12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying , " I am the Light of the world ; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness , but will have the Light of life ." 13 So the Pharisees said to Him, " You are testifying about Yourself ; Your testimony is not true ." 14 Jesus answered and said to them, " Even if I testify about Myself , My testimony is true , for I know where I came from and where I am going ; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going . 15 " You judge according to the flesh ; I am not judging anyone . 16 "But even if I do judge , My judgment is true ; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. 17 "Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true . 18 "I am He who testifies about Myself , and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me." 19 So they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father ?" Jesus answered , "You know neither Me nor My Father ; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also ." 20 These words He spoke in the treasury , as He taught in the temple ; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come .
21 Then He said again to them, "I go away , and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin ; where I am going , you cannot e come ." 22 So the Jews were saying , "Surely He will not kill Himself , will He, since He says , ' Where I am going , you cannot e come '?" 23 And He was saying to them, " You are from below , 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 unless e you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins ." 25 So they were saying to Him, "Who are You?" Jesus said to them, "What e have I been saying to you from the beginning ? 26 "I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true ; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world ." 27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father . 28 So Jesus said , "When you lift up the Son of Man , then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative , but I speak these things 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 spoke these things , many came to believe in Him.
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, " If you continue in My word , then you are truly disciples of Mine ; 32 and you will know the truth , and the truth will make you free ." 33 They answered Him, " We are Abraham's descendants and have never e yet been enslaved to anyone ; how is it that You say , 'You will become free '?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Truly , truly , I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin . 35 " The slave does not remain in the house forever ; the son does remain forever . 36 "So if the Son makes you free , you will be free indeed . 37 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants ; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.
38 "I speak the things which I have seen with My Father ; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father ."
39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father ." Jesus said to them, " If you are Abraham's children , do the deeds of Abraham . 40 "But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth , which I heard from God ; this Abraham did not do . 41 "You are doing the deeds of your father ." They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication ; we have one Father : God ." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father , you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God , for I have not even come on My own initiative , but He sent Me. 43 "Why e do you not understand what I am saying ? It is because you cannot e hear My word . 44 " You are of your father the devil , and you want to do the desires of your father . He was a murderer from the beginning , and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie , he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies . 45 "But because I speak the truth , you do not believe Me.
46 "Which one of you convicts Me of sin ? If I speak truth , why e do you not believe Me? 47 " He who is of God hears the words of God ; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God ."
48 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 "But I do not seek My glory ; there is One who seeks and judges .
51 "Truly , truly , I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never e see death ." 52 The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon . Abraham died , and the prophets also; and You say , 'If anyone keeps My word , he will never e taste of death .' 53 "Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham , who died ? The prophets died too ; whom do You make Yourself out to be?" 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 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word . 56 " Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day , and 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 born , I am ." 59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 8:12-59
Commentary on John 8:12-16
(Read John 8:12-16)
Christ is the Light of the world. God is light, and Christ is the image of the invisible God. One sun enlightens the whole world; so does one Christ, and there needs no more. What a dark dungeon would the world be without the sun! So would it be without Jesus, by whom light came into the world. Those who follow Christ shall not walk in darkness. They shall not be left without the truths which are necessary to keep them from destroying error, and the directions in the way of duty, necessary to keep them from condemning sin.
Commentary on John 8:17-20
(Read John 8:17-20)
If we knew Christ better, we should know the Father better. Those become vain in their imaginations concerning God, who will not learn of Christ. Those who know not his glory and grace, know not the Father that sent him. The time of our departure out of the world, depends upon God. Our enemies cannot hasten it any sooner, nor can our friends delay it any longer, than the time appointed of the Father. Every true believer can look up and say with pleasure, My times are in thy hand, and better there than in my own. To all God's purposes there is a time.
Commentary on John 8:21-29
(Read John 8:21-29)
Those that live in unbelief, are for ever undone, if they die in unbelief. The Jews belonged to this present evil world, but Jesus was of a heavenly and Divine nature, so that his doctrine, kingdom, and blessings, would not suit their taste. But the curse of the law is done away to all that submit to the grace of the gospel. Nothing but the doctrine of Christ's grace will be an argument powerful enough, and none but the Spirit of Christ's grace will be an agent powerful enough, to turn us from sin to God; and that Spirit is given, and that doctrine is given, to work upon those only who believe in Christ. Some say, Who is this Jesus? They allow him to have been a Prophet, an excellent Teacher, and even more than a creature; but cannot acknowledge him as over all, God blessed for evermore. Will not this suffice? Jesus here answers the question. Is this to honour him as the Father? Does this admit his being the Light of the world, and the Life of men, one with the Father? All shall know by their conversion, or in their condemnation, that he always spake and did what pleased the Father, even when he claimed the highest honours to himself.
Commentary on John 8:30-36
(Read John 8:30-36)
Such power attended our Lord's words, that many were convinced, and professed to believe in him. He encouraged them to attend his teaching, rely on his promises, and obey his commands, notwithstanding all temptations to evil. Thus doing, they would be his disciples truly; and by the teaching of his word and Spirit, they would learn where their hope and strength lay. Christ spoke of spiritual liberty; but carnal hearts feel no other grievances than those that molest the body, and distress their worldly affairs. Talk to them of their liberty and property, tell them of waste committed upon their lands, or damage done to their houses, and they understand you very well; but speak of the bondage of sin, captivity to Satan, and liberty by Christ; tell of wrong done to their precious souls, and the hazard of their eternal welfare, then you bring strange things to their ears. Jesus plainly reminded them, that the man who practised any sin, was, in fact, a slave to that sin, which was the case with most of them. Christ in the gospel offers us freedom, he has power to do this, and those whom Christ makes free are really so. But often we see persons disputing about liberty of every kind, while they are slaves to some sinful lust.
Commentary on John 8:37-40
(Read John 8:37-40)
Our Lord opposed the proud and vain confidence of these Jews, showing that their descent from Abraham could not profit those of a contrary spirit to him. Where the word of God has no place, no good is to be expected; room is left there for all wickedness. A sick person who turns from his physician, and will take neither remedies nor food, is past hope of recovery. The truth both heals and nourishes the hearts of those who receive it. The truth taught by philosophers has not this power and effect, but only the truth of God. Those who claim the privileges of Abraham, must do Abraham's works; must be strangers and sojourners in this world; keep up the worship of God in their families, and always walk before God.
Commentary on John 8:41-47
(Read John 8:41-47)
Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to ruin men's souls. He is the great promoter of falsehood of every kind. He is a liar, all his temptations are carried on by his calling evil good, and good evil, and promising freedom in sin. He is the author of all lies; whom liars resemble and obey, with whom all liars shall have their portion for ever. The special lusts of the devil are spiritual wickedness, the lusts of the mind, and corrupt reasonings, pride and envy, wrath and malice, enmity to good, and enticing others to evil. By the truth, here understand the revealed will of God as to the salvation of men by Jesus Christ, the truth Christ was now preaching, and which the Jews opposed.
Commentary on John 8:48-53
(Read John 8:48-53)
Observe Christ's disregard of the applause of men. those who are dead to the praises of men can bear their contempt. God will seek the honour of all who do not seek their own. In these verses we have the doctrine of the everlasting happiness of believers. We have the character of a believer; he is one that keeps the sayings of the Lord Jesus. And the privilege of a believer; he shall by no means see death for ever. Though now they cannot avoid seeing death, and tasting it also, yet they shall shortly be where it will be no more forever, Exodus 14:13.
Commentary on John 8:54-59
(Read John 8:54-59)
Christ and all that are his, depend upon God for honour. Men may be able to dispute about God, yet may not know him. Such as know not God, and obey not the gospel of Christ, are put together, Revelation 13:8. The Lord Jesus was made of God Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption, to Adam, and Abel, and all that lived and died by faith in him, before Abraham. The Jews were about to stone Jesus for blasphemy, but he withdrew; by his miraculous power he passed through them unhurt. Let us stedfastly profess what we know and believe concerning God; and if heirs of Abraham's faith, we shall rejoice in looking forward to that day when the Saviour shall appear in glory, to the confusion of his enemies, and to complete the salvation of all who believe in him.