John 8
8
1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.#Mt 21:1
An Adulteress Forgiven
2At dawn he went to the temple#Ac 21:26 again, and all the people were coming to him.#Mk 1:45 He sat down#Mk 9:35 and began to teach them.
3Then the scribes and the Pharisees#Mk 7:3 brought a woman caught in adultery,#Nm 5:11 making her stand in the center. 4“Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery.#Mt 5:27–28 5In the law Moses#Ps 77:20; Mt 8:4; Heb 3:2 commanded us to stone such women.#Lv 20:10; Dt 22:22–24; Ezk 16:38–41 So what do you say?” 6They asked this to trap him,#Lk 11:54 in order that they might have evidence to accuse him.
Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin#Rm 3:23; 6:23 among you#Rm 2:1,22 should be the first to throw a stone at her.”#Dt 17:7 8Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 9When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. 10When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11“No one, Lord,”#8:11 Or Sir; Jn 4:15,49; 5:7; 6:34; 9:36 she answered.
“Neither do I condemn you,” #
Jn 3:17
said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”]
The Light of the World
12Jesus spoke to them again: “I am#Ex 3:14; Jn 8:24,58 the light#Ps 36:9; Jn 12:46; 1Jn 2:8 of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”#Ex 13:21–22; 14:19–25; Is 42:6; 49:6; 60:19–22; Zch 14:5–8; Jn 9:5; 12:46
13So the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”
14 “Even if I testify about myself,” Jesus replied, “my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going.#Jn 3:8; 7:28; 9:29; 12:35; 13:3,36; 14:5; 16:5,28; 1Jn 2:11 15You judge#Lk 6:37; Rv 19:11 by human standards.#8:15 Lit You judge according to the flesh#Php 3:3 I judge no one.#Jn 3:17; 12:47 16And if I do judge, my judgment is true, because it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.#Mt 12:41; Jn 16:32; 2Th 1:5 17Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.#Nm 35:30; Jn 8:14 18I am the one who testifies#1Jn 5:7,9 about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”
19Then they asked him, “Where is your Father?”
“You know neither me nor my Father,” #
Jn 7:28; 1Jn 2:23 Jesus answered. “If you knew me, you would also know my Father.”#Lk 10:22; Jn 17:3; 1Jn 4:8 20He spoke these words by the treasury,#Mk 12:41,43; Lk 21:1 while teaching in the temple. But no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
Jesus Predicts His Departure
21Then he said to them again, “I’m going away; #Jn 14:2; 16:5 you will look for me, and you will die in your sin.#Dt 24:16; Ezk 3:18; 33:8; Jn 15:22; Rm 3:23; 6:23 Where I’m going, you cannot come.”#Jn 7:34,36; 8:22; 13:33
22So the Jews said again, “He won’t kill himself, will he, since he says, ‘Where I’m going, you cannot come’#Jn 8:21?”
23 “You are from below,” he told them, “I am from above.#Jn 3:13,31; 18:36; Col 3:1–2 You are of this world; #1Jn 4:5 I am not of this world.#Jn 15:19; 17:14–16; 18:36 24Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”
25“Who are you?” they questioned.
“Exactly what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them. 26“I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the one who sent me#Jn 5:19 is true, and what I have heard from him — these things I tell the world.”#Jn 3:32; 15:15
27They did not know he was speaking to them about the Father. 28So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man,#Mk 2:10 then you will know that I am#Jn 8:24 he, and that I do nothing on my own.#Mk 6:5; Jn 9:33; 15:5 But just as the Father taught me, I say these things. 29The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone,#Jn 16:32; Ac 10:38 because I always do what pleases him.”
Truth and Freedom
30As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
31Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word,#8:31 Or my teaching, or my message, also in v. 37#Jn 2:22; 18:32 you really are my disciples. 32You will know the truth,#Ps 119:142; Jn 14:6; 2Th 2:10 and the truth will set you free.”
33“We are descendants#8:33 Or offspring; lit seed, also in v. 37; Jn 7:42 of Abraham,”#Gn 16:15; Jn 8:37; Heb 2:16 they answered him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.#Rm 6:17–20; 2Pt 2:19 35A slave does not remain in the household forever,#1Jn 2:17 but a son does remain forever.#Gn 21:10; Lk 15:31; Gl 4:30 36So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. 37I know you are descendants of Abraham,#Lk 19:9; Jn 8:31–47; Ac 13:26; Rm 4:11,16; Gl 3:7 but you are trying to kill me because my word has no place among you. 38I speak what I have seen#Jn 3:32; 5:19; 6:46 in the presence of the Father; #8:38 Other mss read of my Father#Mt 5:16; 11:27; Lk 11:13; Jn 8:42 so then, you do what you have heard from your father.”
39“Our father is Abraham,” they replied.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” Jesus told them, “you would do what Abraham did.#Gl 3:7,9 40But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth#Ps 119:142; Jn 14:6 that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41You’re doing what your father does.”#2Jn 9
“We weren’t born#1Jn 2:29 of sexual immorality,”#Hs 2:4; 1Th 4:3 they said. “We have one Father — God.”#Dt 32:6
42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,#Dt 6:5; Lk 10:27; 1Jn 5:1 because I came from God#Jn 13:3; 16:27; 1Jn 5:20 and I am here. For I didn’t come on my own, but he sent me. 43Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to#8:43 Or cannot hear my word.#Lk 6:47; Jn 18:32 44You are of your father the devil,#Mt 4:1; Jn 13:2,27; Eph 2:1–3 and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer#1Jn 3:15 from the beginning#Gn 3:1–4; 4:8–9; Ac 26:4; 2Co 11:3; 1Jn 3:8–15; Rv 12:9 and does not stand in the truth,#Jn 14:6; Rm 3:7 because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature,#8:44 Lit from his own things because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46Who among you can convict me of sin?#Jn 15:22; 1Jn 3:5 If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.”
Jesus and Abraham
48The Jews responded to him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you’re a Samaritan#Lk 9:52; Ac 1:8 and have a demon?” #Jn 7:20; 10:20; Rv 9:20; 18:2
49 “I do not have a demon,” Jesus answered. “On the contrary, I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50I do not seek my own glory; #Jn 17:24; Php 3:19; 1Pt 5:4 there is one who seeks it and judges. 51Truly I tell you, if anyone keeps my word,#Jn 8:52,55; 14:23–24; 15:20; 17:6; 18:32; 1Jn 2:5; Rv 1:3; 3:8,10; 22:7,9 he will never see death.”
52Then the Jews said, “Now we know you have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets. You say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53Are you greater than our father Abraham who died? And the prophets died. Who do you claim to be?”
54 “If I glorify myself,” Jesus answered, “my glory is nothing. My Father — about whom you say, ‘He is our God’ — he is the one who glorifies me. 55You do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say I don’t know him,#Jn 7:28 I would be a liar like you. But I do know him,#Mt 11:27 and I keep his word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it#Lk 10:24; Heb 11:13–19 and was glad.”
57The Jews replied, “You aren’t fifty years old yet, and you’ve seen Abraham?” #8:57 Other mss read and Abraham has seen you?
58Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”#Ex 3:14; Ps 45:8; Jn 1:15; 8:24; 17:5; Col 1:17
59So they picked up stones#Jn 10:33 to throw at him.#Ex 17:4; Lv 24:16; 1Sm 30:6; 1Kg 21:10–13; Jn 10:31; 11:8 But Jesus was hidden#8:59 Or Jesus hid himself#Lk 4:30; Jn 12:36 and went out of the temple.#8:59 Other mss add and having gone through their midst, he passed by#Ac 21:26
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John 8: CSB
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
John 8
8
1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7So 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. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
The Light of the World
12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 13The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. 14Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. 15Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. 19Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
20These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
21Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 25Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. 26I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. 28Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 37I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
48Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
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