John 8

 

 1 And Jesus went unto the mount of Olives,

 

 2 And early in the morning came again into the Temple, and all the people came unto him, and he sat down and taught them.

 

 3  (1) Then the Scribes and the Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery, and set her in the midst,

 

(1) Whiles the wicked go about to make a snare for good men, they make a snare for themselves.

 

 4 And said unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

 

 5  (*) Now Moses in the Law commanded us, that such should be stoned; what sayest thou therefore?

 

(*) Leviticus 20:10 .

 

 6 And this they said to tempt him, that they might have, whereof to (*) accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.

 

(*) Either for breaking the Law, if he did deliver her, or of lightness, and inconstancy, if he did condemn her.

 

 7  (2) And while they continued asking him, he lifted himself up, and said unto them, (*) Let him that is among you without sin, cast the first stone at her.

 

(2) Against hypocrites which are very severe judges against other men, and flatter themselves in their own sins.

(*) Deuteronomy 17:7 .

 

 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

 

 9 And when they heard it, being accused by their own conscience, they went out one by one, beginning at the eldest even to the last, so Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

 

 10  (3) When Jesus had lifted up himself again, and saw no man, but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?

 

(3) Christ would not take upon him the civil Magistrate’s office, he contented himself to bring sinners to faith and repentance.

 

 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said, (*) Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.

 

(*) Jesus would not meddle, but with that which did appertain to his office, to wit, to bring sinners to repentance; and therefore did not abolish the Law against adultery.

 

 12  (4) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I (*) am the light of the world; he that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the (♣) light of life.

 

(4) The world which is blind in itself, cannot come to have ray light but in Christ only.

(*) John 1:5; John 9:5 .

(♣) Or, lively light.

 

 13  (5) The Pharisees therefore said unto him, (a) Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not (*) true.

 

(5) Christ is without all exception the best witness of the truth, for he was sent by his Father for that purpose, and was by him approved to the world by infinite miracles.

(*) Or, just.
(a) Thou bearest witness of thyself which thing by all men’s opinion, is naught, and for a man to commend himself is very discommendable.

 

 14  (*) Jesus answered, and said unto them, (b) (♣) Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true, for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell (♠) whence I come, and whither I go.

 

(*) John 5:31 .

(b) That which he denied afore in John 5:31; must be taken a manner of granting, for in that place he framed himself somewhat to the humor of his hearers, which acknowledged nothing in Christ but his humanity, and therefore he was content they should set light by his own witness, unless it were otherwise confirmed. But in this place he standeth for the maintenance of his Godhead, and praiseth his Father, who is his witness, and agreeth with him.

(♣) That which Christ denied John 5:37; here he granteth, to declare unto them their stubbornness, and saith that being God he beareth witness to his humanity; likewise doeth God the father witness the same which are two distinct persons, though but one God.

(♠) In that he came from his father, he sheweth that he is not only man, but God also.

 

 15 Ye judge after the flesh; (*) I (c) judge no man.

 

(*) He would not judge rashly, as they did.

(c) I do now only teach you, I condemn no man; but yet if I lust to do it, I might lawfully do it, for I am not alone, but my Father is with me.

 

 16 And if I also judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I and the Father, that sent me.

 

 17 And it is also written in your Law, (*) that the testimony of two men is true.

 

(*) Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1; Hebrews 10:28 .

 

 18  (d) I am (*) one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

 

(d) The Godhead is plainly distinguished from the manhood, else there were not two witnesses; for the party accused is not taken for a witness.

(*) Which place proveth Christ to be very God, and man.

 

 19  (6) Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

 

(6) No man can know God, but in Christ only.

 

 20 These words spake Jesus in the (e) (*) treasury, as he taught in the Temple, and no man laid hands on him, (7) for his hour was not yet come.

 

(e) This was some place appointed for the gathering of the offerings.

(*) That is, the place where the vessel and other things belonging to the Temple, were kept.
(7) We live and die at the pleasure of God and not of men; Therefore this one thing remaineth that we go forward constantly in our vocation.

 

 21  (8) Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your (*) sins, Whither I go, can ye not come.

 

(8) Because that men do naturally abhor heavenly things, no man can be a fit disciple of Christ, unless the Spirit of God frame him; in the mean season notwithstanding, the world must of necessity perish, because it refuseth the life that is offered unto it.

(*) Because of their rebellion wherein they did persevere.

 

 22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself, because he saith, Whither I go, can ye not come?

 

 23 And he said unto them, (*) Ye are from beneath, I am from above; ye are of this world, I am not of this world.

 

(*) He sheweth the difference between the Gospel, and the subtil wit of man.

 

 24 I said therefore unto you, That ye shall die in your sins; for except ye believe, that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

 

 25  (9) Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus said unto them, (*) Even (f) the same thing that I said unto you (♣) from the beginning.

 

(9) He shall at length know who Christ is, who will diligently hear, what he saith.

(*) Or, from the beginning even that I said unto you.
(f) That is, I am Christ, and the saviour, for so I told you from the beginning that I was.

(♣) That is, who he was, whence he was and why he came into this world.

 

 26  (10) I have many things to say, and to judge of you, but he that sent me, is true, and the things that I have heard of him, those speak I to the world.

 

(10) God is the revenger of Christ's doctrine despised.  

 

 27  (11) They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

 

(11) Even the contempt of Christ maketh for his glory, which thing his enemies shall feel at length to their great smart.

 

 28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have (*) lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye (♣) know that I am (♠) he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as my Father hath taught me, so I spake these things.

 

(*) Their endeavors and practices whereby they think to destroy him, shall serve to exalt and magnify his glory.

(♣) Not to believe in him, but to be convicted.

(♠) To wit, the Messiah.

 

 29 For he that sent me, is with me; the Father hath not left me alone, because I do always those things that please him.

 

 30  ¶ As he spake these things, many believed in him.

 

 31  (12) Then said Jesus to the Jews which believed in him, If ye continue in my word, ye are verily my disciples,

 

(12) The true disciples of Christ continue in his doctrine, that profiting more and more in the knowledge of the truth, they may be delivered from the most grievous burden of sin, into the true liberty of righteousness and life.

 

 32 And shall know the truth, and the truth shall (g) make you free.

 

(g) From the slavery of sin.

 

 33  (h) They answered him, (*) We be (i) Abraham’s seed, and were never bond to any man; why sayest thou then, Ye shall be made free?

 

(h) Some of the multitude, not they that believed; for this is not the speech of men that consent unto him but of men that are against him.

(*) These were not the believing Jews, but the mockers that answered thus.
(i) Born and begotten of Abraham.

 

 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily I say unto you, that whosoever committeth sin, is the (*) servant of sin.

 

(*) Romans 6:20; 2 Peter 2:19 .

 

 35 And the servant abideth not in the house forever; but the Son abideth forever.

 

 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

 

 37  (13) I (*) know that ye are Abraham’s seed, but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

 

(13) Our wicked manners declare, that we are plainly born of a devilish nature, But we are changed, and made of the household of God, according to the covenant which he made with Abraham by Christ only, apprehended and laid hold on by faith; which faith is known by a godly and honest life.

(*) He granteth their sayings in such sort, that he sheweth unto them that their own deeds prove them liars.   

 

 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father; and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

 

 39 They answered, and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the (*) works of Abraham.

 

(*) Which were his obedience, charity and such good works which proceeded of faith.

 

 40 But now ye go about to kill me, a man that have told you the truth, which I have heard of God; this did not Abraham.

 

 41 Ye do the works of your father. Then said they to him, We are not born of fornication; we have one Father, which is God.

 

 42 Therefore Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, then would ye love me, for I proceeded forth, and came from God, neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

 

 43 Why do ye not understand my (k) talk? Because ye cannot (*) hear my word.

 

(k) Or, language, as though he said, you do no more understand what I say, than if I spake in a strange and unknown language to you.

(*) For you are carnal and cannot understand spiritual things.

 

 44  (*) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He hath been a murderer (♣) from the (l) beginning, and (m) (♠) abode not in the (n) truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, then speaketh he of his (o) (♦) own, for he is a liar, and the (p) father thereof.

 

(*) 1 John 3:8 .

(♣) Since the first creation of man.

(l) From the beginning of the world, for as soon as man was made, the devil cast him headlong into death.
(m) That is, continued constantly, or remained not.

(♠) It followeth then that he was once in the truth; for he was not created evil.
(n) That is, in faithfulness, and uprightness, that is, kept not his creation.
(o) Even of his own head, and of his own brain or disposition.

(♦) According to his wont and custom.
(p) The author thereof.    

 

 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

 

 46  (14) Which of you can rebuke me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

 

(14) Christ did thoroughly execute the office, that his Father enjoined him.

 

 47  (*) He that is of God heareth God’s words; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

 

(*) 1 John 4:6 .

 

 48  (15) Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

 

(15) The enemies of Christ make their bravery for a while, but the Father will appear at his time to revenge the reproach that is done unto him in the person of his Son.   

 

 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil, but I honor my Father, and ye have dishonored me.

 

 50 And I seek not my own praise; but there is one that (q) seeketh it, and (*) judgeth.

 

(q) That is, that will revenge both your despising of me, and of him.

(*) Who will revenge the injury that you do against me, or rather against him.

 

 51  (16) Verily, verily I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never (r) see death.

 

(16) The only doctrine of the Gospel apprehended by faith, is a sure remedy against death.
(r) That is, he shall not feel it; for even in the midst of death, the faithful see life.             

 

 52  (17) Then said the Jews to him, Now know we that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the Prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death.

 

(17) Against them which abuse the glory of the Saints, to darken Christ's glory.

 

 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? And the Prophets are dead; whom makest thou thyself?

 

 54  (18) Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is (s) nothing worth; it is my Father that honoreth me, whom ye say, that he is your God.

 

(18) There is nothing farther off from all ambition than Christ, but his Father hath set him above all things.
(s) This is spoken by manner of agreement; as if he had said, Be it so, let this report which I give of myself, be of no force yet there is another that glorifieth me that is, that honoreth my Name.

 

 55  (19) Yet ye have not known him, but I know him, and if I should say I know him not, I should be a liar like unto you, but I know him, and keep his word.

 

(19) There is no right knowledge of God, without Christ, neither any right knowledge of Christ without his word.

 

 56  (20) Your father Abraham (t) rejoiced to see my (u) (*) day, and he (x) saw it, and was glad.

 

(20) The virtue of Christ shewed itself through all former ages in the Fathers, for they saw in the promises, that he should come, and did very joyfully lay hold on him with a lively faith.
(t) Was very desirous.
(u) A day is a space that a man liveth in, or doeth any notable act, or suffereth any great thing.

(*) Which was to see the coming of Christ in the flesh; which thing Abraham saw far of with the eyes of faith, Hebrews 11:10 .
(x) With the eyes of faith, Hebrews 11:13 .

 

 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

 

 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, before Abraham was, I (y) (*) am.

 

(y) Christ as he was God, was before Abraham; and he was the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world.

(*) Not only God, but the Mediator between God and man, appointed from before all eternity.

 

 59  (21) (*) Then took they up stones to cast at him, but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the Temple; And he passed through the midst of them, and so went his way.

 

(21) Zeal without knowledge, breaketh out at length into a most open madness; and yet the wicked cannot do what they list.

                        (*) John 10:31 .