John Chapter Eight
The Woman Caught in Adultery
[See note and commentary under John 7:53 regarding the following eleven verses]
8:1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.
The last verse of chapter seven reports that the chief priests and Pharisees all went home and here it is stated that Jesus went to the Mount of Olives for the night. Believed to have been added to John’s account, the veracity of this story is often debated. While the writing’s true author is in question, the event is likely to have occurred. Perhaps since it was “left out” of the gospels, someone may have thought the event was important enough to insert, but was unsure when it happened, as it has been found inserted in various places (chronologically) in different manuscripts.
8:3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6a This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him.
Continuing their pursuit of trying to get Jesus to blunder, to say or do something they could legally use against Him, the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman that was just caught in the act of adultery. They tell Jesus that the Law states that the woman should be stoned, but then ask, “So what do you say?”
6b Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” ]]
Jesus started writing something in the dirt and then stood up and told them that the person without sin should be the first to throw a stone at her. He then returned to writing in the dirt. Beginning with the oldest person (possibly due to greater guilt), one by one each of the accusers walked away until only the woman and Jesus were there alone. Jesus again standing up asks the woman, “Where are they?” Her accusers had all left, leaving no one to condemn her. Jesus then tells her, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” It is often said that when Jesus was writing in the dirt that He was writing the various sins these individuals were guilty of, however, that is only speculation.
I Am...the Light of the World
8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
In this second “I Am” discourse recorded by John, Jesus tells them (likely the chief priests and Pharisees) that He is the Light of the world. Besides the references to physical light (such as the light during creation) the Bible consistently uses light to depict good which opposes dark being evil and wrong. God often spoke about being light, for example we read in Isaiah where he recorded God saying, “Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:5-7, emphasis added). Referring to all people being blind and prisoners of sin, God offers a covenant that will open their eyes (and mind) with light to see that they are indeed sinners, but also see God’s offer of salvation. He will free the prisoners from the bondage of sin.
Here in the book of John, Jesus is saying that He is that light, the “Light of the world,” (see also Matthew 4:16-17; Luke 2:32; John 1:4-5, 9; 3:19-21; 9:5; 12:35-36, 46; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 1:5-10; Revelation 22:5)[1] so that whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness, as His light illuminates the proper direction leading to being freed from sin. Just as the popular Psalm informs us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105). If believers follow Jesus, they will have the light of life, He will not only provide salvation but guidance throughout their lives on earth. Jesus also called believers to be “light of the world” (see Matthew 5:14-16), not as a source of light, but reflecting the light from Him so that others can see in what would otherwise be a dark world.
8:13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.”
In response to Jesus’ claim, the Pharisees use seriously flawed logic. Referring to the law that states: “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” (Deuteronomy 19:15-21) The Pharisees ‘bend’ the law’s need for multiple witnesses in order to have a legal case against someone, to being a requirement for any statement to be true. Which was not the intent of the law, besides Jesus was not being accused of any crime. Simply not having enough witnesses does not negate or change the facts. Just because Jesus did not have someone to confirm that He is the Light of the world does not change the fact that He is indeed the Light of the world.
8:14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”
Jesus points out their flawed logic, saying that even if He bears witness about Himself, His testimony is still true. He explains that He knows where He came from and where He is going. Meaning He knows why He is there, namely to save humanity, and where He is going, to the cross. They have no clue who He is and what mission He is on, they can only see and relate to the physical world. Although they are judging Him according to the flesh (from the perspective of a sinful physical world), He, on the other hand, is not judging anyone as He is not there to condemn, but to save (see also John 3:17). Jesus then adds that when He does judge (and He will, see Revelation 20:11-15) His judgments are true because He is not alone, as He judges alongside His Father. Then returning to the subject of the law, Jesus says if the testimonies of two people whose facts corroborate is accepted as being true, then when He and His Father bear witness about Him, that should be considered the truth.
8:19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
After referring to the testimony of His Father, they ask Him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus replied by saying that they know neither Him (who He is and why He is there) nor His Father, as they are looking for His earthly father (who is likely dead by this time and they undoubtedly knew that). John records at this time that they were in the treasury of the Temple (a place that was guarded to collect money from the people, believed to have been located in the court of women), and that even though He was out in the open, no one attempted to arrest Jesus, as His hour had not yet come.[2]
8:21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
Earlier, Jesus told the chief priests and the Pharisees that He was going to “Him who sent me,” and that where He was going, back to heaven, they could not come (see John 7:34). They made light of the comment then, saying He was going to teach the Greeks (less learned from their perspective), but here they interpret the comment as being a suicide threat. As long as they are unrepentant, they cannot get into heaven. Jesus then proceeds to explain.
8:23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
Jesus tells them that He is not of this world like they are. Those that are of this world are sinners, and like all sinners, condemned to die in those sins, unless they believe in Him (as the Messiah). They ask, “Who are you?” Jesus answers them that He has been saying who He is all along, from the beginning of His ministry, that He is concerned for them and how they will be judged. That He who sent Him, God the Father, is true and that all He has been teaching comes from Him. Since they did not understand that Jesus was speaking of God the Father, He gave them a glimpse into the future. When they see Jesus lifted up (on the cross, lifted out of the grave and lifted up into heaven), they will know that He is the Son of God, the Messiah, and that He is not doing this on His own authority, but that of His Father. Jesus further notes that His Father is with Him and has not left Him alone since He always does the things that please Him. Undoubtedly, while the Pharisees and any other Jewish leaders listening were trying to follow and understand what Jesus was talking about, John reports that many others that were listening understood and believed in Him.
The Truth Will Set You Free
8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
Turning now to those that heard what He was saying and believed, Jesus tells them that if they abide in His word that they would be truly His disciples. The Greek word ‘meinēte’,[3] translated here as ‘abide’ refers to dwelling or remaining somewhere (words that come from the root word ‘menō’ can be found 118 times in the New Testament, 68 of those are in the apostle John’s writings). Jesus is calling believers to be disciples by remaining in the Word of God. It is from there they will learn and know the truth, which results in being set free from the bondage of sin, from worldly thinking and to see reality. Especially the reality of an after life spending eternity with Him.
Their response to Jesus is somewhat confusing as they say they are the offspring of Abraham and never been enslaved to anyone. Were these believers unaware of their history or were they delusional? The Bible speaks of several periods where the Hebrews/Jews were enslaved (including Egypt, Babylon, and now in their homeland by the Romans), but Jesus does not correct them, He patiently explains to them the problem of sin.
8:34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
Still among a mixed crowd of believers and unbelievers, Jesus tells them that everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin (without Jesus, everyone is a slave to sin). Continuing on the theme of slavery, Jesus notes that in a household that makes use of slaves, they are not considered a permanent part of the family, but the son will always remain a member of the family. So, if the son sets one of their slaves free, they are indeed free. Then Jesus acknowledges that they are indeed the offspring of Abraham, but they are more like slaves than family (denying their claim as children of God), as they seek to kill Him because they do not believe Him. Jesus clarifies by saying He speaks of what He has seen with His Father, but they do what they have heard from their father.
Considerations
A fancy term referring to word meanings. In verse 31 the Greek words ‘eleutherōsei’,[4] meaning ’to liberate’ and ‘hymas’,[5] being a pronoun meaning ‘you’, are translated as “will set you free.” Some Bible versions use the phrase, “make you free,” while still an accurate translation, the difference can be significant. When someone is ‘set’ free they have the option to decide to be free or not. The word ‘make’ implies it is done and that the truth will regardless of choice make you free. The truth doesn’t necessarily make one free as it still comes down to how you use the truth. Okay, perhaps we are ‘quibbling’ over semantics, but we need to realize that while God’s truth opens the mental lock of our minds, we still need to explore and grow in that truth with the aid of the Holy Spirit.
The truth that Jesus is referring to is the truth of the Bible, God’s truth, not the truth about some arbitrary fact. Many use this phrase, “the truth will make you free,” out of context saying that the truth, any truth, will set or make one free. While knowing the truth in most situations is indeed important, it is using the phrase incorrectly. The truth of the Bible is the only truth that reveals the solution to the greatest problem humanity ever faced, sin. The Bible then points its readers to Jesus, the only solution to that problem. He can and will set you free, if you repent of your sin and accept His free gift of salvation.
You Are of Your Father the Devil
8:39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.
They deny Jesus’ accusations and insist that they are indeed the offspring of Abraham. Jesus replies, if that were so then they would respond as Abraham did and believe Him. Abraham was a man of faith and did what God asked Him to do (see Genesis 12:1-4; Acts 7:2-4; Galatians 3:6-14; Hebrews 11:8-19). Instead of belief and obedience in faith, the Pharisees desired to kill Jesus, someone who has told them the truth from God. Abraham did not reject God nor His word.
8:41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”
Jesus once again tells them that they are doing the work their father desires to be done. They quickly respond with an sarcastic insult, accusing Jesus as being a illegitimate child, saying they were not born of sexual immorality, apparently knowing that Jesus’ father, Joseph, was not His real father and since they rejected any claim that Jesus was God, they would not have been able to understand His virgin birth. By saying that they were not born of sexual immorality implies that their bloodline was pure, that they are indeed Abraham’s offspring who was chosen by God, making God their Father.
8:42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.
In response, Jesus explains that if God were their Father then they would love Him as He came from the Father, who sent Him.
8:43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
Jesus continues by asking a rhetorical question, “Why do you not understand what I say?” He tells them the reason is that they cannot bear listening to what He has to say. Jesus now directly tells them that their father is actually the devil and that they are doing what he wants them to do. Referring to their desire to have Him killed, He tells them that their father, the devil, was a murderer from the beginning. A statement referring to Satan bringing sin into God’s creation, which in turn brought in death (see Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22) and the first murder of Abel by his brother Cain (see Genesis 4:1-8). Jesus also points out that the devil cannot stand in the truth as there is no truth in him. When he lies, he is speaking his native language which is understandable since he is not only a liar, but the father of lies. Jesus on the other hand is speaking the truth, but they do not believe Him. He asks, “Which one of you convicts me of sin?”
Jesus next asks, if He is telling the truth, why are they refusing to believe Him? He informs them that those that follow God, hear the words of God. The reason why they are not comprehending what they hear is that they were not of God, as they are not capable to fully understand God’s Word without God’s help. Years later, John explains this process in his first epistle: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:1-6)
Before Abraham Was, I Am
8:48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying 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 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”
Listening to what Jesus was saying, yet not able to comprehend, the Jews accuse Him of being out of His mind. They called Him a Samaritan (who also question the legitimacy of the Jewish claim of being chosen by God and being His children) and possessing a demon (not making any sense to them). Jesus tells them that He does not have a demon and that He honors His Father and they dishonor Him. Jesus again tells them that He is not there on His own, seeking His own glory. But there is One that does seek it and He is the judge. By dishonoring Jesus they are dishonoring God the Father who desires to bring honor to His Son. Jesus then reminds them that His Father’s opinion is more important since He is the judge.
Jesus then proclaims, “If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.” The Greek word ’tērēsē’,[6] translated here as ‘keeps’, refers to keeping an eye on something, to watch carefully to obey. To obey His Word is to believe in Him. But when the Jews heard this, they responded by again saying He has a demon. They use the logic that since Abraham died and the prophets of the Old Testament all died (with the exceptions of Enoch, see Genesis 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5, and Elijah, see 2 Kings 2:11, neither one experienced death) and that it is preposterous for Jesus to say that He can prevent death. They ask Him if He thinks He is greater than Abraham and if so, who does He make Himself out to be?
8:54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
Jesus again replies that He is not seeking to glorify Himself as His own glory is nothing, however, it is His Father that glorifies Him, the same One that they claim to be their God. But they do not know the Father, if He claimed not to know Him He would be a liar like them. But the fact remains, Jesus does know His Father and He does keep His Word. Jesus continues by telling them that, “Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.” (Verse 56, NLT) Hearing Jesus say that He met and somehow interacted with Abraham over two-thousand years earlier, quickly got their attention and so to confirm what they heard, they sarcastically ask, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus not only tells them straight out that He was around before Abraham, who He did meet with (see Genesis 17:1; 18:1-3), He identified Himself as the great “I Am.” Connecting Him to being the voice in “Burning Bush” (see Exodus chapter three) and clearly states that He is God. Still unable to perceive who Jesus is due to their presuppositions, they believe that Jesus just now committed blasphemy, so they immediately pick up stones to stone and kill Him right there. The text says that Jesus ‘hid’ and left the Temple, no further explanation given. Many believe that He supernaturally “blended in” and left the Temple or disappeared.
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[1] See Considerations under Mark 4:24-25 "In the Light."
[2] See Considerations under Matthew 9:27-31 regarding "Tell No One" and Matthew 21:6-11 regarding "The Hour Has Come."
[3] Strong’s Greek 3306.
[4] Strong’s Greek 1659.
[5] Strong’s Greek 5209.
[6] Strong’s Greek 5083.