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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 8:1-11

Though Christ was basely abused in the foregoing chapter, both by the rulers and by the people, yet here we have him still at Jerusalem, still in the temple. How often would he have gathered them! Observe, I. His retirement in the evening out of the town (John 8:1): He went unto the mount of olives; whether to some friend's house, or to some booth pitched there, now at the feast of tabernacles, is not certain; whether he rested there, or, as some think, continued all night in prayer to God, we... read more

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 8:11

She saith, no man, Lord ,.... No man said a word to me, or lift up his hand against me, or moved a stone at me: and Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee ; Christ came not into the world to act the part of a civil magistrate, and therefore refused to arbitrate a case, or be concerned in dividing an inheritance between two brethren, Luke 12:13 . Nor did he come into the world to condemn it, but that the world, through him, might be saved, John 3:17 ; nor would he pass any... 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

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