG1492, woherG4159 ich gekommenG2064 bin undG2532 wohinG4226 ich geheG5217; ihrG5210 aberG1161 wissetG1492 nichtG3756, woherG4159 ich kommeG2064 undG2532 wohinG4226 ich geheG5217. 15IhrG5210 richtetG2919 nachG2596 dem FleischeG4561, ichG1473 richteG2919 niemandenG3756 G3762. 16WennG1437 ichG1473 aberG1161 auchG2532 richteG2919, so istG2076 meinG1699 GerichtG2920 wahrG227, weilG3754 ich nichtG3756 alleinG3441 binG1510, sondernG235 ichG1473 undG2532 der VaterG3962, der michG3165 gesandt hatG3992. 17AberG1161 auchG2532 inG1722 euremG5212 GesetzG3551 stehtG1125 geschriebenG1125, daßG3754 das ZeugnisG3141 zweierG1417 MenschenG444 wahrG227 istG2076. 18IchG1473 binG1510 es, der vonG4012 mir selbstG1683 zeugtG3140, undG2532 der VaterG3962, der michG3165 gesandtG3992 hat, zeugtG3140 vonG4012 mirG1700. 19DaG3767 sprachen sieG3004 zu ihmG846: WoG4226 istG2076 deinG4675 VaterG3962 ? JesusG2424 antworteteG611: IhrG1492 kenntG1492 wederG3777 michG1691 nochG3777 meinenG3450 VaterG3962; wennG1487 ihr michG1691 gekannt hättetG1492, so würdet ihr auchG2532 G302 meinenG3450 VaterG3962 gekanntG1492 haben. 20DieseG5023 WorteG4487 redeteG2980 erG2424 inG1722 der SchatzkammerG1049, lehrendG1321 inG1722 dem TempelG2411 ; undG2532 niemandG3762 griffG4084 ihnG846, dennG3754 seineG846 StundeG5610 warG2064 noch nichtG3768 gekommenG2064. 21ErG2424 sprachG2036 nunG3767 wiederumG3825 zu ihnenG846: IchG1473 gehe hinG5217, undG2532 ihr werdet michG3165 suchenG2212 undG2532 werdet inG1722 eurerG5216 SündeG266 sterbenG599; woG3699 ichG1473 hingeheG5217, könntG1410 ihrG5210 nichtG3756 hinkommenG2064. 22DaG3767 sagtenG3004 die JudenG2453: Er will sich doch nicht selbstG1438 tötenG3385 G615, daßG3754 er sprichtG3004: WoG3699 ichG1473 hingeheG5217, könntG1410 ihrG5210 nichtG3756 hinkommenG2064 ? 23UndG2532 er sprachG2036 zu ihnenG846: IhrG5210 seidG2075 vonG1537 dem, was unten istG2736, ichG1473 binG1510 vonG1537 dem, was oben istG507; ihrG5210 seidG2075 vonG1537 dieserG5127 WeltG2889, ichG1473 binG1510 nichtG3756 vonG1537 dieserG5127 WeltG2889. 24DaherG3767 sagteG2036 ich euchG5213, daßG3754 ihr inG1722 eurenG5216 SündenG266 sterbenG599 werdet; dennG1063 wennG3362 ihr nichtG3362 glauben werdetG4100, daßG3754 ichG1473 es binG1510, so werdet ihr inG1722 eurenG5216 SündenG266 sterbenG599. 25DaG3767 sprachenG3004 sie zu ihmG846: WerG5101 bistG1488 duG4771 ? [Und]G2532 JesusG2424 sprachG2036 zu ihnenG846: DurchausG3748 das, was ich auchG2532 zu euchG5213 redeG2980 G746. 26VielesG4183 habeG2192 ich überG4012 euchG5216 zu redenG2980 undG2532 zu richtenG2919, aberG235 der michG3165 gesandtG3992 hat istG2076 wahrhaftigG227; und ichG2504, wasG3739 ich vonG3844 ihmG846 gehört habeG191, dasG5023 redeG3004 ich zuG1519 der WeltG2889. 27Sie erkanntenG1097 nichtG3756, daßG3754 er von dem VaterG3962 zu ihnenG846 sprachG3004. 28DaG5119 sprachG2036 JesusG2424 zu ihnenG846: WennG3752 ihr den SohnG5207 des MenschenG444 erhöhtG5312 haben werdet, dannG3767 werdet ihr erkennenG1097, daßG3754 ichG1473 es binG1510, undG2532 daß ich nichtsG3762 vonG575 mirG1683 selbst tueG4160, sondernG235 wieG2531 derG3450 VaterG3962 michG3165 gelehrt hatG1321, dasG5023 redeG2980 ich. 29UndG2532 der michG3165 gesandt hatG3992 istG2076 mitG3326 mirG1700; erG3962 hatG863 michG3165 nichtG3756 alleinG3441 gelassenG863, weilG3754 ichG1473 allezeitG3842 das ihmG846 WohlgefälligeG701 tueG4160. 30Als er diesG5023 redeteG2980, glaubtenG4100 vieleG4183 anG1519 ihnG846. 31JesusG2424 sprachG3004 nunG3767 zuG4314 den JudenG2453, welcheG3588 ihmG846 geglaubt hattenG4100: WennG1437 ihrG5210 inG1722 meinemG1699 WorteG3056 bleibetG3306, so seid ihrG2075 wahrhaftG230 meineG3450 JüngerG3101; 32undG2532 ihr werdet die WahrheitG225 erkennenG1097, undG2532 die WahrheitG225 wird euchG5209 freiG1659 machenG1659. 33Sie antwortetenG611 ihmG846: Wir sindG2070 AbrahamsG11 SameG4690 undG2532 sind nieG4455 jemandesG3762 KnechteG1398 gewesenG1398; wieG4459 sagstG3004 duG4771 G3754: Ihr sollt freiG1658 werdenG1096 ? 34JesusG2424 antworteteG611 ihnenG846: WahrlichG281, wahrlichG281, ich sageG3004 euchG5213 G3754: JederG3956, der die SündeG266 tutG4160, istG2076 der SündeG266 KnechtG1401. 35Der KnechtG1401 aberG1161 bleibtG3306 nichtG3756 fürG1519 immerG165 inG1722 dem HauseG3614; der SohnG5207 bleibtG3306 fürG1519 immerG165. 36WennG1437 nunG3767 der SohnG5207 euchG5209 freiG1659 machenG1659 wird, so werdet ihr wirklichG3689 freiG1658 seinG2071. 37Ich weißG1492, daßG3754 ihr AbrahamsG11 SameG4690 seidG2075; aberG235 ihr suchetG2212 michG3165 zu tötenG615, weilG3754 meinG1699 WortG3056 nichtG3756 RaumG5562 inG1722 euchG5213 findetG5562. 38IchG1473 redeG2980, wasG3739 ich beiG3844 meinemG3450 VaterG3962 gesehenG3708 habe, undG2532 ihrG5210 nun tutG4160 G3767, wasG3739 ihr vonG3844 euremG5216 VaterG3962 gehörtG3708 habt. 39Sie antwortetenG611 undG2532 sprachenG2036 zu ihmG846: AbrahamG11 istG2076 unserG2257 VaterG3962. JesusG2424 sprichtG3004 zu ihnenG846: WennG1487 ihr AbrahamsG11 KinderG5043 wäretG2258, so würdet ihr die WerkeG2041 AbrahamsG11 tunG4160 G302; 40jetztG3568 aberG1161 suchetG2212 ihr michG3165 zu tötenG615, einen MenschenG444, derG3739 die WahrheitG225 zu euchG5213 geredet hatG2980, dieG3739 ich vonG3844 GottG2316 gehörtG191 habe; dasG5124 hat AbrahamG11 nichtG3756 getanG4160. 41IhrG5210 tutG4160 die WerkeG2041 euresG5216 VatersG3962. [Da]G3767 sprachenG2036 sie zu ihmG846: WirG2249 sindG1080 nichtG3756 durchG1537 HurereiG4202 geborenG1080; wir habenG2192 einenG1520 VaterG3962, GottG2316. 42JesusG2424 G3767 sprachG2036 zu ihnenG846: WennG1487 GottG2316 euerG5216 VaterG3962 wäreG2258, so würdetG302 ihr michG1691 liebenG25, dennG1063 ichG1473 bin vonG1537 GottG2316 ausgegangenG1831 undG2532 gekommenG2240; dennG1063 ich bin auch nichtG3761 vonG575 mir selbstG1683 gekommenG2064, sondernG235 erG1565 hat michG3165 gesandtG649. 43WarumG1302 verstehetG1097 ihr meineG1699 SpracheG2981 nichtG3756 ? WeilG3754 ihr meinG1699 WortG3056 nichtG3756 hörenG191 könntG1410. 44IhrG5210 seidG2075 ausG1537 dem VaterG3962, dem TeufelG1228, undG2532 die BegierdenG1939 euresG5216 VatersG3962 wollt ihrG2309 tunG4160. JenerG1565 warG2258 ein MenschenmörderG443 vonG575 AnfangG746 undG2532 ist inG1722 der WahrheitG225 nichtG3756 bestandenG2476, weilG3754 keineG3756 WahrheitG225 inG1722 ihmG846 istG2076. WennG3752 er die LügeG5579 redetG2980, so redetG2980 er ausG1537 seinem EigenenG2398, dennG3754 er istG2076 ein LügnerG5583 undG2532 der VaterG3962 derselbenG846. 45WeilG3754 ichG1473 aberG1161 die WahrheitG225 sageG3004, glaubetG4100 ihr mirG3427 nichtG3756. 46WerG5101 vonG1537 euchG5216 überführtG1651 michG3165 derG4012 SündeG266 ?G1161 WennG1487 ich die WahrheitG225 sageG3004, warumG1302 glaubetG4100 ihrG5210 mirG3427 nichtG3756 ? 47Wer ausG1537 GottG2316 istG5607, hörtG191 die WorteG4487 GottesG2316. DarumG5124 G1223 höretG191 ihrG5210 nichtG3756, weilG3754 ihr nichtG3756 ausG1537 GottG2316 seidG2075. 48DieG3767 JudenG2453 antwortetenG611 undG2532 sprachenG2036 zu ihmG846: SagenG3004 wirG2249 nichtG3756 rechtG2573, daßG3754 duG4771 ein SamariterG4541 bistG1488 undG2532 einen DämonG1140 hastG2192 ? 49JesusG2424 antworteteG611: IchG1473 habeG2192 keinenG3756 DämonG1140, sondernG235 ich ehreG5091 meinenG3450 VaterG3962, undG2532 ihrG5210 verunehretG818 michG3165. 50IchG1473 aberG1161 sucheG2212 nichtG3756 meineG3450 EhreG1391: es istG2076 einer, der sie suchtG2212, undG2532 der richtetG2919. 51WahrlichG281, wahrlichG281, ich sageG3004 euchG5213: WennG1437 jemandG5100 meinG1699 WortG3056 bewahrenG5083 wird, so wird er den TodG2288 nichtG3364 sehenG2334 ewiglichG1519 G165. 52[Da]G3767 sprachenG2036 die JudenG2453 zu ihmG846: JetztG3568 erkennen wirG1097, daßG3754 du einen DämonG1140 hastG2192. AbrahamG11 ist gestorbenG599 undG2532 die ProphetenG4396, undG2532 duG4771 sagstG3004: WennG1437 jemandG5100 meinG3450 WortG3056 bewahren wirdG5083, so wirdG1089 er den TodG2288 nichtG3364 schmeckenG1089 ewiglichG1519 G165. 53BistG1488 duG4771 etwaG3361 größerG3187 alsG2257 unser VaterG3962 AbrahamG11, derG3748 gestorben istG599 ? undG2532 die ProphetenG4396 sind gestorbenG599. WasG5101 machstG4160 duG4771 aus dir selbstG4572 ? 54JesusG2424 antworteteG611: WennG1437 ichG1473 mich selbstG1683 ehreG1392, so istG2076 meineG3450 EhreG1391 nichtsG3762; meinG3450 VaterG3962 istG2076 es, derG3739 michG3165 ehrtG1392, von welchemG3739 ihrG5210 sagetG3004 G3754: Er istG2076 unserG5216 GottG2316. 55UndG2532 ihr habtG1097 ihnG846 nichtG3756 erkanntG1097, ichG1473 aberG1161 kenneG1492 ihnG846; undG2532 wennG1437 ich sagteG2036 G3754: Ich kenneG1492 ihnG846 nichtG3756, so würdeG2071 ich euchG5216 gleichG3664 seinG2071 - ein LügnerG5583. AberG235 ich kenneG1492 ihnG846, undG2532 ich bewahreG5083 seinG846 WortG3056. 56AbrahamG11, euerG5216 VaterG3962, frohlockteG21, daßG2443 er meinenG1699 TagG2250 sehen sollteG1492, undG2532 er sahG1492 ihn undG2532 freute sichG5463. 57DaG3767 sprachenG2036 die JudenG2453 zuG4314 ihmG846: Du bistG2192 noch nichtG3768 fünfzigG4004 Jahre altG2094 undG2532 hast AbrahamG11 gesehenG3708 ? 58JesusG2424 sprachG2036 zu ihnenG846: WahrlichG281, wahrlichG281, ich sageG3004 euchG5213: EheG4250 AbrahamG11 wardG1096, binG1510 ichG1473. 59DaG3767 hobenG142 sie SteineG3037 aufG142, damitG2443 sie aufG1909 ihnG846 würfenG906. JesusG2424 aberG1161 verbargG2928 sich undG2532 gingG1831 ausG1537 dem TempelG2411 hinausG1831.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY. (
John 8:1-
John 8:11)
Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives--This should have formed the last verse of the foregoing chapter. "The return of the people to the inert quiet and security of their dwellings (
John 7:53), at the close of the feast, is designedly contrasted with our Lord's homeless way, so to speak, of spending the short night, who is early in the morning on the scene again. One cannot well see why what is recorded in
Luke 21:37-
Luke 21:38 may not even thus early have taken place; it might have been the Lord's ordinary custom from the beginning to leave the brilliant misery of the city every night, that so He might compose His sorrowful and interceding heart, and collect His energies for new labors of love; preferring for His resting-place Bethany, and the Mount of Olives, the scene thus consecrated by many preparatory prayers for His final humiliation and exaltation" [STIER].
3 scribes and Pharisees--foiled in their yesterday's attempt, and hoping to succeed better in this.
4 woman . . . in adultery . . . Moses . . . commanded . . . should be stoned--simply put to death (
Deut 22:22), but in aggravated cases, at least in later times, this was probably by stoning (
Ezek 16:40).
but what sayest thou--hoping, whatever He might answer, to put Him in the wrong:--if He said, Stone her, that would seem a stepping out of His province; if He forbade it, that would hold Him up as a relaxer of the public morals. But these cunning hypocrites were overmatched.
6 stooped down--It will be observed He was sitting when they came to Him.
with his finger wrote on the ground--The words of our translators in italics ("as though He heard them not") have hardly improved the sense, for it is scarcely probable He could wish that to be thought. Rather He wished to show them His aversion to enter on the subject. But as this did not suit them, they "continue asking Him," pressing for an answer. At last, raising Himself He said.
7 He that is without sin--not meaning sinless altogether; nor yet, guiltless of a literal breach of the Seventh Commandment; but probably, he whose conscience acquits him of any such sin.
cast a stone--"the stone," meaning the first one (
Deut 17:7).
8 again he stooped down and wrote--The design of this second stooping and writing on the ground was evidently to give her accusers an opportunity to slink away unobserved by Him, and so avoid an exposure to His eye which they could ill have stood. Accordingly it is added.
9 they . . . convicted . . . went out one by one . . . Jesus was left alone--that is, without one of her accusers remaining; for it is added.
the woman in the midst--that is, of the remaining audience. While the trap failed to catch Him for whom it was laid, it caught those who laid it. Stunned by the unexpected home thrust, they immediately made off--which makes the impudence of those impure hypocrites in dragging such a case before the public eye the more disgusting.
10 Woman, &c.--What inimitable tenderness and grace! Conscious of her own guilt, and till now in the hands of men who had talked of stoning her, wondering at the skill with which her accusers had been dispersed, and the grace of the few words addressed to herself, she would be disposed to listen, with a reverence and teachableness before unknown, to our Lord's admonition. "And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more." He pronounces no pardon upon the woman (such as, "Thy sins are forgiven thee" [compare
Luke 5:28;
Luke 7:48] --"Go in peace" [compare
Mark 5:34;
Luke 7:50;
Luke 8:48]), much less does He say that she had done nothing condemnable; He simply leaves the matter where it was. He meddles not with the magistrate's office, nor acts the Judge in any sense (
John 12:47). But in saying, "Go and sin no more," which had been before said to one who undoubtedly believed (
John 5:14), more is probably implied than expressed. If brought suddenly to conviction of sin, admiration of her Deliverer, and a willingness to be admonished and guided by Him, this call to begin a new life may have carried with it what would ensure and naturally bring about a permanent change. (This whole narrative is wanting in some of the earliest and most valuable manuscripts, and those which have it vary to some extent. The internal evidence in its favor is almost overpowering. It is easy to account for its omission, though genuine; but if not so, it is next to impossible to account for its insertion).
12 FURTHER DISCOURSES OF JESUS--ATTEMPT TO STONE HIM. (John 8:12-59)
I am the light of the world--As the former references to water (
John 4:13-
John 4:14;
John 7:37-
John 7:39) and to bread (
John 6:35) were occasioned by outward occurrences, so this one to light. In "the treasury" where it was spoken (see on
John 8:20) stood two colossal golden lamp-stands, on which hung a multitude of lamps, lighted after the evening sacrifice (probably every evening during the feast of tabernacles), diffusing their brilliancy, it is said, over all the city. Around these the people danced with great rejoicing. Now, as amidst the festivities of the water from Siloam Jesus cried, saying, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink," so now amidst the blaze and the joyousness of this illumination, He proclaims, "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD"--plainly in the most absolute sense. For though He gives His disciples the same title, they are only "light in the Lord" (
Eph 5:8); and though He calls the Baptist "the burning and shining light" (or "lamp" of his day,
John 5:35), yet "he was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light: that was THE TRUE LIGHT which, coming into the world, lighteth every man" (
John 1:8-
John 1:9). Under this magnificent title Messiah was promised of old (
Isa 42:6;
Mal 4:2, &c.).
he that followeth me--as one does a light going before him, and as the Israelites did the pillar of bright cloud in the wilderness.
but shall have the light of life--the light, as of a new world, a newly awakened spiritual and eternal life.
13 bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true--How does He meet this specious cavil? Not by disputing the wholesome human maxim that "self-praise is no praise," but by affirming that He was an exception to the rule, or rather, that it had no application to Him.
14 for I know whence I came, and whither I go, &c.--(See on
John 7:28).
15 Ye judge after the flesh--with no spiritual apprehension.
I judge no man.
16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true, &c.--Ye not only form your carnal and warped judgments of Me, but are bent on carrying them into effect; I, though I form and utter My judgment of you, am not here to carry this into execution--that is reserved to a future day; yet the judgment I now pronounce and the witness I now bear is not Mine only as ye suppose, but His also that sent Me. (See on
John 5:31-
John 5:32). And these are the two witnesses to any fact which your law requires.
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury--a division, so called, of the fore court of the temple, part of the court of the women [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 19.6.2, &c.], which may confirm the genuineness of
John 8:2-
John 8:11, as the place where the woman was brought.
no man laid hands on him, &c.--(See on
John 7:30). In the dialogue that follows, the conflict waxes sharper on both sides, till rising to its climax, they take up stones to stone him.
21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, &c.--(See on
John 7:33).
22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself?--seeing something more in His words than before (
John 7:35), but their question more malignant and scornful.
23 Ye are from beneath; I am from above--contrasting Himself, not as in
John 3:31, simply with earthborn messengers of God, but with men sprung from and breathing an opposite element from His, which rendered it impossible that He and they should have any present fellowship, or dwell eternally together. (Again see on
John 7:33; also see on
John 8:44).
24 if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins--They knew well enough what He meant (
Mark 13:6, Greek; compare
Matt 24:5). But He would not, by speaking it out, give them the materials for a charge for which they were watching. At the same time, one is irresistibly reminded by such language, so far transcending what is becoming in men, of those ancient declarations of the God of Israel, "I AM HE" (
Deut 32:39;
Isa 43:10,
Isa 43:13;
Isa 46:4;
Isa 48:12). See on
John 6:20.
25 Who art thou?--hoping thus to extort an explicit answer; but they are disappointed.
26 I have many things to say and to judge of you; but he that sent me is true, &c.--that is, I could, and at the fitting time, will say and judge many things of you (referring perhaps to the work of the Spirit which is for judgment as well as salvation,
John 16:8), but what I do say is just the message My Father hath given Me to deliver.
28 When ye have lifted up the Son of man--The plainest intimation He had yet given in public of the manner and the authors of His death.
then shall ye know that I am he, &c.--that is, find out, or have sufficient evidence, how true was all He said, though they would be far from owning it.
29 the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him, &c.--that is, To you, who gnash upon Me with your teeth, and frown down all open appearance for Me, I seem to stand uncountenanced and alone; but I have a sympathy and support transcending all human applause; I came hither to do My Father's will, and in the doing of it have not ceased to please Him; therefore is He ever by Me with His approving smile, His cheering words, His supporting arm.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him--Instead of wondering at this, the wonder would be if words of such unearthly, surpassing grandeur could be uttered without captivating some that heard them. And just as "all that sat in the council" to try Stephen "saw his face"--though expecting nothing but death--"as it had been the face of an angel" (
Acts 6:15), so may we suppose that, full of the sweet supporting sense of His Father's presence, amidst the rage and scorn of the rulers, a divine benignity beamed from His countenance, irradiated the words that fell from Him, and won over the candid "many" of His audience.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, &c.--The impression produced by the last words of our Lord may have become visible by some decisive movement, and here He takes advantage of it to press on them "continuance" in the faith, since then only were they His real disciples (compare
John 15:3-
John 15:8), and then should they experimentally "know the truth," and "by the truth be made (spiritually) free."
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man, &c.--Who said this? Not surely the very class just spoken of as won over by His divine words, and exhorted to continue in them. Most interpreters seem to think so; but it is hard to ascribe such a petulant speech to the newly gained disciples, even in the lowest sense, much less persons so gained as they were. It came, probably, from persons mixed up with them in the same part of the crowd, but of a very different spirit. The pride of the Jewish nation, even now after centuries of humiliation, is the most striking feature of their character. "Talk of freedom to us? Pray when or to whom were we ever in bondage?" This bluster sounds almost ludicrous from such a nation. Had they forgotten their long and bitter bondage in Egypt? their dreary captivity in Babylon? their present bondage to the Roman yoke, and their restless eagerness to throw it off? But probably they saw that our Lord pointed to something else--freedom, perhaps, from the leaders of sects or parties--and were not willing to allow their subjection even to these. Our Lord, therefore, though He knew what slaves they were in this sense, drives the ploughshare somewhat deeper than this, to a bondage they little dreamt of.
34 Whosoever committeth sin--that is, liveth in the commission of it--(Compare
1John 3:8;
Matt 7:23).
is the servant of sin--that is, the bond-servant, or slave of it; for the question is not about free service, but who are in bondage. (Compare
2Pet 2:19;
Rev 6:16). The great truth here expressed was not unknown to heathen moralists; but it was applied only to vice, for they were total strangers to what in revealed religion is called sin. The thought of slaves and freemen in the house suggests to our Lord a wider idea.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever, but the Son abideth ever--that is, "And if your connection with the family of God be that of BOND-SERVANTS, ye have no natural tie to the house; your tie is essentially uncertain and precarious. But the SON'S relationship to the FATHER is a natural and essential one; it is an indefeasible tie; His abode in it is perpetual and of right: That is My relationship, My tie: If, then, ye would have your connection with God's family made real, rightful, permanent, ye must by the Son be manumitted and adopted as sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty." In this sublime statement there is no doubt a subordinate allusion to
Gen 21:10, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son, for the son of this bond-woman shall not be heir with my son, with Isaac." (Compare
Gal 4:22-
Gal 4:30).
37 ye seek to kill me--He had said this to their face before: He now repeats it, and they do not deny it; yet are they held back, as by some marvellous spell--it was the awe which His combined dignity, courage, and benignity struck into them.
because my word hath no place in you--When did ever human prophet so speak of His words? They tell us of "the word of the Lord" coming to them. But here is One who holds up "His word" as that which ought to find entrance and abiding room for itself in the souls of all who hear it.
38 my Father . . . your father--(See on
John 8:23).
39 If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham--He had just said He "knew they were Abraham's children," that is, according to the flesh; but the children of his faith and holiness they were not, but the reverse.
40 this did not Abraham--In so doing ye act in direct opposition to him.
41 We be not born of fornication . . . we have one Father, God--meaning, as is generally allowed, that they were not an illegitimate race in point of religion, pretending only to be God's people, but were descended from His own chosen Abraham.
42 If God were your Father, ye would love me--"If ye had anything of His moral image, as children have their father's likeness, ye would love Me, for I am immediately of Him and directly from Him." But "My speech" (meaning His peculiar style of expressing Himself on these subjects) is unintelligible to you because ye cannot take in the truth which it conveys.
44 Ye are of your father the devil--"This is one of the most decisive testimonies to the objective (outward) personality of the devil. It is quite impossible to suppose an accommodation to Jewish views, or a metaphorical form of speech, in so solemn an assertion as this" [ALFORD].
the lusts of your father--his impure, malignant, ungodly propensities, inclinations, desires.
ye will do--are willing to do; not of any blind necessity of nature, but of pure natural inclination.
He was a murderer from the beginning--The reference is not to Cain (as LOCKE, DE WETTE, ALFORD, &c.), but to Adam [GROTIUS, CALVIN, MEYER, LUTHARDT, &c.]. The death of the human race, in its widest sense, is ascribed to the murderous seducer of our race.
and abode not in the truth--As, strictly speaking, the word means "abideth," it has been denied that the fall of Satan from a former holy state is here expressed [LOCKE, &c.], and some superior interpreters think it only implied [OLSHAUSEN, &c.]. But though the form of the thought is present--not past--this is to express the important idea, that his whole character and activity are just a continual aberration from his own original truth or rectitude; and thus his fall is not only the implied basis of the thought, but part of the statement itself, properly interpreted and brought out.
no truth in him--void of all that holy, transparent rectitude which, as His creature, he originally possessed.
When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own--perhaps his own resources, treasures (
Matt 12:35) [ALFORD]. (The word is plural). It means that he has no temptation to it from without; it is purely self-begotten, springing from a nature which is nothing but obliquity.
the father of it--that is, of lying: all the falsehood in the world owes its existence to him. What a verse is this! It holds up the devil (1) as the murderer of the human race; but as this is meant here in the more profound sense of spiritual death, it holds him up, (2) as the spiritual parent of this fallen human family, communicating to his offspring his own evil passions and universal obliquity, and stimulating these into active exercise. But as there is "a stronger than he," who comes upon him and overcomes him (
Luke 11:21-
Luke 11:22), it is only such as "love the darkness," who are addressed as children of the devil (
Matt 13:38;
1John 3:8-10).
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not--not although, but just because He did so, for the reason given in the former verse. Had He been less true they would have hailed Him more readily.
46 Which of you convinceth me of sin--"Convicteth," bringeth home a charge of sin. Glorious dilemma! "Convict Me of sin, and reject Me: If not, why stand ye out against My claims?" Of course, they could only be supposed to impeach His life; but in One who had already passed through unparalleled complications, and had continually to deal with friends and foes of every sort and degree, such a challenge thrown wide among His bitterest enemies, can amount to nothing short of a claim to absolute sinlessness.
48 Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?--What intense and virulent scorn! (See
Heb 12:3). The "say we not well" refers to
John 7:20. "A Samaritan" means more than "no Israelite at all"; it means one who pretended, but had no manner of claim to the title--retorting perhaps, this denial of their true descent from Abraham.
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil--What calm dignity is here! Verily, "when reviled, He reviled not again" (
1Pet 2:23). Compare Paul (
Acts 26:25), "I am not mad," &c. He adds not, "Nor am I a Samaritan," that He might not even seem to partake of their contempt for a race that had already welcomed Him as the Christ, and began to be blessed by Him.
I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me--the language of wounded feeling. But the interior of His soul at such moments is only to be seen in such prophetic utterances as these, "For thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face; I am become a stranger unto my brethren, an alien unto my mother's children. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up, and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me" (
Ps 69:7-
Ps 69:9).
50 I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh--that is, evidently, "that seeketh My glory"; requiring "all men to honor the Son even as they honor the Father"; judicially treating him "who honoreth not the Son as honoring not the Father that hath sent Him" (
John 5:23; and compare
Matt 17:5); but giving to Him (
John 6:37) such as will yet cast their crowns before His throne, in whom He "shall see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied" (
Isa 53:11).
51 If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death--Partly thus vindicating His lofty claims as Lord of the kingdom of life everlasting, and, at the same time, holding out even to His revilers the scepter of grace. The word "keep" is in harmony with
John 8:31, "If ye continue in My word," expressing the permanency, as a living and paramount principle, of that faith to which He referred: "never see death," though virtually uttered before (
John 5:24;
John 6:40,
John 6:47,
John 6:51), is the strongest and most naked statement of a very glorious truth yet given. (In
John 11:26 it is repeated in nearly identical terms).
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil, &c.--"Thou art now self-convicted; only a demoniac could speak so; the most illustrious of our fathers are dead, and Thou promisest exemption from death to anyone who will keep Thy saying! pray, who art Thou?"
54 If I honour myself, my honour is nothing, &c.--(See on
John 5:31, &c.).
55 I shall be a liar like unto you--now rising to the summit of holy, naked severity, thereby to draw this long dialogue to a head.
56 Abraham rejoiced to see my day, &c.--exulted, or exceedingly rejoiced that he should see, he exulted to see it, that is, by anticipation. Nay,
he saw it, and was glad--he actually beheld it, to his joy. If this mean no more than that he had a prophetic foresight of the gospel-day--the second clause just repeating the first--how could the Jews understand our Lord to mean that He "had seen Abraham?" And if it mean that Abraham was then beholding, in his disembodied spirit, the incarnate Messiah [STIER, ALFORD, &c.], the words seem very unsuitable to express it. It expresses something past--"he saw My day, and was glad," that is, surely while he lived. He seems to refer to the familiar intercourse which Abraham had with God, who is once and again in the history called "the Angel of the Lord," and whom Christ here identifies with Himself. On those occasions, Abraham "saw ME" (OLSHAUSEN, though he thinks the reference is to some unrecorded scene). If this be the meaning, all that follows is quite natural.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old--"No inference can be drawn from this as to the age of our Lord at the time as man. Fifty years was with the Jews the completion of manhood" [ALFORD].
and hast thou seen Abraham?--He had said Abraham saw Him, as being his peculiar privilege. They give the opposite turn to it--"Hast Thou seen Abraham?" as an honor too great for Him to pretend to.
58 Before Abraham was, I am--The words rendered "was" and "am" are quite different. The one clause means, "Abraham was brought into being"; the other, "I exist." The statement therefore is not that Christ came into existence before Abraham did (as Arians affirm is the meaning), but that He never came into being at all, but existed before Abraham had a being; in other words, existed before creation, or eternally (as
John 1:1). In that sense the Jews plainly understood Him, since "then took they up stones to cast at Him," just as they had before done when they saw that He made Himself equal with God (
John 5:18).
hid himself--(See on
Luke 4:30).
