John 8:31-40 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:36

If the Son therefore shall make you free ,.... Alluding to the custom of adoption by the sons or brethren in the family, which obtained in Greece, called αδελφοθεσια , "the adoption of brethren", as Grotius, and others have observed; or rather to a custom among the Romans, of a son's making free after his Father's death, such as were born slaves in his house. Such a case as this is supposed F8 Theophili Antecensor. Institut. Imperat. Justinian. l. 1. tit. 6. sect. 5. p. 38. ; "a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:37

I know that ye are Abraham's seed ,.... In answer to the other part of the Jews' objection to Christ, and in favour of themselves, Christ owns that they were the natural seed of Abraham; for truth must be allowed to an adversary. But then this hindered not but they might be, as they were, in moral bondage to sin, and a generation of vipers, as those of them who came to John's baptism were; and might not be the sons of God, for not because they were the natural seed of Abraham, were they all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:38

I speak that which I have seen with my Father ,.... This is an aggravation of the sin of the Jews, in seeking to kill Christ, on account of his doctrine, since it was not his own, but his Father's; was not merely human, but divine; was what he the only begotten Son, that lay in the bosom of his Father, had seen in his heart, in his purposes, and decrees, in his council, and covenant, and so was clear, complete, certain, and to be depended on: and ye do that which ye have seen with your... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:39

They answered and said unto him ,.... On account of his making mention of a father, whose works they did, and whom they imitated: Abraham is our father ; meaning their only one, nor had they any other: Jesus saith unto them, if ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham ; for who should children imitate but their parents? Abraham was a merciful, charitable, and hospitable man, as well as a man of strict justice and integrity; he feared God, believed in him, and was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:40

But now ye seek to kill me ,.... A temper and disposition very foreign from that of Abraham's: a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God ; to seek to kill a man is a very great crime, and punishable with death; to kill an innocent one, that had done no sin, who was pure, holy, harmless, and inoffensive to God and man, was an aggravation of the iniquity; and to kill a prophet, and one more than a prophet, who brought a revelation from God himself, and declared the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:31

If ye continue in my word - Or, in this doctrine of mine. It is not enough to receive God's truth - we must retain and walk in it. And it is only when we receive the truth, love it, keep it, and walk in it, that we are the genuine disciples of Christ. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:32

Ye shall know the truth - Shall have a constant experimental knowledge of its power and efficacy. And the truth shall make you free - It was a maxim of the Jews, "That no man was free, but he who exercised himself in the meditation of the law." No man is truly free, but he in whose heart the power of sin is destroyed, and who has received the Spirit of adoption, through which he cries, Abba! Father! See Romans 8:15 . The bondage of sin is the most grievous bondage; and freedom from its... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:33

They answered - That is, the other Jews who had not believed - the carping, cavilling Pharisees already mentioned; for the words cannot be spoken of the simple people who had already believed. See John 8:30 . Were never in bondage to any man - This assertion was not only false, but it was ridiculous in the extreme; seeing their whole history, sacred and profane, is full of recitals of their servitude in Egypt, in Chaldea, under the Persians, under the Macedonians, and under the Romans.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:34

Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin - Or, δουλος εστι , etc., is the slave of sin. This was the slavery of which Christ spoke; and deliverance from it, was the liberty which he promised. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:35

And the servant abideth not in the house - Or, rather, Now the slave abided not in the family. As if Jesus had said: And now that I am speaking of a slave, I will add one thing more, viz. a slave has no right to any part of the inheritance in the family to which he belongs; but the son, the legitimate son, has a right. He can make any servant of the family free, though no slave can. He can divide or bestow the inheritance as he pleases. Our Lord seems here to refer to the sending away of... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:36

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:37

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:38

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:39

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:40

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:31

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:32

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:33

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:34

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:35

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