1Ježiš odišiel na Olivový vrch. 2Zavčasu ráno však vošiel zase do chrámu a všetok ľud prišiel k Nemu; posadil sa a vyučoval ich. 3Tu zákonníci a farizeji priviedli ženu, pristihnutú pri cudzoložstve, postavili ju do prostriedku 4a povedali Mu: Majstre, túto ženu pristihli, keď cudzoložila, 5a Mojžiš (nám) v zákone prikázal takéto ukameňovať; čo povieš Ty? 6Ale to povedali, aby Ho pokúšali a mohli obžalovať. Ježiš sa zohol a prstom písal po zemi. 7Keď sa však neprestávali spytovať, vzpriamil sa a riekol im: Kto je z vás bez hriechu, nech prvý hodí po nej kameňom. 8A zase sa zohol a písal po zemi. 9Keď to počuli, odchádzali po jednom, počnúc od starších, takže zostal sám a žena, ktorá bola v prostriedku. 10Ježiš sa vzpriamil a riekol jej: Žena, kde sú? Nikto ťa neodsúdil? 11Odpovedala: Nikto, Pane! Nato jej povedal Ježiš: Ani ja ťa neodsudzujem, choď a odteraz viac nehreš. 12Potom zase prehovoril k nim Ježiš: Ja som svetlo sveta. Kto mňa nasleduje, nebude chodiť v tme, ale bude mať svetlo života. 13I povedali Mu farizeji: Sám svedčíš o sebe; Tvoje svedectvo nie je pravdivé. 14Odpovedal im Ježiš: Keď aj sám svedčím o sebe, pravdivé je moje svedectvo, pretože viem, odkiaľ som prišiel a kam idem; vy však neviete, odkiaľ prichádzam, ani kam idem. 15Vy súdite podľa tela, ja nesúdim nikoho. 16A ak aj súdim, môj súd je spravodlivý, pretože nie som sám, ale so mnou je Otec, ktorý ma poslal. 17A aj vo vašom zákone je napísané, že svedectvo dvoch ľudí je pravdivé. 18Svedčím o sebe ja a svedčí o mne aj Otec, ktorý ma poslal. 19I povedali Mu: Kdeže je Tvoj Otec? A Ježiš odpovedal: Nepoznáte ani mňa, ani môjho Otca; keby ste mňa poznali, poznali by ste aj môjho Otca. 20Tieto slová povedal pri pokladnici, keď vyučoval v chráme; a nikto Ho nezlapal, lebo ešte neprišla Jeho hodina. 21Potom im zase hovoril: Ja odchádzam a budete ma hľadať a umriete vo svojom hriechu; kam ja odchádzam, tam vy nemôžete prísť. 22I povedali na to Židia: Vari sa len nezabije sám, keďže hovorí: Kam ja odchádzam, tam vy nemôžete prísť? 23On im odpovedal: Vy ste zdola, ja som zhora; vy ste z tohto sveta, ja nie som z tohto sveta. 24Preto som vám povedal, že umriete v hriechoch, lebo ak neuveríte, že ja som, umriete v hriechoch. 25Povedali Mu teda: Kto si Ty? Ježiš im odpovedal: Som to, čo vám od počiatku aj hovorím! 26Mnoho mám o vás hovoriť a súdiť vás, ale Ten, ktorý ma poslal, je pravdivý, a ja, čo som počul od Neho, to hovorím svetu. 27Ale nerozumeli, že im hovoril o Otcovi. 28Ježiš teda povedal: Keď povýšite Syna človeka, až potom poznáte, že ja som, a nič nečiním sám od seba, ale hovorím, ako ma Otec naučil. 29A Ten, ktorý ma poslal, je so mnou, nenechal ma samého, pretože ja vždy to činím, čo je milé Jemu. 30Keď takto hovoril, mnohí uverili v Neho. 31I riekol Ježiš Židom, ktorí uverili: Ak vy zostanete v mojom slove, ste naozaj moji učeníci. 32A poznáte pravdu a pravda vás vyslobodí. 33Odpovedali Mu: Potomstvo Abrahámovo sme a nikdy sme neslúžili nikomu; akože teda hovoríš: Budete vyslobodení? 34Odpovedal im Ježiš: Veru, veru, hovorím vám: Každý, kto pácha hriech, je otrokom hriechu. 35Otrok však nezostáva v dome naveky; syn zostáva naveky. 36Keď vás teda Syn vyslobodí, budete skutočne slobodní. 37Viem, že ste potomstvo Abrahámovo; a predsa ma chcete zabiť, pretože sa moje slovo neujíma vo vás. 38Ja hovorím, čo som videl u Otca; a vy robíte, čo ste počuli od svojho otca. 39Odpovedali Mu: Naším otcom je Abrahám. Riekol im Ježiš: Ak ste Abrahámove deti, robte Abrahámove skutky; 40ale vy ma chcete zabiť - človeka, ktorý som vám povedal pravdu, ktorú som počul od Boha; to Abrahám neurobil. 41Vy robíte skutky svojho otca. Povedali Mu: My sme sa nenarodili zo smilstva, máme jediného Otca, Boha. 42Ježiš im povedal: Keby Boh bol vaším Otcom, milovali by ste ma; veď ja som z Boha vyšiel a prichádzam (z Boha). Lebo neprišiel som sám od seba, ale On ma poslal. 43Prečo nechápete moju reč? Pretože nemôžete počuť moje slová. 44Vy ste z otca diabla a žiadosti svojho otca chcete činiť. On bol vrahom ľudí od počiatku a nestál v pravde, lebo nieto v ňom pravdy. Keď hovorí lož, hovorí zo svojho vlastného, pretože je luhár a otec lži. 45Ale pretože ja hovorím pravdu, neveríte mi. 46Kto z vás ma usvedčí z hriechu? A keď pravdu hovorím, prečo mi neveríte? 47Kto je z Boha, počúva Božie slová; vy preto nepočúvate, lebo nie ste z Boha. 48Židia mu povedali: Či nehovoríme dobre, že si Samaritán a démonom posadnutý? 49Ježiš odpovedal: Ja nie som posadnutý, ale ctím si Otca. Vy ma však zneucťujete. 50Ja nehľadám svoju slávu; jesto, kto ju hľadá a kto súdi. 51Veru, veru vám hovorím: Ak niekto zachováva moje slová, neokúsi smrť naveky. 52Povedali Mu Židia: Teraz sme poznali, že si posadnutý. Abrahám umrel, i proroci, a Ty hovoríš: Kto zachováva moje slová, neokúsi smrť naveky. 53Či si Ty väčší ako náš otec Abrahám, ktorý umrel? I proroci umreli; kým sa robíš? 54Ježiš odpovedal: Ak sám seba oslavujem, moja sláva za nič nestojí. Oslavuje ma môj Otec, o ktorom vy hovoríte, že je vaším Bohom. 55Vy ste Ho však nepoznali, ale ja Ho poznám; a keby som riekol, že Ho nepoznám, bol by som luhárom vám podobným; ale poznám Ho a zachovávam Jeho slovo. 56Váš otec Abrahám sa veselil, že uvidí môj deň; i videl a radoval sa. 57Povedali Mu Židia: Päťdesiat rokov ešte nemáš, a Abraháma že si videl? 58Ježiš im riekol: Veru, veru, hovorím vám: Skôr, ako bol Abrahám, ja som. 59I zdvihli kamene, aby hádzali na Neho. Ježiš sa však ukryl a prejdúc pomedzi nich, vyšiel z chrámu.
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 Christ neither found fault with the law, nor excused the prisoner's guilt; nor did he countenance the pretended zeal of the Pharisees. Those are self-condemned who judge others, and yet do the same thing. All who are any way called to blame the faults of others, are especially concerned to look to themselves, and keep themselves pure. In this matter Christ attended to the great work about which he came into the world, that was, to bring sinners to repentance; not to destroy, but to save. He aimed to bring, not only the accused to repentance, by showing her his mercy, but the prosecutors also, by showing them their sins; they thought to insnare him, he sought to convince and convert them. He declined to meddle with the magistrate's office. Many crimes merit far more severe punishment than they meet with; but we should not leave our own work, to take that upon ourselves to which we are not called. When Christ sent her away, it was with this caution, Go, and sin no more. Those who help to save the life of a criminal, should help to save the soul with the same caution. Those are truly happy, whom Christ does not condemn. Christ's favour to us in the forgiveness of past sins should prevail with us, Go then, and sin no more.
12 Christ is the Light of the world. God is light, and Christ is the image of the invisible God. One sun enlightens the whole world; so does one Christ, and there needs no more. What a dark dungeon would the world be without the sun! So would it be without Jesus, by whom light came into the world. Those who follow Christ shall not walk in darkness. They shall not be left without the truths which are necessary to keep them from destroying error, and the directions in the way of duty, necessary to keep them from condemning sin.
17 If we knew Christ better, we should know the Father better. Those become vain in their imaginations concerning God, who will not learn of Christ. Those who know not his glory and grace, know not the Father that sent him. The time of our departure out of the world, depends upon God. Our enemies cannot hasten it any sooner, nor can our friends delay it any longer, than the time appointed of the Father. Every true believer can look up and say with pleasure, My times are in thy hand, and better there than in my own. To all God's purposes there is a time.
21 Those that live in unbelief, are for ever undone, if they die in unbelief. The Jews belonged to this present evil world, but Jesus was of a heavenly and Divine nature, so that his doctrine, kingdom, and blessings, would not suit their taste. But the curse of the law is done away to all that submit to the grace of the gospel. Nothing but the doctrine of Christ's grace will be an argument powerful enough, and none but the Spirit of Christ's grace will be an agent powerful enough, to turn us from sin to God; and that Spirit is given, and that doctrine is given, to work upon those only who believe in Christ. Some say, Who is this Jesus? They allow him to have been a Prophet, an excellent Teacher, and even more than a creature; but cannot acknowledge him as over all, God blessed for evermore. Will not this suffice? Jesus here answers the question. Is this to honour him as the Father? Does this admit his being the Light of the world, and the Life of men, one with the Father? All shall know by their conversion, or in their condemnation, that he always spake and did what pleased the Father, even when he claimed the highest honours to himself.
30 Such power attended our Lord's words, that many were convinced, and professed to believe in him. He encouraged them to attend his teaching, rely on his promises, and obey his commands, notwithstanding all temptations to evil. Thus doing, they would be his disciples truly; and by the teaching of his word and Spirit, they would learn where their hope and strength lay. Christ spoke of spiritual liberty; but carnal hearts feel no other grievances than those that molest the body, and distress their worldly affairs. Talk to them of their liberty and property, tell them of waste committed upon their lands, or damage done to their houses, and they understand you very well; but speak of the bondage of sin, captivity to Satan, and liberty by Christ; tell of wrong done to their precious souls, and the hazard of their eternal welfare, then you bring strange things to their ears. Jesus plainly reminded them, that the man who practised any sin, was, in fact, a slave to that sin, which was the case with most of them. Christ in the gospel offers us freedom, he has power to do this, and those whom Christ makes free are really so. But often we see persons disputing about liberty of every kind, while they are slaves to some sinful lust.
37 Our Lord opposed the proud and vain confidence of these Jews, showing that their descent from Abraham could not profit those of a contrary spirit to him. Where the word of God has no place, no good is to be expected; room is left there for all wickedness. A sick person who turns from his physician, and will take neither remedies nor food, is past hope of recovery. The truth both heals and nourishes the hearts of those who receive it. The truth taught by philosophers has not this power and effect, but only the truth of God. Those who claim the privileges of Abraham, must do Abraham's works; must be strangers and sojourners in this world; keep up the worship of God in their families, and always walk before God.
41 Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to ruin men's souls. He is the great promoter of falsehood of every kind. He is a liar, all his temptations are carried on by his calling evil good, and good evil, and promising freedom in sin. He is the author of all lies; whom liars resemble and obey, with whom all liars shall have their portion for ever. The special lusts of the devil are spiritual wickedness, the lusts of the mind, and corrupt reasonings, pride and envy, wrath and malice, enmity to good, and enticing others to evil. By the truth, here understand the revealed will of God as to the salvation of men by Jesus Christ, the truth Christ was now preaching, and which the Jews opposed.
48 Observe Christ's disregard of the applause of men. those who are dead to the praises of men can bear their contempt. God will seek the honour of all who do not seek their own. In these verses we have the doctrine of the everlasting happiness of believers. We have the character of a believer; he is one that keeps the sayings of the Lord Jesus. And the privilege of a believer; he shall by no means see death for ever. Though now they cannot avoid seeing death, and tasting it also, yet they shall shortly be where it will be no more forever,
Exod 14:13.
54 Christ and all that are his, depend upon God for honour. Men may be able to dispute about God, yet may not know him. Such as know not God, and obey not the gospel of Christ, are put together,
2Thes 1:8. All who rightly know anything of Christ, earnestly desire to know more of him. Those who discern the dawn of the light of the Sun of Righteousness, wish to see his rising. Before Abraham was, I AM. This speaks Abraham a creature, and our Lord the Creator; well, therefore, might he make himself greater than Abraham. I AM, is the name of God,
Exod 3:14; it speaks his self-existence; he is the First and the Last, ever the same,
Revel 1:8. Thus he was not only before Abraham, but before all worlds,
Prov 8:23;
John 1:1. As Mediator, he was the appointed Messiah, long before Abraham; the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,
Revel 13:8. The Lord Jesus was made of God Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption, to Adam, and Abel, and all that lived and died by faith in him, before Abraham. The Jews were about to stone Jesus for blasphemy, but he withdrew; by his miraculous power he passed through them unhurt. Let us stedfastly profess what we know and believe concerning God; and if heirs of Abraham's faith, we shall rejoice in looking forward to that day when the Saviour shall appear in glory, to the confusion of his enemies, and to complete the salvation of all who believe in him.