12 Then again Jesus said to them, I am the light of the world; he who comes with me will not be walking in the dark but will have the light of life. 13 So the Pharisees said to him, The witness you give is about yourself: your witness is not true. 14 Jesus said in answer, Even if I give witness about myself, my witness is true, because I have knowledge of where I came from and where I am going; but you have no knowledge of where I come from or of where I am going. 15 You are judging from what you see; I am judging no man. 16 Even if I am judging, my decision is right, because I am not by myself—with me is the Father who sent me. 17 Even in your law it is said that the witness of two men is true. 18 I give witness about myself and the Father who sent me gives witness about me. 19 Then they said to him, Where is your Father? Jesus said in answer, You have no knowledge of me or of my Father: if you had knowledge of me you would have knowledge of my Father. 20 Jesus said these words in the place where the offerings were stored, while he was teaching in the Temple: but no man took him because his time was still to come.
21 Then he said to them again, I am going away and you will be looking for me, but death will overtake you in your sins. It is not possible for you to come where I am going. 22 So the Jews said, Will he take his life? Is that why he says, Where I go it is not possible for you to come? 23 And he said to them, You are of the earth; I am from heaven: you are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 For this reason I said to you that death will overtake you in your sins: for if you have not faith that I am he, death will come to you while you are in your sins. 25 Then they said to him, Who are you? Jesus said, What I said to you from the first. 26 I have much to say about you and against you: but he who sent me is true and what he has said to me I say to the world. 27 They did not see that his words were about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, When the Son of man has been lifted up by you, then it will be clear to you who I am, and that I do nothing of myself, but say as the Father gave me teaching. 29 He who sent me is with me; he has not gone from me, because at all times I do the things which are pleasing to him. 30 When he said this a number came to have faith in him.
31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had faith in him, If you keep my word, then you are truly my disciples; 32 And you will have knowledge of what is true, and that will make you free. 33 They said to him in answer, We are Abraham's seed and have never been any man's servant: why do you say, You will become free? 34 And this was the answer Jesus gave them: Truly I say to you, Everyone who does evil is the servant of sin. 35 Now the servant does not go on living in the house for ever, but the son does. 36 If then the son makes you free, you will be truly free. 37 I am conscious that you are Abraham's seed; but you have a desire to put me to death because my word has no place in you.
38 I say the things which I have seen in my Father's house: and you do the things which come to you from your father's house.
39 In answer they said to him, Our father is Abraham. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children you would do what Abraham did. 40 But now you have a desire to put me to death, a man who has said to you what is true, as I had it from God: Abraham did not do that. 41 You are doing the works of your father. They said to him, We are true sons of Abraham; we have one Father, who is God. 42 Jesus said to them, If God was your Father you would have love for me, because it was from God I came and am here. I did not come of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why are my words not clear to you? It is because your ears are shut to my teaching. 44 You are the children of your father the Evil One and it is your pleasure to do his desires. From the first he was a taker of life; and he did not go in the true way because there is no true thing in him. When he says what is false, it is natural to him, for he is false and the father of what is false. 45 But because I say what is true, you have no belief in me.
46 Which of you is able truly to say that I am a sinner? If I say what is true, why have you no belief in me? 47 He who is a child of God gives ear to the words of God: your ears are not open to them because you are not from God.
48 The Jews said to him in answer, Are we not right in saying that you are of Samaria and have an evil spirit? 49 And this was the answer of Jesus: I have not an evil spirit; but I give honour to my Father and you do not give honour to me. 50 I, however, am not in search of glory for myself: there is One who is searching for it and he is judge.
51 Truly I say to you, If a man keeps my word he will never see death. 52 The Jews said to him, Now we are certain that you have an evil spirit. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead; and you say, If a man keeps my word he will never see death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? and the prophets are dead: who do you say that you are? 54 Jesus said in answer, If I take glory for myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father who gives me glory, of whom you say that he is your God. 55 You have no knowledge of him, but I have knowledge of him; and if I said I have no knowledge of him I would be talking falsely like you: but I have full knowledge of him, and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham was full of joy at the hope of seeing my day: he saw it and was glad. 57 Then the Jews said to him, You are not fifty years old; have you seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, Before Abraham came into being, I am. 59 So they took up stones to send at him: but Jesus got secretly out of their way 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.