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John8

World English Bible · Public Domain

1but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down and taught them.

3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the middle,

4they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act.

5Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do you say about her?”

6They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger.

7But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.”

8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger.

9They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle.

10Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?”

11She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”

12Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

13The Pharisees therefore said to him, “You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”

14Jesus answered them, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don’t know where I came from, or where I am going.

15You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.

16Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me.

17It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid.

18I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”

19They said therefore 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.”

20Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

21Jesus said therefore again to them, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can’t come.”

22The Jews therefore said, “Will he kill himself, because he says, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come’?”

23He said to them, “You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world.

24I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”

25They said therefore to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.

26I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However, he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world.”

27They didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father.

28Jesus therefore said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things.

29He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

30As he spoke these things, many believed in him.

31Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.

32You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

33They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?”

34Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.

35A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever.

36If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

37I know that you are Abraham’s offspring, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.

38I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.”

39They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.

40But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this.

41You do the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.”

42Therefore Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me.

43Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear 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 doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.

45But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.

46Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

47He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.”

48Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?”

49Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.

50But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.

51Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.”

52Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’

53Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who 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 that he is our God.

55You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him and keep his word.

56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad.”

57The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?”

58Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.”

59Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for John 8.

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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.

Cross References

John 8
v5Leviticus 20:10thematic

The 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

v35Galatians 4:30thematic

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

v38John 8:44thematic

Directly identifies the 'father' of Jesus' opponents, whose desires they do, as the devil.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v58Exodus 3:14allusion

Jesus claims the divine name 'I AM', expressing self-existence and eternity.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v2Luke 21:37thematic

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

v5Ezekiel 16:40thematic

Prophetic description of execution by stoning for those who commit spiritual or physical adultery.

Supported by JFB

v21John 7:34thematic

Parallels Jesus' solemn warning that they will seek Him and be unable to come where He is.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v28John 3:14thematic

Jesus uses the same specific terminology of being 'lifted up' to signify His crucifixion.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v34Romans 6:16thematic

Echoes Christ's precise teaching that yielding to sin makes one a slave to that sin.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v56Hebrews 11:13thematic

Abraham saw Christ's day and promises afar off by faith, rejoicing in them.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v58John 1:1thematic

Asserts Christ's absolute, pre-existent deity before time and creation began.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v11Luke 12:14contrast

Jesus refuses to act as a civil judge or divider, preserving His spiritual mission.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v13John 5:31-47thematic

Jesus' extensive discourse on the validity of His self-testimony and the Father's witness.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v15John 7:24thematic

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

v23John 3:31thematic

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

v35Genesis 21:10typology

The Old Testament type of Ishmael, the slave's son, being cast out of the house.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v35Hebrews 3:6contrast

Contrasts Moses as a servant in the house with Christ as the Son over His house.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v36Galatians 5:1thematic

Exhorts believers to stand fast in the liberty with which Christ has made us free.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v39Romans 4:12thematic

Explicates the concept of doing 'the works of Abraham' by walking in his steps of faith.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v44Genesis 3:15thematic

The foundational prophecy of enmity between the serpent's seed and the woman's seed.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v461 Peter 2:22thematic

Affirms Christ's absolute sinlessness; He did no sin, nor was guile found.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v51John 11:25thematic

Believers in Christ will never experience spiritual and eternal death.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v56Genesis 22:18thematic

Abraham received the promise of blessing for all nations in his Seed.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v59Leviticus 24:16thematic

The Mosaic law commanded stoning for blasphemy, which the Jews charged Him with.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v59John 10:31thematic

The Jews again take up stones because of His explicit claims to deity.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v7Romans 2:1-3thematic

Condemns those who judge others while practicing the very same sins themselves.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v11John 5:14thematic

Identical charge given to a healed man to sin no more lest worse happen.

Supported by JFB

v12John 9:5thematic

Jesus reiterates His identity as the Light of the World during His earthly ministry.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v15John 3:17thematic

Affirms that God did not send His Son to condemn the world but to save.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v28John 12:32-34thematic

Discusses the crowd's confusion over the lifting up of the Son of man.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v31John 15:4-9thematic

Jesus expands on 'abiding' (continuing) in His word as the key to true discipleship.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v33Matthew 3:9thematic

John the Baptist similarly warns against relying on the physical claim 'We have Abraham as our father.'

Supported by John Calvin, JFB