John 8 - King James Version Bible Commentary

Jn 8:1-6. These verses are closely connected to Jn 7:53. When everyone went home, Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. Afterward He returned to the Temple to teach. The scribes and Pharisees brought to Christ a woman who had been caught in adultery. The Feast of Tabernacles had just been celebrated and acts of immorality during that festive week were not unusual. The scribes attempted to put Christ in a dilemma. If He answered that the woman should be stoned, He would be violating the Roman law which forbade such acts. If He answered that she should not be stoned, He would be violating Moses’ law (Deut 22:24). They did this to tempt Him (Gr peirazo, “to entice to sin”).

There are several theories about what Christ wrote on the ground. First, that He wrote the sins of the scribes and Pharisees. Second, that He wrote the Ten Commandments. Third, that He wrote a message to the Pharisees.

Jn 8:7-8. After pressing the issue, Christ answered the accusers. In answering, He did not abolish Moses’ law; rather, He applied that law to the lives of those who had accused the woman. Again, He wrote on the ground and silence convicted the crowd.

Jn 8:9-11. They left, probably not out of conviction, but rather they had been defeated in their attempt to trap the Son of God. The sinner is left alone with the only person who was perfect and able to condemn her. In mercy and love, He forgave her and told her to go, and sin no more.

Jn 8:12. Following the incident of the adulterous woman Christ made His second “I am” statement: I am the light of the world. Christ shines as the Light in the world of darkness and sin. He that followeth. If one accepts and trusts the leading of that Light, he … shall have the light of life.

Jn 8:13-14. The Pharisees objected to Christ’s testimony because all testimonies must be substantiated by witness. Christ knew His origin and no man could testify to that. Consequently, the Pharisees could not disprove His testimony.

Jn 8:15-16. Christ accused the Pharisees of judging from an external perspective. I judge no man. Although Christ had perfect knowledge, He came, not to judge, but to save (Jn 3:17-18). If I judge. Those who reject the saving ministry of Christ must be judged, and they will be judged correctly. It is judgment from both the Father and Son.

Jn 8:17-18. The law required two witnesses (Deut 17:6. Two men. Two human witnesses. If the law required two human witnesses for accuracy, how much more dependable is the witness of two divine persons, the Father and the Son.

Jn 8:19-20. The Jews had rejected Christ and in doing so had rejected the Father. His hour was not yet come (see Jn 7:30).

Jn 8:21-22. Again, Jesus pronounces the sentence on those who reject Him (Jn 7:33-34). I go my way, refers to His going back to the Father. Those who had rejected Him would die in their sins and would not be able to be with Christ and the Father. The Jews ignored His message to them and wondered what was going to happen to Christ.

Jn 8:23-24. The Jews who rejected Him were from a different world than Christ. Note the contrast: from beneath and from above. Failure to accept Christ is the basis for everlasting death (Jn 3:36).

Jn 8:25. Who art thou? (lit., “You, who are you?”). These Jews were blind and deaf. Christ had made it clear Who He was.

Jn 8:26-27. Christ had many things to tell them which would add to their judgment. Those things were true because He received them from the Father. The Jews were blinded by prejudice and unbelief. Christ had clearly explained on several occasions that the Father had sent Him (Jn 5:36-37), and yet they did not accept it.

Jn 8:28-29. When ye have lifted up. This refers to the cross and eventually to the glory that would follow. Then, they would know that Christ was the Messiah and that He and the Father were in agreement (Phil 2:9-11).

Jn 8:30-31. Many believed. The test of their true faith is given in the conditional clause, If ye continue in my word. This is not the basis of true faith, but rather the result. This is true discipleship.

Jn 8:32-33. Abiding in His Word gives greater knowledge of the truth and sets one free from sin (vss. Jn 8:34-35, Jn 8:37). They appeal to their religious heritage. They are not like the heathen who are in bondage to idolatry; they are Abraham’s seed.

Jn 8:34-35. Christ eliminates the segregation of Jew and heathen, and declares that Whosoever is continually commiting sin is the slave of sin. The slave is temporary and can be sold at any time. The son, who is related to the master, lives in the house for ever. Israel, as the slave, had the temporary blessing of God’s house.

Jn 8:36-37. Everyone who wants freedom must be emancipated by the Son (cf. the Son with the truth in vs. Jn 8:32). Even though these people had the advantages of being Abraham’s seed, they desired to kill the One Abraham rejoiced to see (Jn 8:56). Their hearts were so filled with hatred that they had no place for Christ’s word.

Jn 8:38. Note the contrast between my Father and your father. He would eventually tell them who their father was (Jn 8:44).

Jn 8:39. These people claimed Abraham as their father. Christ gives a logical sequence of statements. Given the assumption that they were Abraham’s children, they would do the works of Abraham (he believed in God, Gen 15:6).

Jn 8:40. However, these people wanted to kill Christ. Such works were not characteristic of Abraham; consequently, these people were not Abraham’s children.

Jn 8:41. They did have a father. We be not born of fornication. The We is emphasized. This is an insinuation that Jesus was illegitimate and that they were truly of God the Father.

Jn 8:42-43. Christ refutes this claim on the basis that they did not love Him. Their lack of spiritual understanding was attributed to the fact that they cannot hear my word. They could not because they had totally rejected Him.

Jn 8:44-45. Christ now identifies their father the devil. Physically, they were Abraham’s children, but spiritually, they were the devil’s children. They were acting like the devil. He was a murderer and they wanted to murder Christ. He abode not in the truth and they had rejected the truth. He is the father of lies. Since these people were the sons of a liar, they rejected the truth.

Jn 8:46-47. Christ substantiates His claim to be speaking the truth on the premise that no one could charge Him with sin. Why do ye not believe me? Christ answers His own question. They had rejected Christ because of their relationship to the devil. They were not of God.

Jn 8:48-51. Angered by the implications of Christ’s accusations, they struck back by accusing Christ of being a demon-possessed Samaritan and not a true Jew. Such an accusation dishonored the Father and would result in judgment. To keep means to accept and rest upon. To those who did this was the promise of not seeing death.

Jn 8:52-53. The Jews state that now they know He has a demon, after all, every one of the great men of the Old Testament had died. This must disprove Christ’s promise that whoever would keep His word would not die. Their conclusion: the word of Christ was not true.

Jn 8:54-55. Christ answers their question by claiming that He does not seek glory for Himself, but for the Father. If He states that He does not know the Father, He will be a liar like the Jews.

Jn 8:56-58. The joy of Abraham refers to the birth of Isaac. Abraham saw in Isaac the hope of mankind and the promise of a Messiah. He saw the promise afar off (Heb 11:13). Limited to physical understanding, the Jews could not comprehend how Christ saw Abraham. Christ now makes the strongest statement of this entire dialogue. Before Abraham existed, I am. Christ was from eternity and was the great “I AM" (Ex 3:14).

Jn 8:59. Angered by Christ’s accusation that they belonged to the devil and that Christ was God, they attempted to kill Him. They were only doing the works of their father, the devil (Jn 8:44).