21 therefore said Jesus again to them, 'I go away, and ye will seek me, and in your sin ye shall die; whither I go away, ye are not able to come.' 22 The Jews, therefore, said, 'Will he kill himself, because he saith, Whither I go away, ye are not able to come?' 23 and he said to them, 'Ye are from beneath, I am from above; ye are of this world, I am not of this world; 24 I said, therefore, to you, that ye shall die in your sins, for if ye may not believe that I am 'he', ye shall die in your sins.' 25 They said, therefore, to him, 'Thou—who art thou?' and Jesus said to them, 'Even what I did speak of to you at the beginning; 26 many things I have to speak concerning you and to judge, but He who sent me is true, and I—what things I heard from Him—these I say to the world.' 27 They knew not that of the Father he spake to them; 28 Jesus, therefore, said to them, 'When ye may lift up the Son of Man then ye will know that I am 'he'; and of myself I do nothing, but according as my Father did teach me, these things I speak; 29 and He who sent me is with me; the Father did not leave me alone, because I, the things pleasing to Him, do always.' 30 As he is speaking these things, many believed in him;
31 Jesus, therefore, said unto the Jews who believed in him, 'If ye may remain in my word, truly my disciples ye are, and ye shall know the truth, 32 and the truth shall make you free.' 33 They answered him, 'Seed of Abraham we are; and to no one have we been servants at any time; how dost thou say—Ye shall become free?' 34 Jesus answered them, 'Verily, verily, I say to you—Every one who is committing sin, is a servant of the sin, 35 and the servant doth not remain in the house—to the age, the son doth remain—to the age; 36 if then the son may make you free, in reality ye shall be free. 37 'I have known that ye are seed of Abraham, but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you;
38 I—that which I have seen with my Father do speak, and ye, therefore, that which ye have seen with your father—ye do.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 8:21-38
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.