John8
New American Standard
1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2And early in the morning He came again into the temple area, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began teaching them.
3Now the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery, and after placing her in the center of the courtyard,
4they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of committing adultery.
5Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?”
6Now they were saying this to test Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.
7When they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
8And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9Now when they heard this, they began leaving, one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman where she was, in the center of the courtyard.
10And straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?”
11She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on do not sin any longer.”
12Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
13So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.”
14Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I am testifying 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 or where I am going.
15You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone.
16But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.
17Even in your Law it has been written that the testimony of two people is true.
18I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”
19So they were saying 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.”
20These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple area; and no one arrested Him, because His hour had not yet come.
21Then He said again to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.”
22So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
23And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.
24Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.”
25Then they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I even been saying to you from the beginning?
26I have many things to say and to judge regarding you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I say to the world.”
27They did not realize that He was speaking to them about the Father.
28So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am, and I do nothing on My own, but I say these things as the Father instructed Me.
29And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”
30As He said these things, many came to believe in Him.
31So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples;
32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”
34Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
35Now the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.
36So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.
37I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you are seeking to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.
38I speak of the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.”
39They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham.
40But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do.
41You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born as a result of sexual immorality; we have one Father: God.”
42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came forth from God and am here; for I have not even come on My own, but He sent Me.
43Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot listen to My word.
44You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
45But because I say the truth, you do not believe Me.
46Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?
47The one who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”
48The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not rightly say that You are a Samaritan, and You have a demon?”
49Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; on the contrary, I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
50But I am not seeking My glory; there is One who seeks it, and judges.
51Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone follows My word, he will never see death.”
52The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets as well; and yet You say, ‘If anyone follows My word, he will never taste of death.’
53You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died, are You? The prophets died too. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?”
54Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’;
55and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him. And if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you; but I do know Him, and I follow His word.
56Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day, and he saw it and rejoiced.”
57So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?”
58Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”
59Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and left the temple grounds.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for John 8.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Pharisees and the adulteress. (1–11). Christ's discourse with the Pharisees. (12–59).
vv1-11
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.
vv12-16
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.
vv17-20
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.
Key Words
δέ (dé): but, and, etc.
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
πορεύομαι (poreúomai): to traverse, i.e. travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.);
εἰς (eis): to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
ὄρος (óros): perhaps akin to G142 (αἴρω); compare G3733 (ὄρνις)); a mountain (as lifting itself above the plain)
ἐλαία (elaía): an olive (the tree or the fruit)
ὄρθρος (órthros): dawn (as sun-rise, rising of light); by extension, morn
παραγίνομαι (paragínomai): to become near, i.e. approach (have arrived); by implication, to appear publicly
πάλιν (pálin): (adverbially) anew, i.e. (of place) back, (of time) once more, or (conjunctionally) furthermore or on the other hand
ἱερόν (hierón): a sacred place, i.e. the entire precincts (whereas G3485 (ναός) denotes the central sanctuary itself) of the Temple (at Jerusalem or elsewhere)
Cross References
John 8The Mosaic Law prescribing death for adultery, cited by the scribes to trap Jesus.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The law requiring the hands of the witnesses to be first in executing the condemned.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Explicitly connects casting out the slave-woman's son with Jesus' warning that servants do not abide forever.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Directly identifies the 'father' of Jesus' opponents, whose desires they do, as the devil.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Jesus claims the divine name 'I AM', expressing self-existence and eternity.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallel describing Jesus lodging at the Mount of Olives and teaching early at the temple.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Mosaic statute commanding that both the adulterer and adulteress be put to death.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic description of execution by stoning for those who commit spiritual or physical adultery.
Supported by JFB
Parallels Jesus' solemn warning that they will seek Him and be unable to come where He is.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Jesus uses the same specific terminology of being 'lifted up' to signify His crucifixion.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Echoes Christ's precise teaching that yielding to sin makes one a slave to that sin.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Abraham saw Christ's day and promises afar off by faith, rejoicing in them.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Asserts Christ's absolute, pre-existent deity before time and creation began.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Jesus refuses to act as a civil judge or divider, preserving His spiritual mission.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Jesus' extensive discourse on the validity of His self-testimony and the Father's witness.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus warns against judging according to appearance/flesh rather than righteous judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The legal requirement that a matter must be established by two or three witnesses.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrast between Him who comes 'from above' and those who are 'of the earth'.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Affirms that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is the freedom Christ promises.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The Old Testament type of Ishmael, the slave's son, being cast out of the house.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Contrasts Moses as a servant in the house with Christ as the Son over His house.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Exhorts believers to stand fast in the liberty with which Christ has made us free.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Explicates the concept of doing 'the works of Abraham' by walking in his steps of faith.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
The foundational prophecy of enmity between the serpent's seed and the woman's seed.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Affirms Christ's absolute sinlessness; He did no sin, nor was guile found.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Believers in Christ will never experience spiritual and eternal death.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Abraham received the promise of blessing for all nations in his Seed.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The Mosaic law commanded stoning for blasphemy, which the Jews charged Him with.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The Jews again take up stones because of His explicit claims to deity.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Condemns those who judge others while practicing the very same sins themselves.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identical charge given to a healed man to sin no more lest worse happen.
Supported by JFB
Jesus reiterates His identity as the Light of the World during His earthly ministry.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Affirms that God did not send His Son to condemn the world but to save.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Discusses the crowd's confusion over the lifting up of the Son of man.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jesus expands on 'abiding' (continuing) in His word as the key to true discipleship.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
John the Baptist similarly warns against relying on the physical claim 'We have Abraham as our father.'
Supported by John Calvin, JFB