Christ and Abraham. "Whom makest thou thyself?" In answer to this question and to the objections made by his opponents, our Lord further reveals himself. I. IN RELATION TO THE FATHER . 1 . His entire devotion to him. This includes: 2 . Some of the features of his peculiar honour. 3 . His entire contrast with his foes. II. IN HIS RELATION TO ABRAHAM , AND ABRAHAM TO HIM . These Jews claimed Abraham as their father, and attempted to cause... read more
Verily, verily - This is an expression used only in John. It is a strong affirmation denoting particularly the great importance of what was about to be affirmed. See the notes at John 3:5.Before Abraham was - Before Abraham lived.I am - The expression I am, though in the present tense, is clearly designed to refer to a past time. Thus, in Psalms 90:2, “From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.” Applied to God, it denotes continued existence without respect to time, so far as he is... read more
Then took they up stones - It seems they understood him as blaspheming, and proceeded, even without a form of trial, to stone him as such, because this was the punishment prescribed in the law for blasphemy, Leviticus 24:16. See John 10:31. The fact that the Jews understood him in this sense is strong proof that his words naturally conveyed the idea that he was divine. This was in the temple. Herod the Great had not yet completed its repairs, and Dr. Lightfoot has remarked that stones would be... read more
John 8:56-59. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day Ηγαλλιασατο ινα ιδη την ημεραν , exulted with desire, to see my day. “The words ινα ιδη , that he might see, immediately following the verb, show,” as Dr. Campbell observes, “that it cannot mean here, rejoiced, but rather signifies, desired earnestly, wished, longed.” Indeed, the expression may with the strictest propriety signify, “leaping forward with joy to meet the object of our wishes, as well as exulting in the... read more
91. True freedom; true sonship (John 8:31-59)Jesus used an illustration from slavery to show the people how he could help them in their need. They all knew that slaves could not free themselves. The only person who could free them was the owner of the house in which the slave worked, or the owner’s son, acting on his father’s authority. The Jews were slaves, in bondage to sin and unable to free themselves. The only one who could free them was God, acting through his Son Jesus. They would find... read more
was = came into existence: i.e. was born. I am . See note on John 6:35 . read more
took . . . up stones . And thus would murder the great Prophet Himself. Compare John 10:31 , John 10:39 and Matthew 23:31 , Matthew 23:37 . stones, i.e. heavy stones. Compare John 8:7 . The Temple was not yet finished, and stones would be lying about. Lightfoot, vol. xii, pp. 247-9, 324. at = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 . went = went forth. out of . Greek. ek. App-104 . through . Greek dia. App-104 .John 8:1 . passed by . All the texts omit this clause, but not, the Syriac. See note 3, p.... read more
They took up stones therefore to cast at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.Interpreting Jesus' words as blasphemy, they had a notion to stone him. Their error was that of not believing Jesus' words, but it was not, in this case, a misunderstanding of what his words meant. One could wish that all exegetes had as clear a view of what Jesus meant as did those enemies who took up stones to kill him. The statement that Jesus existed before Abraham is an affirmation of his... read more
John 8:58. Before Abraham was, I am.— "Before Abraham was born, I had a glorious existence with the Father; and I am still invariably the same, and one with him." Our Lord here, in the strongest terms, asserts his proper Divinity, declaring himself to be what St. John more largely expresses, Rev 1:8 the alpha and omega, the beginning and the ending, who is, and who was, and who is to come; the Almighty. See also Exodus 3:14.Hebrews 1:12; Hebrews 1:12. Erasmus and Raphelius would have this... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:51-59
Deliverance of the believer from death. The dialogue now takes a new turn. I. THE BLESSED PROMISE MADE TO THE OBEDIENT DISCIPLE . "If a man keep my Word, he shall never see death." he evidently now addresses those Jews who believe in him. 1 . The character of discipleship. It 2 . The blessed destiny of discipleship. II. FRESH MISAPPREHENSION OF THE JEWS . "Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest,... read more