John chapter 8

[Debra R]

We are continuing on with chapter 8 :).
May the Lord Jesus enlighten our hearts and minds and give us more understanding of His word that we may know Him better.

God bless all who read and study along with us. :hug:


(NASB) John 8:
1) But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.


2) Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them.


3) The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court,


4) they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.


5) "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?"


6) They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.


7) But when 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."

[Cilla]

Hi Debra!

I just did a search on the Mount of Olives.

Plenty of times I could see it as a place of 'teaching'. The Lord frequently taught His disciples there.

Then I noted this reference........

Luke 22 v 39 And He came out, and went, as He was wont, to the mount of Olives; and His disciples also followed Him.
40 And when He was at the place, He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

...and was reminded how it was a place of 'torment'. This is the prelude to His agony in the garden.

Matthew 26 v 30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Judas had gone out into the night but the Lord went out into mount Olivet.

But finally look at this one......

Zech 14:4 And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives,shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Here we have the place of 'triumph'.

I love alliteration, and they have just come to me quickly! :blush: There are probably many others. :)

[Debra R]

Hi Debra!

I just did a search on the Mount of Olives.

Plenty of times I could see it as a place of 'teaching'. The Lord frequently taught His disciples there.

Then I noted this reference........

Luke 22 v 39 And He came out, and went, as He was wont, to the mount of Olives; and His disciples also followed Him.
40 And when He was at the place, He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

...and was reminded how it was a place of 'torment'. This is the prelude to His agony in the garden.

Matthew 26 v 30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Judas had gone out into the night but the Lord went out into mount Olivet.

But finally look at this one......

Zech 14:4 And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives,shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Here we have the place of 'triumph'.

I love alliteration, and they have just come to me quickly! :blush: There are probably many others. :)

Thank you Cilla, that was great. :hug:




Matthew 26 v 30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.


This stuck in my mind, the verse you quoted, that before the walk to Gethsemane they sang a hymn. I guess we could even learn a lot from that. I would assume Jesus sang with them. Just to think that He sang before the agony in the garden, to me that is incredible. Something worth thinking about in our life of troubles and pain . Mainly that we can sing because Christ overcame the world for us.



But finally look at this one......

Zech 14:4 And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives,shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Here we have the place of 'triumph'.


Ah yes, and Jesus is our triumph now too. Praise God!

[Debra R]

I looked up a few commentaries early this morning and I thought I would post this one of Coffman's. Then I better get to work. :hug:

(Coffman Commentaries) Verses 3, 4
And the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery; and having set her in the midst, they say unto him, Teacher, this woman hath been taken in adultery, in the very act.

Overshadowing the moral lapse of the woman was the brutal, unfeeling, sadistic behavior of the hypocrites who thus broke up a religious discussion by such an intrusion. Their partiality in not bringing her partner makes it possible to suppose that one of them was the guilty man. "Adultery ..." indicates the woman was married.



Verses 5, 6
Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such: what then sayest thou of her? And this they said trying him, that they might have whereof to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote with his finger on the ground.

The Pharisees were misapplying Moses' law here, since "stoning" was commanded for a betrothed girl before her marriage (Deuteronomy 22:23f (http://bibleforums.org/desk/?query=de+22:23)), and the woman before them was married. They cared nothing for the law and were only interested in cooking up some charge against Jesus. Incidentally, if they had really believed their own earlier indictment of him as a sabbath-breaker, they would not still have been searching at this later date for another basis of accusation.

Trying him ...
has the force of "tempting him." What did they hope to gain? (1) If Jesus had concurred in asking a death penalty for the woman, they would have hailed him before the Romans who had made it illegal for the Jews to assess such a penalty. (2) If the Lord had recommended mercy, they would have placed him at variance with Moses and made a lawbreaker out of him!

Stooped ... and wrote ... on the ground ...
The Saviour reacted to such a grotesque and embarrassing situation with silence and by stooping and writing on the ground. This is the only instance of Jesus writing; and the fact of his writing being quickly trampled under foot strongly suggests the only other instance of deity's writing, namely, that of God's inscribing the tables of stone. The decalogue too was quickly trampled under foot (spiritually), and Moses smashed the tables of stone (Exodus 32:19 (http://bibleforums.org/desk/?query=ex+32:19)). If this passage is really spurious, it is difficult to explain such overtones as this.

Verse 7
But when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Jesus, as ever, found the answer in the Scriptures. Deuteronomy 17:7 says, "The hand of the witness shall be the first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people." Thus Jesus demanded that the witness, nowhere visible in this interview - that the witness should reveal himself and cast the first stone; but the Lord demanded something else - such a witness would himself have to be without sin. Again the Pharisees' trap had closed without taking Jesus. The Lord had neither condoned any kind of sin nor contradicted Moses. He just turned the tables by an appeal to conscience, there being no coward like a guilty conscience.


God bless. :hug:

[Cilla]

This stuck in my mind, the verse you quoted, that before the walk to Gethsemane they sang a hymn. I guess we could even learn a lot from that. I would assume Jesus sang with them. Just to think that He sang before the agony in the garden, to me that is incredible. Something worth thinking about in our life of troubles and pain . Mainly that we can sing because Christ overcame the world for us.
You are so right, Debra. :hug: I have read this passage and the parallel ones countless times and never thought of that. You have such ability to notice the little things that we can so easily glance over and you turn them into one huge valuable lesson. :hug: He sang (probably a psalm) knowing what lay before Him. Maybe it was a joyful hymn with the ultimate Victory in His mind, and maybe it was a comforting hymn. Whichever we choose to sing we will be uplifted.

[Momof5]

I am right here in this study, even if I don't post right at first! :hug: I am having some computer problems AND I have a 10 year old at home still who is having to do his school assignments at home until he can return to school Monday. We are working on last Friday and I will get this week's assignments tomorrow - we should be done this weekend.

Anyway, when Jesus wrote on the ground, did you ever think what He was writing? I know it's probably something else, but I always chose to think He was writing "forgiven."

[miepie]

John 8:1-2
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. [2] Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.

JFB Commentary:
1, 2. 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 21:37-38 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].

John 7:53
And everyone went to his own house.

Luke 21:37-38
And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. [38] Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:1-2. Since Jesus regularly taught in the temple courts the people daily gathered to hear Him. As Luke wrote, “Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening He went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear Him at the temple” (Luke 21:37-38).



John 8:3
Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst,

JFB Commentary:
3-6. scribes and Pharisees—foiled in their yesterday's attempt, and hoping to succeed better in this.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:3-6a. Jesus’ teaching was interrupted by some teachers of the Law and Pharisees. They held a strict application of the Law to life. The woman, who may have been married, was caught in adultery. According to the Law there had to be two witnesses to confirm the guilt of a person accused of a crime (Deut. 19:15). Being caught in the act of intercourse normally seems unlikely, so the religious leaders may have deliberately planned to catch her in the act. The man should have been brought in with the woman, but perhaps he had escaped. The purpose of bringing this woman before Jesus was to discredit Him as a Teacher. If He condemned her, He would lose favor with the common people. If He did not, He would be disagreeing with Moses.

Deut. 19:15
"One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.



John 8:4-5
they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. [5] Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?"

JFB Commentary:
4, 5. 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 (Ezekiel 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.

Deut. 22:22
"If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall die--the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so you shall put away the evil from Israel.

Ezekiel 16:40
They shall also bring up an assembly against you, and they shall stone you with stones and thrust you through with their swords.



John 8:6
This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

JFB Commentary:
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.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:6b-8. Many have tried to guess what Jesus wrote on the ground. Some suggest He wrote the sins of the accusers. Others propose that He wrote the words of Exodus 23:1, “Do not a malicious witness.” Still others say He simply traced His finger in the dust while preparing to respond, but that seems unlikely. Since it is impossible to know, any conjecture is fruitless. His response—that only one who is without sin can judge—pointed to their own sinfulness and at the same time to Himself as the only competent Judge because of His sinlessness (cf. John 8:16). Then He wrote on the ground again.

[b]Exodus 23:1
"You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

John 8:16
And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.



John 8:7
So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."

JFB Commentary:
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).

Deut. 17:7
The hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put away the evil from among you.



Willmington's Bible Handbook:
John 8:1-11 The Word writes words on the ground. The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus in an effort to entrap him (John 8:6):
- If he told them to stone her according to the law of Moses, the Roman authorities might have been irritated since only they could execute criminals.
- If he told them to forgive her, he would appear to go against the law.
Pretending not to hear their accusations, Jesus knelt and wrote on the ground, then declared that whoever among them was sinless could initiate the stoning. When all the men had left, probably due to guilty consciences, Jesus forgave the woman and urged her to mend her ways—showing the wonderful balance between God’s grace and human responsibility.
The Pharisees’ verbal allegiance to the law (John 8:5) was hypocritical, since in bringing the woman to Jesus they themselves had broken the law:
- Jesus was not the proper authority (humanly speaking) to officiate at a trial.
- They had failed to also bring for stoning the man caught with her (see Leviticus 20:10; Deut. 22:22-24).
No one knows what Jesus wrote on the ground, but some have suggested it was the names of those among the Pharisees who themselves had committed adultery.

Leviticus 20:10
The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.



We will never know what He wrote in the sand, but the thought that He might have written the names of the Pharisees that also committed adultery in the sand, certainly made me smile..... :D

[Momof5]

I'm back now ( I think!!) - things are somewhat back to normal and my computer problems are resolved. Thought I would post a few more verses...... :)

NKJV John 8

8) And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9) Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest, even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10) When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?

11) She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more."

I like that Jesus did not condone her sin, instead told her to "go and sin no more." Sounds to me like he forgave her.

[Debra R]

Thank you Mieke :hug:, great stuff!

Yeah! Brenda's back! :hug:
I am glad things are getting back to normal for you. Glad you got your computer problems resolved. :)


I like these verses in the NKJ better. The NAS doesn't have "being convicted by their conscience," in verse 9.
I think I will use the NKJ awhile, I have noticed a few differences in this chapter.


NKJV John 8

8) And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.



It is interesting to wonder about what Jesus could have been writing, and even why did He stoop down and begin to write. I think there had to be a purpose for Him to do that. Everything Jesus did had a purpose. Each step He took He had a plan.

Thinking back on verse 6....

John 8:6
This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

Thinking on Jesus writing on the ground, as though He did not hear. He could have been testing them to see what they would do. Jesus knows what is in the heart, He knew what was in their hearts. Also while He was writing maybe He gave them time for His words to sink in. Because in verse 9 we see, they being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one.

9) Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest, even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Each one came to the realization they were not without sin. That could have been the first time for them to realize that too.


10) When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?


11) She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more."


I believe she was forgiven too. Jesus said He did not condemn her. To condemn is to pass sentence upon. Which He didn't. He told her to go and sin no more.

[Debra R]

I thought I would post a few more verses :)


(NKJ) John 8:

12) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Just a few thoughts then I have to go to work.

Jesus has promised us that if we follow Him we will not walk in darkness.

but have the light of life."

Jesus is our light and in Him we have life. And He also gives us the light of understanding, in order that we may know Him. That is wonderful that our God desires that we know Him. And He has provided the way for us to know Him. In Jesus, and through Jesus, we may know, and see God. :)

13) The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true."


14) Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.

[Momof5]

12) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (NKJV)

I was reading this in the Living Bible Paraphrase and this is what it says and I really like this....

12) Later, in one of His talks, Jesus said to the people, "I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path."

I have living light flooding my path - how can I ever choose to step off that path?

[Toymom]

This light of life shines within us by the inner sense of life to deliver us from sin. Praise the Lord that He is the light of life!

[Debra R]

This light of life shines within us by the inner sense of life to deliver us from sin. Praise the Lord that He is the light of life!

Amen! Thanks Toymom! :hug:

[Debra R]

12) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (NKJV)

I was reading this in the Living Bible Paraphrase and this is what it says and I really like this....

12) Later, in one of His talks, Jesus said to the people, "I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path."

I have living light flooding my path - how can I ever choose to step off that path?

Thank you Brenda :hug:

[Debra R]

John 8:13) The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true."

The Pharisees were fully aware and knew, which we read in this verse, (17) It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.)
They knew that by the mouth of two witnesses a matter was to be confirmed, established, for it was written in the law and handed down to them from God.


Deuteronomy 19:15)"One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.

Matthew 18:16)But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that "by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'

2 Corinthians 13:1) This will be the third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established."

John 5:31) "If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 37) And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.

If Jesus bore witness of Himself he affirmed that it would not be true, but He affirmed that He had witnesses of Himself and that His word was true. God the Father, John the Baptist, the scriptures, Moses, all bore witness to Jesus.



John 8:14) Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.





John 18:37)Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?"

Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

1 John 4:6) We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

These Pharisees were not of God and were not of the truth for they could not hear or accept the truth that Jesus spoke to them.

And they would not accept that Jesus came from God, was God, and walked among them.

John 1:10) He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11) He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

[Debra R]

:) a few more verses....

(NKJ) John 8:

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

16) And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.

17) It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.

18) I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me."

19) Then they said to Him, "Where is Your Father?"

Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also."

20) These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

[miepie]

Sorry for not posting so long.... my health is not working with me right now and I have to take more and more bedrest.... will start working tonight and hope to catch up with y'all tomorrow..... will continue to pray for y'all.... :pray: :hug: :kiss:

[Momof5]

Sorry for not posting so long.... my health is not working with me right now and I have to take more and more bedrest.... will start working tonight and hope to catch up with y'all tomorrow..... will continue to pray for y'all.... :pray: :hug: :kiss:


I am praying for you, too, Mieke! Take all the time you need. I have been slow in posting for a couple weeks too with so many things here. I am trying to get it all together again and really get into my studies the way I need to. I praise God for you here, my sisters :hug:

[Debra R]

Sorry for not posting so long.... my health is not working with me right now and I have to take more and more bedrest.... will start working tonight and hope to catch up with y'all tomorrow..... will continue to pray for y'all.... :pray: :hug: :kiss:

Take all the time you need. I am praying for you too my sister. :kiss: :hug:

Love you :hug:

[Debra R]

I am praying for you, too, Mieke! Take all the time you need. I have been slow in posting for a couple weeks too with so many things here. I am trying to get it all together again and really get into my studies the way I need to. I praise God for you here, my sisters :hug:

Praying for you too my sister, :kiss: :hug:

Love you :hug:

[Debra R]

I thought I would give a few cross references for verses 15 and 16 :)



(NKJ) John 8:15) You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.

1 Samuel 16:7) But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Thinking on this I remembered something someone had told me about David. Here are the verses...

2 Chronicles 6:8) But the LORD said to my father David, "Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well in that it was in your heart.

1 Kings 8:18) But the LORD said to my father David, "Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.

I had heard that even though David didn't build the temple that because it was in his heart to do so, that God accepted that as if he had done it.
I thought that was wonderful and for us to, that if there are things we want to do and can't, that God accepts that as if we had done it because it is a desire of our heart. Anyway, I liked that. :)


John 7:24) Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

John 3:17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

(NASB) John 3:17) "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

Jesus didn't come into the world to condemn or judge us. He came to save us from the world. :pp


John 8:16) And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.



John 5:30) I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

In the life of Jesus we see the will of the Father. For what Jesus did, our Father willed Him to do. In Jesus we also see the love of our Father.
And He does love us very much, He loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will have eternal, everlasting life. :pp

God bless :hug:

[miepie]

John 8:8
And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

JFB Commentary:
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.



John 8:9
Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

JFB Commentary:
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.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:9-10. While Jesus was still stooped down, His authoritative word (cf. Matt. 7:28-29) struck conviction of sin in their hearts. The older ones left first, perhaps because they had the wisdom to recognize the sin in their hearts and lives. Since the witnesses and the accusers left, the legal case against the woman was dropped.

Matthew 7:28-29
And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, [29] for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.



John 8:10
When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"

JFB Commentary:
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).

Luke 5:28
So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.

Luke 7:48
Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

Mark 5:34
And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

Luke 7:50
Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

Luke 8:48
And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace."

John 12:47
And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

John 5:14
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."



John 8:11
She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

8:11. Jesus’ words again reveal Him as the Master Teacher. He rebuked sin but He gave the woman hope for a new life. Theologically Jesus could forgive her sin because he has that authority and because He is the Lamb of God who bore “the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Besides having the divine ability to forgive her sin, His manner of dealing with her was gracious He was revealed to her as the One who is “full of grace” (1:14).

John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Love you,
Mieke :hug: :kiss: :hug:

[miepie]

John 8:15
You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. [18] I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me."

JFB Commentary:
15. Ye judge after the flesh—with no spiritual apprehension.
I judge no man.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:15. The Pharisees, Jesus said, judged by human standards, that is, they were limited by superficial appearances. They saw only His flesh, not His deity, so they misjudged Him. By contrast, Jesus did not come to judge people but to save them (3:17). When He does judge in the future, He will simply execute the Father’s will according to truth and the Law (cf. 5:27, 45). He Himself will pass judgment on no one.

John 3:17
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 5:27
and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

John 5:45
Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you--Moses, in whom you trust.



John 8:16
And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.

JFB Commentary:
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 5:31-32). And these are the two witnesses to any fact which your law requires.

John 5:31-32
"If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. [32] There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:16. Jesus’ judging was totally unlike theirs. Theirs was biased and limited. His was not His own because of His unique union with the Father. Nor was His witness alone; He spoke with divine authority.



John 8:17-18
It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. [18] I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me."

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:17-18. In your own Law may refer to Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15 (or to Rabbinic laws), which speak of the necessity of two witnesses. In Jesus’ case only God could authenticate Him. God the Son and God the Father are the required two Witnesses. The Father sent Jesus and authenticated Him by the signs (miracles) He performed.

Deut. 17:6
Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

Deut. 19:15
"One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.



John 8:19
Then they said to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also."

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:19. Jesus’ teaching on God as His Father was unique (cf. 5:18), and the Jews were puzzled by His familiar way of talking about Him. The Pharisees asked Him, Where is Your Father? Was He talking about God, or (as they supposed) His human father? Their ignorance of Jesus showed their ignorance of God, for Jesus is the Revelation of the Father (cf. 1:14, 18; 14:7, 9).

John 5:18
Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:18
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

John 14:7
"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."

John 14:9
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?



John 8:20
These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

JFB Commentary:
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 8:2-11, 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.

John 7:30
Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:20. Jesus spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. This was probably in the women’s court (Mark 12:41). Jesus went there and instructed the people. No one seized (piazo¯“arrested”) Him (cf. John 7:30, 32, 44, 10:39) because, as John repeatedly pointed out, Jesus was working on God’s time schedule to accomplish the Father’s will (cf. 2:4; 7:6, 30; 12:23, 27; 13:1; 17:1).?
Mark 12:41
Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much.

John 7:30
Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

John 7:32
The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him.

John 7:44
Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

John 10:39
Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand.

John 2:4
Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."

John 7:6
Then Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.

John 12:23
But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.

John 12:27
"Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

John 13:1
Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

John 17:1
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,

Love you,
Mieke :hug: :kiss: :hug:

[Momof5]

Great stuff, ladies :hug: I am going to post the next few verses...

NKJ John 8

21) Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come."

22) So the Jews said, "Will He kill Himself, because He says, "Where I go you cannot come?"

23) And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

24) Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins, for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.

The Pharisees just did not understand because they saw everything from a literal, worldly view. Jesus told them they were worldly and He is from Heaven. He also told them He is God in verse 24 and they did not understand the use of I AM - the same thing they clearly understood in verse 58: Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." That is when they picked up rocks to try to stone Him. Verse 24 clearly tells us that we have to believe in Jesus, that He is the only way to Heaven. John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

[Cilla]

21) Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come."

I couldn't help but link with these verses........

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

What a blessing to be saved and to be on our way to where He has gone.

[Debra R]

Thank you Mieke and Brenda. :hug:

I was pondering these verses and thought I would share a few thoughts :)


NKJ John 8

21) Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come."


Was Jesus saying that eventually they would seek Him and would not find Him? He did tell them they would die in their sin. I guess also they didn't realize they had sin. Because as we have read about the Scribes and the Pharisees they thought very highly of themselves :rolleyes:.

22) So the Jews said, "Will He kill Himself, because He says, "Where I go you cannot come?"

Why did they think Jesus would kill Himself? They had to be wondering where He was going. Jesus sure did stir up a lot of reaction from the people. I bet they spent many an hour wondering about this Man Jesus. :)

23) And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

Jesus plainly told them who He was. He did not come from the world. He was born into the world, in the form of man, in a fleshly body, but He came from above, from heaven. John 17:5) And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.





24) Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins, for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.



Jesus came to take away sin, John 1:29) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

But, those who do not believe Jesus, their sin will remain upon them. They will die. Jesus offers eternal life, so why, would they choose to die?

Deuteronomy 30:14) But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

15) "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,

16) in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.



God bless. :hug:

[Debra R]

21) Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come."

I couldn't help but link with these verses........

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

What a blessing to be saved and to be on our way to where He has gone.


Thank you Cilla :hug:

And how wonderful that God made sure we know the way by giving us His written word. So wonderful that God has revealed Jesus to us. That Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life. So wonderful that we can trust Jesus. He has promised that we will be with Him where He is :). That He has not left us alone, that He is with us always, even until the end of the world.

Thank you Father God, thank you Lord Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit. :pp

[Momof5]

Thank you Cilla :hug:

And how wonderful that God made sure we know the way by giving us His written word. So wonderful that God has revealed Jesus to us. That Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life. So wonderful that we can trust Jesus. He has promised that we will be with Him where He is :). That He has not left us alone, that He is with us always, even until the end of the world.

Thank you Father God, thank you Lord Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit. :pp

I love this - that we will be with Him where He is! I agree with you, Debra, thank you Lord Jesus!

[Momof5]

I am bumping this so it doesn't get forgotten. Will post more later.... :)

[Cilla]

.....if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.

What a warning.

I linked this with......

Jn 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed

and

1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

[Debra R]

Thank you Brenda and Cilla, http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif

I had the verses ready to post yesterday morning but I ran out of time.
Which I am almost out of time now and have to leave for work soon.


(NKJ) John 8:

25) Then they said to Him, "Who are You?"

And Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.



26) I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him."

27) They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.

28) Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

29) And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

30) As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

A few cross references....

John 12:49) For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

John 15:15) No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

John 16:32) Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.


Have a blessed day
in Christ's love. http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif

[Momof5]

29) And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

Jesus was completely in the will of the Father. Something I was thinking about the other day when I was teaching about the crucifixion - God must have left Him alone during the dark time of the crucifixion, when He became sin for us! It must have been horrible, that separation from God!

What are your thoughts on this?

[Debra R]

(NKJ) John 8:28) Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

John 4:25) The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will tell us all things."

26) Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."



29) And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."


John 12:49) For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.


John 16:32) Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.




Momof5....29) And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

Jesus was completely in the will of the Father. Something I was thinking about the other day when I was teaching about the crucifixion - God must have left Him alone during the dark time of the crucifixion, when He became sin for us! It must have been horrible, that separation from God!

What are your thoughts on this?



I was thinking on this and thought of this scripture.....


John 17:21) that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.



22) And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:


John 10:30) I and My Father are one."



Jesus always spoke what the Father told Him to speak. I think of when Jesus was on the cross and said to the thief beside Him that "today you will be with Me in paradise". I think those were the words of the Father.


I think of when Jesus said:"My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me"?
I think He felt forsaken of the Father, but I don't think the Father left Him completely alone.


Just a few thoughts this morning.

Have a very blessed day!

[miepie]

Sorry I didn't post for a while here. My arm is now in a cast and hopefully my beautiful typist will post something here maybe this evening.

Love you,
Mieke :kiss: :hug: :kiss:

[Debra R]

Mieke...Sorry I didn't post for a while here. My arm is now in a cast and hopefully my beautiful typist will post something here maybe this evening.





Thats okay Mieke, http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/kiss.gif http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif

with so many things we are all going through, we will just post when we are able and when our Lord leads us. Love you my sister. http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif

Hope you are doing okay Brenda, love you. http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif

Thought I would post a few more verses.......


(NKJ) John 8:

31) Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

32) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

33) They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, "You will be made free'?"

34) Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

35) And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.

36) Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.



Have a very blessed day,
in Christ's love. http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif

[Momof5]

Finally, I have time to post :)

(NKJ) John 8:

31) Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

To abide in His Word is to live in it; continue in it; follow it. Only then can we be disciples.

32) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Jesus is the Truth. To know Jesus frees us from the bondage of sin!

33) They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, "You will be made free'?"

34) Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

35) And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.

36) Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Only Jesus can set us free and when He does, we know we are free! He sets us free from spiritual slavery and places us into His family! How wonderful to know that I am in His family, I have family privileges and when I mess up (and I do plenty), I can ask for forgiveness and He forgives me!!

[Toymom]

Verse 32 says the truth shall set you free. Verse 36 says the Son sets you free. This shows that the Son, who is the Lord, is the truth. When He comes into us as life, He shines within us as light, bringing the divine element as reality into us. This reality, which is the divine element imparted into us and realized by us, sets us free from the bondage of sin by the divine life as the light of man. When the Lord as the Word of God became flesh, He brought God to us as this reality, so that God could be the grace for our enjoyment. (paraphrased from footnote in Recovery Version)

[Momof5]

Good morning Debra, Cilla, Mieke, Toymom. :hug: I am going to post the next few verses.....

NKJ John 8

37) "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.

38) I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father."

39) They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.

40) But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.

41) You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father - God."

[miepie]

John 8:21
Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come."

JFB Commentary:
21-25. Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, &c.—(See on John 7:33).

John 7:33
Then Jesus said to them, "I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me.


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:21. Just as His time was short, so their opportunity for trusting in Him was limited. Soon He would go back to His Father and they could not follow Him there (cf. 7:33-34). You will die in your sin. The singular “sin” is that of rejecting the One who offers salvation (cf. 16:9). They would “die” because they continued living in the realm of sin, remaining under its power. Physical death would be their prelude to eternal separation from God.

John 7:33-34
Then Jesus said to them, "I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. [34] You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come."

John 16:9
of sin, because they do not believe in Me;



John 8:22
So the Jews said, "Will He kill Himself, because He says, 'Where I go you cannot come'?"

JFB Commentary:
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.

John 7:35
Then the Jews said among themselves, "Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:22. Their question, Will He kill Himself? was both a misunderstanding and an ironic prophecy. They wondered if He would commit suicide and thus be unreachable. (Earlier they thought He meant He would go teach non-Jews in other lands [7:35].) Though Jesus did not kill Himself, He did lay down His own life (10:11, 18).

John 7:35
Then the Jews said among themselves, "Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

John 10:18
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."



John 8:23
And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

JFB Commentary:
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).

John 3:31
He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:23. Jesus pointed out His heavenly origin and His real home (from above not of this world). They belong here (from below of this world), but He does not.



John 8:24
Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

JFB Commentary:
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 Matthew 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; Isaiah 43:10, 13; Isaiah 46:4; Isaiah 48:12). See on John 6:20.

Mark 13:6
For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and will deceive many.

Matthew 24:5
For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

Deut. 32:39
'Now see that I, even I, am He,
And there is no God besides Me;
I kill and I make alive;
I wound and I heal;
Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.

Isaiah 43:10
"You are My witnesses," says the Lord,
"And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
Nor shall there be after Me.

Isaiah 43:13
Indeed before the day was, I am He;
And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand;
I work, and who will reverse it?"

Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age, I am He,
And even to gray hairs I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry, and will deliver you.


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:24. Jesus said twice they would die in their sins (cf. this pl. with the sing. “sin” in v. 21). If they would reject the Sin-Bearer (1:29), they would continue in the realm of sin. If they would reject Jesus as the revelation of God, they would miss their only hope for salvation. I am the One I claim to be in Greek is the enigmatic “I Am,” which is a self-designation for God in certain contexts (cf. Isa. 43:10-11, LXX).

John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Isaiah 43:10-11
"You are My witnesses," says the Lord,
"And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
Nor shall there be after Me.
[11] I, even I, am the Lord,
And besides Me there is no savior.



Willmington's Bible Handbook:
John 8:21-24 “Someday you’ll understand!” When Jesus again told the Pharisees that he would soon be “going away” from them (compare exposition on §John 7:32-36), they wondered whether he was going to kill himself (John 8:21-22). Jesus warned them that if they didn’t believe in him they would die in their sins (John 8:21, 23-24).

[miepie]

John 8:25
Then they said to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.

JFB Commentary:
25. Who art thou?—hoping thus to extort an explicit answer; but they are disappointed.


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:25. This revelation of Jesus as “I Am” only confused the Jews. And His words about their sins probably angered them. Who are You? they asked. He replied, Just what I have been claiming all along. This is the NIV’s translation of a problematic Greek sentence. (Other translations make it a question or an exclamation.)



John 8:26-27
I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him." [27] They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.

JFB Commentary:
26, 27. 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.

John 16:8
And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:26-27. Jesus could have said much more and even condemned His hearers, but His purpose in coming was to give them and the world the message from the One who sent Him. This message is certainly true because the Sender is reliable (cf. 7:18, 28). John added that the people did not understand that Jesus was referring to the Father. God was unknown to them so they missed Jesus (cf. 1:18).

John 7:18
He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

John 7:28
Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, "You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.

John 1:18
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.



John 8:28
Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

JFB Commentary:
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.


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:28. Jesus was now unknown to them. Only the Crucifixion (when the Son of Man would be lifted up; cf. 3:14; 12:32) would enable them to see Him for who He really is. He did not mean that all will be saved, but that the Cross would reveal that Jesus is God’s Word (the Logos) to man, and that what He taught was just what the Father… taught Him.


John 3:14
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

John 12:32
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."



John 8:29
And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

JFB Commentary:
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.


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:29. Jesus’ union with the Father is one of love and continual obedience (cf. 4:34; 5:30). Though people reject Jesus, the Father will never abandon Him. Jesus is never alone, and even on the cross the Father glorified Him (cf. 16:32; 17:5).

John 4:34
Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

John 5:30
I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

John 16:32
Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

John 17:5
And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.


John 8:30
As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

JFB Commentary:
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.

Acts 6:15
And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:30. In spite of widespread unbelief and official rejection, the ministry of Jesus did bring many to faith (cf. 7:31). Yet this faith would need to be tested and refined. The words many put their faith in Him contrast with the next verse. Though large numbers of people responded to Jesus, many people fell away.

John 7:31
And many of the people believed in Him, and said, "When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?"


Willmington's Bible Handbook:
When he again claimed the truth of his message, they still did not comprehend what he was saying (John 8:25-27). He said that everything he had been saying would make sense after they had crucified him (John 8:28-29).
While Jesus’ words of reprimand may sound boastful or uncaring at times, Scripture makes it clear that the Pharisees and others who chose to reject him had been given ample evidence to believe:
l his miracles and acts of compassion
l his remarkable prophetic gift (see John 4:19, 29)
l his irrefutable teachings (see John 7:46; Matthew 22:46)
l his faultless character (John 8:29; see Acts 10:38)
Even as he scolded the Jews for their unbelief, “many . . . believed in him” (John 8:30).

John 4:19
The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.

John 4:29
"Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"

John 7:46
The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man!"

Matthew 22:46
And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

[miepie]

John 8:31-32
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. [32] And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

JFB Commentary:
31-32. 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 15:3-8), and then should they experimentally "know the truth," and "by the truth be made (spiritually) free."

John 15:3-8
You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. [5] I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. [7] If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. [8] By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:31-32. Jews who had believed Him indicates that some paid attention to Jesus’ words without necessarily committing themselves to Him personally (cf. 6:53). It was possible to “believe” in the message of repentance and the coming kingdom without being born again. Continuing in the truth is the sign of true followers and learners (disciples). If they really grasped His message, they would find salvation truth. Knowing this salvation truth would liberate them from their bondage in sin.



John 8:33
They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?"

JFB Commentary:
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.


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:33. Their response indicated that they had not grasped Christ’s message. Even though they were under Rome, they insisted that as Abraham’s descendants they were free men. How could Jesus free them when they were not slaves? They had no sense of their bondage to sin.



John 8:34
Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

JFB Commentary:
34. Whosoever committeth sin—that is, liveth in the commission of it—(Compare 1 John 3:8; Matthew 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 2 Peter 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.

1 John 3:8
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Matthew 7:23
And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

2 Peter 2:19
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

Rev. 6:16
and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:34. Three times in this chapter (vv. 34, 51, 58) Jesus said, I tell you the truth. The very act of committing sin reveals that the one doing the act is under the power and authority of sin. Sin is personified as a cruel master. Paul used the same illustration (Rom. 6:15-23).

John 8:51
Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death."

John 8:58
Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

Romans 6:15-23
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! [16] Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? [17] But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. [18] And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. [19] I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. [20] For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. [21] What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. [22] But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. [23] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.



John 8:35
And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.

JFB Commentary:
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 Genesis 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."


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:35. Just as Ishmael, Abraham’s slave son, was cast out of the house, so those in sin are in danger. Isaac was a son who belonged and therefore remained in the house. Were they like Ishmael, or Isaac? The issue was not physical genealogy but spiritual kinship.



John 8:36
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:36. Jesus is the true Son and seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:16). He remains in the house and is over it (Heb. 3:6). People can become truly free by becoming sons of God by faith in Christ, the Son (Gal. 3:26).

Galatians 3:16
Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.

Hebrews 3:6
but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

Galatians 3:26
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.



Willmington's Bible Handbook:
John 8:31-36 The slavery of sin, the freedom of the Son. Jesus urged the Jews who had believed in him to “keep obeying my teachings” (also translated “abide in my word”). Doing so would establish them in the truth, which in turn would give them true freedom. When they misunderstood the kind of freedom Jesus meant, he explained that he meant freedom from sin. It is the nature of sin to enslave; it is the nature of truth to set free. And only in God’s Word can real truth and freedom be found.
The Jews’ statement about never having been enslaved was wrong even in physical terms: They conveniently forgot their enslavement in Egypt and Babylon.

[miepie]

John 8:37
"I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.

JFB Commentary:
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.


Bible Knowledge Handbook:
8:37. Physically the Jews of course are the descendants of Abraham. Yet this same crowd was seeking to kill Jesus, Abraham’s true Son, thus showing that they were not Abraham’s spiritual descendants (cf. Rom. 2:28-29; 9:6, 8; Gal. 3:29). They were rejecting His message (My word).

Romans 2:28-29
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; [29] but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Romans 9:6
But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,

Romans 9:8
That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.

Galatians 3:29
And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.



John 8:38
I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father."

JFB Commentary:
38. my Father . . . your father—(See on John 8:23).

John 8:23
And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.


Bible Knowledge Handbook:
8:38. Jesus spoke what He had seen in the Father’s presence (cf. v. 28). Thus His words are God’s truth. But the people had no affinity for His words because they listened to their father (Satan; v. 44) and followed him. As yet Jesus had not identified their father, but the implication was becoming plain.

John 8:28
Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.



John 8:39
They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.

JFB Commentary:
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.


Bible Knowledge Handbook:
8:39. To counter the thrust of Jesus’ argument, the Jews claimed Abraham as their spiritual father. But Jesus responded by stating that spiritual descendants of Abraham do what Abraham did, that is, they believe and obey God. They should respond in faith to the heavenly messenger and do what He says. John the Baptist had earlier warned the Jews against the danger of trusting in their Abrahamic lineage (Luke 3:8).

Luke 3:8
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.



John 8:40
But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.

JFB Commentary:
40. this did not Abraham—In so doing ye act in direct opposition to him.


Bible Knowledge Handbook:
8:40. But they were rejecting the heavenly Messenger and seeking to kill the One who told them God’s Word. Abraham did not do that; he was obedient to God’s Commands.



John 8:41
You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father--God."

JFB Commentary:
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.


Bible Knowledge Handbook:
8:41. The Jews’ works were different, so their father (cf. v. 38) must also be different. They could seek to evade Jesus’ logic only by denying an illegitimate human paternity and claiming a heavenly one. In their denial, We are not illegitimate children, they may have been casting aspersions on Jesus’ birth.



Willmington's Bible Handbook:
John 8:37-59 “Will the real seed of Abraham please stand?” Jesus continued speaking, presumably to those in the crowd either still disbelieving or uncertain in their professed faith (compare “you are trying to kill me” in John 8:37 with John 8:30-31). Jesus declared that they sought to kill him, not because they were descendants of Abraham, but because they were children of the Devil (John 8:37-47). To be a physical descendant of Abraham does not qualify one as his spiritual descendant.


Pffffffff...... that was a lot of hard work (for me and my typist)..... got more? :D

[Momof5]

Wow, it has been awhile since we posted in this thread! Here's a few more verses...

NKJV John 8

42) Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.

43) Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

44) You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources; for he is a liar and the father of it.

45) But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

46) Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

47) He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.

[miepie]

John 8:42
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.

JFB Commentary:
42, 43. 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.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:42. Love is a family affair (1 John 5:1). If the Jews really had God as their Father and really loved Him (the Gr. assumes they did not), then they would have loved Jesus because He came from God. Jesus again affirmed His position as God’s Representative: the Father sent Him.

1 John 5:1
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.



John 8:43
Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:43. Jesus the Logos speaks to people, but their fundamental opposition to Him caused them to misunderstand His language. Unable to hear means a spiritual inability to respond. The rendering what I say is literally, “My word” (logos). Paul later wrote that “the man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him” (1 Cor. 2:14).

1 Cor. 2:14
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.



John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

JFB Commentary:
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 (Matthew 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.

[b]Matthew 12:35[/b]
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

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 11:21-22), it is only such as "love the darkness," who are addressed as children of the devil (Matthew 13:38; 1 John 3:8-10).

[b]Luke 11:21-22[/b]
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. [22] But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

[b]1 John 3:8-10[/b]
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. [9] Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
[10] In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:44. The devil is the enemy of life and truth. By a lie he brought spiritual and physical death to mankind (cf. Gen. 3:4, 13; 1 John 3:8, 10-15.) He still distorts truth (there is no truth in him he is a liar and the father of lies) and seeks to lead people away from God, the Source of truth and life (2 Cor. 4:4). Since these Jews wanted Jesus’ death and since they rejected the truth and embraced the lie, their family solidarity with Satan and his desires was certain. How different from having Abraham as their father!

[b]Genesis 3:4[/b]
Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.

[b]Genesis 3:13[/b]
And the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

[b]1 John 3:8[/b]
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

[b]1 John 3:10-15[/b]
In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. [11] For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, [12] not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. [13] Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. [14] We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. [15] Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

[b]2 Cor. 4:4[/b]
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.



[b][color=red]John 8:45[/color][/b]
But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

JFB Commentary:
45-47. 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.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:45. Jesus, in contrast with them, lives in truth and proclaims it. Since unbelievers love darkness not light (cf. 3:19-20), and falsehood not reality, they reject Jesus.

[b]John 3:19-20[/b]
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.



[b][color=red]John 8:46[/color][/b]
Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?

JFB Commentary:
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.


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:46. Many accusations had been made against Jesus (cf. 7:12b, 20). But He is so committed to doing God’s will (“I always do what pleases Him” [8:29]) that it is impossible to show any connection between Jesus and sin: Can any of you prove Me guilty of sin? Since this is so, they should have recognized His divine origin. His second question, Why don’t you believe Me? is answered in the next verse.

[b]John 7:12[/b]
And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, "He is good"; others said, "No, on the contrary, He deceives the people."

[b]John 7:20[/b]
The people answered and said, "You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?"

[b]John 8:29[/b]
And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."



[b][color=red]John 8:47[/color][/b]
He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:47. Belonging to God is the basis for hearing Him. To hear God is not a matter of being able to discern audible sounds but of obeying the heavenly commands. Jesus’ hearers absolute rejection of the heavenly Word was a clear reflection that they did not belong to God (lit., “are not of God”).



[b]Willmington's Bible Handbook[/b]
[b]John 8:37-59[/b] “Will the real seed of Abraham please stand?” Jesus continued speaking, presumably to those in the crowd either still disbelieving or uncertain in their professed faith (compare “you are trying to kill me” in John 8:37 with John 8:30-31). Jesus declared that they sought to kill him, not because they were descendants of Abraham, but because they were children of the Devil (John 8:37-47). To be a physical descendant of Abraham does not qualify one as his spiritual descendant.

[b]John 8:37[/b]
"I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.

[b]John 8:30-31[/b]
As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. [31] Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

[Momof5]

Thanks, Mieke :hug: :hug:

I will be back to post on this tomorrow.....

[Momof5]

I'm like my children. "Tomorrow" does not always mean the next day. :lol: Here are the last verses in the chapter....


NKJV John 8

48) Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"

49) Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.

50) And I do not seek My own glory, there is One who seeks and judges.

51) Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death."

52) Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead and the prophets; and You say, "If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death."

53) Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets who are dead. Who do you make Yourself out to be?"

54) Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.

55) Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, "I do not know Him, I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.

56) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.

57) Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?

58) Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

59) Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

[miepie]

John 8:48
Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"

JFB Commentary:
48-51. Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?—What intense and virulent scorn! (See Hebrews 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.

Hebrews 12:3
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

John 7:20
The people answered and said, "You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?"

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:48. Samaritans were a mixed race with a religion the Jews considered apostate. To call Jesus a Samaritan was to use a term of abuse, referring to a heretic or one with a faulty worship. Their charge that Jesus was demon-possessed (cf. 7:20; 8:52; 10:20) suggested they thought He was mad, unclean, and evil. How ironic that after He said their father was the devil (8:44), they said He was demon-possessed!

John 10:20
And many of them said, "He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?"



John 8:49
Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.

JFB Commentary:
49. Jesus answered, I have not a devil—What calm dignity is here! Verily, "when reviled, He reviled not again" (1 Peter 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" (Psalm 69:7-9).

1 Peter 2:23
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

Acts 26:25
But he said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:49-50. Jesus’ claims were not those of a demon-possessed person. He was seeking not self-exaltation but the honor of His Father. Their attempt to dishonor Him was an attack on His Father. (Cf. Hanun’s attack on David’s messengers, which was an insult against the king; 2 Sam. 10:1-6.)
When accused, Jesus did not seek to justify Himself (cf. John 8:54). He committed His case to the heavenly Judge, knowing that even if people judge the Son falsely, the Father will reverse their verdict and vindicate Him.

2 Samuel 10:1-6
It happened after this that the king of the people of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. [2] Then David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me." So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the people of Ammon. [3] And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?" [4] Therefore Hanun took David's servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away. [5] When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return."
[6] When the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers; and from the king of Maacah one thousand men, and from Ish-Tob twelve thousand men.



John 8:50
And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.

JFB Commentary:
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 Matthew 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" (Isaiah 53:11).

John 5:23
that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

Matthew 17:5
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"

John 6:37
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

Isaiah 53:11
He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.



John 8:51
Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death."

JFB Commentary:
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, 47, 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).

John 8:31
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

John 5:24
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

John 6:40
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

John 6:47
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

John 6:51
I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."

John 11:26
And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:51. Again Jesus said, I tell you the truth. Keeps My Word is another way of expressing a positive response to His revelation. (Similar expressions are “hear” His Word [5:24] and “hold” to His teaching [8:31].) It means to observe, pay attention to, or to fulfill. A person who obeys Jesus will never see death, that is, he will not be eternally separated from God (cf. 3:16; 5:24).

John 5:24
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

John 8:31
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.



John 8:52-53
Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.' [53] Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?"

JFB Commentary:
52, 53. 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?"


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:52-53. His opponents thought that He meant physical death. To taste death means to experience death (Heb. 2:9). So they concluded that since Abraham and the prophets had died, He must be insane or demon-possessed. In Greek their first question in 8:53 expected a negative answer: “You are not greater than our father Abraham who died, are You?” The irony is that of course He is. But He had not come to proclaim His greatness.

Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.



John 8:54
Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.

JFB Commentary:
54-56. If I honour myself, my honour is nothing, &c.—(See on John 5:31).

John 5:31
"If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:54. If He honored Himself (cf. v. 50), His glory would have no value. The Father is the One who will do the work of vindication. Yet the hostile unbelievers claimed a relationship to God. It is obvious that they were in error. Jesus’ Father is God; their father was Satan.



John 8:55
Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, 'I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.

JFB Commentary:
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

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:55. In the deepest intimacy Jesus has a relationship and union with God but His enemies did not. Jesus knows (to know inherently or intuitively”) the Father, but they did not know (“to come to know by experience or observation”) Him. For Him to deny this would be to lie just as they were lying. Jesus did know the Father and obey Him (keep His Word; cf. v. 52).



John 8:56
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."

JFB Commentary:
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.


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:56. The unbelieving Jews were not Abraham’s descendants spiritually (v. 39). But here when Jesus referred to your father Abraham He meant they were physically related to him. Abraham rejoiced to see My day, that is, the messianic salvation which God promised (“all peoples on earth will be blessed through you”; Gen. 12:3). Abraham by faith was granted a son Isaac, through whom the Seed (Christ) would come. How much of the messianic times God revealed to His friend Abraham is unknown. But it is clear that he knew of the coming salvation and he rejoiced in knowing about it and expecting it.

Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."



John 8:57
Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"

JFB Commentary:
57-59. 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.


Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:57. The unbelievers objected that one so young (not yet 50 years old) could not have seen Abraham. (Nothing should be inferred about Jesus’ age from this remark.) They could not understand how Abraham and Jesus could have possibly had any visual contact.



John 8:58
Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

JFB Commentary:
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). passing through the midst, &c.—evidently in a miraculous way, though perhaps quite noiselessly, leading them to wonder afterwards what spell could have come over them, that they allowed Him to escape. (Similar escapes, however, in times of persecution, are not unexampled.)

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 5:18
Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

Luke 4:30
Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:58. Jesus then affirmed His superiority over the prophets and Abraham. Abraham came into being; but when he was born, Jesus was already existing. I Am is a title of Deity (cf. Ex. 3:14; Isa. 41:4; 43:11-13; John 8:28); the Jews’ response (v. 59) showed they understood it that way. Jesus, because of His equality with God (5:18; 20:28; Phil. 2:6; Col. 2:9), existed from all eternity (John 1:1).

Exodus 3:14
And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

Isaiah 41:4
Who has performed and done it,
Calling the generations from the beginning? '
I, the Lord, am the first;
And with the last I am He.' "

Isaiah 43:11-13
I, even I, am the Lord,
And besides Me there is no savior.
[12] I have declared and saved,
I have proclaimed,
And there was no foreign god among you;
Therefore you are My witnesses,"
Says the Lord, "that I am God.
[13] Indeed before the day was, I am He;
And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand;
I work, and who will reverse it?"

John 8:28
Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

John 20:28
And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"

Philip. 2:6
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

Col. 2:9
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

[miepie]

John 8:59
Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
8:59. Jesus’ clear affirmation of His deity evoked a crisis. They had to decide whether He was what He claimed or was a blasphemer (cf. 5:18). Stoning was the normal punishment for this sin. The words, but Jesus hid Himself, could refer to a supernatural means of escape. The NIV’s slipping away (lit., “He went out”) implies ordinary means (cf. 5:13; 10:39; 12:36). Once again His time had not yet come.

John 5:13
But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.

John 10:39
Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand.

John 12:36
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.


Willmington's Bible Handbook:
As the irate crowd hurled accusations at Jesus, he continued to claim divine authority (John 8:48-55). He went so far as to claim to have lived before Abraham, and then even applied to himself a description of eternality with which God the Father had described himself (John 8:58; see Exodus 3:14). It is no wonder that, at this point, the unbelieving Jews tried to stone him. Whatever one might say about Jesus’ being a great moral teacher, his claim of deity leaves room for only one of three responses:
-he was a lunatic,
-he was a liar,
-or he was truly God, just as he claimed to be.

Exodus 3:14
And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

[Momof5]

Thanks, Mieke! :hug: I don't have anything to add!

[Debra R]

Thank you Brenda, Mieke and Dana, my dear sisters, for your work in this study. http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif

I am sorry I haven't been able to join in. I haven't been able to focus on it in awhile.
I was just reading and letting what you all wrote touch my heart. Thank you.

And thank you Mieke for your wonderful typist, thank him for us, that was a lot of work. http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif

So many wonderful scripture references.

You all have blessed me greatly. http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif

Love you.

Debra

[miepie]

And thank you Mieke for your wonderful typist, thank him for us, that was a lot of work. http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif

So many wonderful scripture references.
Debra
Actually...... I typed it myself..... :eek: took me a loooooooooooooooooong time with three fingers but I was learning a lot along the way.... Chal is reprogramming his computer......

I am very grateful I can study with you girls.... :hug: and I am still praying for you Debra..... :pray: :kiss:

[Debra R]

Actually...... I typed it myself..... http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/eek2.gif took me a loooooooooooooooooong time with three fingers but I was learning a lot along the way.... Chal is reprogramming his computer......

I am very grateful I can study with you girls.... http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif and I am still praying for you Debra..... http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/praying.gif http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/kiss.gif

And you did a wonderful job Mieke http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif, thank you so much!

I had been thinking on some of these verses. .....

John 8:43) Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.


John 8:47) He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.

1 Cor. 2:14)
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

2 Cor. 4:4)
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.


A few weeks ago I had went to a women's retreat with two of the girls from my work. We only stayed friday night and came home saturday evening. I have to say it was very interesting. A few things troubled me though. I had a lot of interesting discussions with one of the girls I work with. We had talked on hom o se#uality. She seemed to think that there is nothing wrong with that, (which she is not that way) this just came into our discussion as she was telling me about her church and that they were open about that and had members who were that way.

She had asked me what my thoughts were and I told her that I felt that was wrong. And I showed her scripture showing that it was wrong but she still didn't see that it was wrong. Then we talked about sin. She doesn't get that either. She says she believes in Jesus. But she doesn't seem to understand the concept of sin and that we are separated from God because of sin. She seems to think everyone will go to heaven because of Jesus.

And then she shocked me most of all in that she believes in reincarnation, (which I don't think this is her church's belief). I don't know where she got that from. I had told her Hebrews 9:27 It is appointed for men to die once and then the judgment. To me that is plain as day, you only die once. Anyway, I read many scriptures to her trying to get her to understand, but I don't think I got through to her. It was like there was a wall up between us and she could not see.

And so as I reread this scripture I understood more of what it means and that if they can't understand God's word that means they are not of God. And they are blind. And that made me so sad. But I did all I could do in letting her hear what God's word said and the rest is up to our Lord. I planted the seeds and our Lord will cause them to take root and allow her to understand someday.

[Momof5]

And so as I reread this scripture I understood more of what it means and that if they can't understand God's word that means they are not of God. And they are blind. And that made me so sad. But I did all I could do in letting her hear what God's word said and the rest is up to our Lord. I planted the seeds and our Lord will cause them to take root and allow her to understand someday

You did what you were called to do, Debra, in planting the seed. I pray the Lord will open her eyes to her need for the Savior.

[Debra R]

You did what you were called to do, Debra, in planting the seed. I pray the Lord will open her eyes to her need for the Savior.

Thank you Brenda, http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif

I thought about this verse in Isaiah, I like how it is translated in the NASB....

Isaiah 55:

11) So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

This always encourages me that when we speak God's word it does not return to Him empty, He has a purpose for it and He will see that it is completed.


I should have mentioned that I started chapter 9 http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif, ( I see you found it http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif )
I thought we better keep going or we might not finish. And I know you all want to keep going too http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif. Even though we are a little slow we will get through the book of John eventually http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif.

Love you, my sisters in Christ, http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif http://www.bibleforums.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif