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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 8:12-20

The rest of the chapter is taken up with debates between Christ and contradicting sinners, who cavilled at the most gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth. It is not certain whether these disputes were the same day that the adulteress was discharged; it is probable they were, for the evangelist mentions no other day, and takes notice (John 8:2) how early Christ began that day's work. Though those Pharisees that accused the woman had absconded, yet there were other Pharisees (John 8:13)... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 8:12-20

8:12-20 So Jesus again continued to speak to them. "I am the Light of the World," he said. "He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but he will have the light of life." So the Pharisees said to him: "You are bearing witness about yourself. Your witness is not true." Jesus answered: "Even if I do bear witness about myself, my witness is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going to. You do not know where I came from and where I am going to. You form your judgments on... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 8:12-20

Jesus said: "He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The light of life means two things. The Greek can mean either the light which issues from the source of life or the light which gives life. In this passage it means both. Jesus is the very light of God come among men; and he is the light which gives men life. Just as the flower can never blossom when it never sees the sunlight, so our lives can never flower with the grace and beauty they ought to have... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 8:12-20

When Jesus made his claim to be the Light of the World the scribes and Pharisees reacted with hostility. That claim would sound even more astonishing to them than to us. To them it would sound like a claim--as indeed it was--to be the Messiah, and, even more, to do the work that only God could do. The word light was specially associated in Jewish thought and language with God. "The Lord is my light" ( Psalms 27:1 ). "The Lord will be your everlasting light" ( Isaiah 60:19 ). "By his light... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them ,.... Syriac fragment of Bishop Usher's, published by De Dieu, prefaces this verse thus, "when they were gathered together", Jesus said, &c.; that is, the Scribes and Pharisees, who went out and returned again; or some others of them, who came after this, to whom Christ addressed himself thus: I am the light of the world ; which he might say, on occasion of the rising sun, which was now up, and might shine brightly in their faces; see John 8:2 ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:13

The Pharisees therefore said unto him ,.... On account of his declaring himself the light of the world: these were either the same who went out of the temple, filled with remorse of conscience, and were now returned, and bearing him a grudge, came to take some advantage against him, if they could; or they were others of the same complexion, sent by them, to make their observations on him: thou bearest record of thyself . The Ethiopic version renders it, "dost thou thyself?" which does... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:14

Jesus answered and said unto them ,.... In vindication of himself, and his testimony: though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true ; which seems contradictory to what he says, in John 5:31 , and may be reconciled thus; there he speaks of himself as man, and in the opinion of the Jews, who took him to be a mere man; and also as alone, and separate from his Father, as the context shows; therefore his single testimony, and especially concerning himself, could not be admitted as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:15

Ye judge after the flesh ,.... According to their carnal affections and prejudices; taking the Messiah to be a temporal prince, and his kingdom to be of this world, they judged that Jesus could not be he; they looked upon him as a mere man, and seeing him in much outward meanness, in his human nature, they judged of him according to this outward appearance: or "ye" that are "after the flesh judge"; to which sense the Persic version agrees, "for ye are carnal"; and so judged as carnal men,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:16

And yet if I judge, my judgment is true ,.... Because he saw not as man did, nor looked unto, and judged according to the outward appearance of things; but looked into the heart, and knew what was in it, being the searcher and trier of it; to whom all things are naked and open, and therefore cannot be deceived or imposed upon; his judgment must be sure and infallible: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me ; he was not separate from the Father, or at a distance from him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:17

It is also written in your law ,.... The law of Moses, which was given unto them, and they boasted of; the passage referred to is in Deuteronomy 19:15 ; see also Deuteronomy 17:6 ; where though what follows is not to be found in so many words, yet the sense is there expressed: that the testimony of two men is true : concerning which the Jewish writers say F25 Maimon. Hilchot Eduth. c. 5. sect. 1. , "they used not to determine any judiciary matter by the mouth of one witness,... read more

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