John 8

1 But Jesus [the Son of God, God is salvation] went [to travel, journeyed] to the [this specific] Mount [a high elevation of land] of Olives [olive tree]. word study 2 Early [at dawn] in the morning He went back [again] into the temple courts. All [every] the people [a group of individuals] came to Him, and He sat down [took a seat] to teach [instruct] them. word study 3 The scribes [scholars and teachers of the law] and Pharisees [a Jewish sect that followed strict religious rules], however, brought [led, guided] to Him a woman [a female, either married or unmarried] caught [seized, taken] in adultery [the act of cheating on one’s spouse]. They made her stand [placed her in an upright position, presented her] before them [in their presence, among them] word study 4 and said [to him, unto him], “Teacher [instructor], this woman [a female, either married or unmarried] was caught [seized, taken] in the act [in the very act, while committing] of adultery [committing marital unfaithfulness, having an affair]. word study 5 In the Law [given by God, divine instruction] Moses commanded us to stone [punish by throwing stones, execute] such a woman [one who has committed adultery, a sinner]. So what do You say [respond, give Your verdict, teach us]?” word study 6 They said this [tempting] to test Him, in order [with the purpose] to have a basis [a reason, a charge] for accusing [bringing a charge against] Him. But Jesus [the Savior, God is salvation] bent down [stooping, bowing] and began to write [to record, to inscribe] on the ground [the earth, the soil] with His finger. word study 7 When they continued [kept on, persisted in] to question [ask, request] Him, He straightened up [rose, lifted Himself] and said to them, “Let him who is [being, remains] without sin [guiltless, faultless] among you [in your midst] be the first [initial, primary] to cast [throw, hurl] a stone [rock, pebble] at her [this woman, the accused].” word study 8 And [once more] again He bent down [stooping in humility, with bent head] and wrote [with his finger, recording something] on the ground [the earth, soil, or floor]. word study 9 When they heard [and understood, being convicted by their conscience] this, they began to go away [one by one, starting with the oldest] one by one, beginning with the older [more mature] ones, until only Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] was left, with the [female, a woman] woman standing [in the midst, alone] there. word study 10 Then Jesus [having lifted Himself up, stood up] straightened up [rose to His full height] and asked her, “Woman [a female], where [in what location] are your accusers [those who bring charges against you]? Has [did] no one [nobody] condemned [judged against] you [personally]?” word study 11 “No one, Lord [a title of respect and authority],” she answered. “Then [de, at that point] neither do I condemn [judge or punish] you,” Jesus [God is salvation] declared. “Now [at this moment] go [travel or journey] and sin [miss the mark] no more [never again].” word study 12 Once again [from the beginning, anew], Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] spoke to the people and said, “I am [exist, have being] the light [natural or spiritual illumination] of the world [the orderly arrangement of the universe]. Whoever follows [accompanies, obeys] Me will never walk [live, conduct oneself] in the darkness [lack of understanding, spiritual ignorance], but will have [possess, hold] the light [spiritual illumination, truth] of life [physical and spiritual existence].” word study 13 So the Pharisees [members of a strict Jewish sect] said to Him, “You are testifying [bearing witness, giving evidence] about Yourself [your own character and actions]; Your testimony [witness, evidence] is not [completely] valid [true, trustworthy, genuine].” word study 14 Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] replied, “Even if I [myself, as a witness] testify [bear witness, give evidence] about Myself, My testimony [witness, evidence] is valid [true, authentic], because I know [have spiritual awareness, perceive] where I came from [whence I came, my origin] and where I am going [my destination, whither I go]. But you do not know [are unaware, cannot tell] where I came from [my source, whence I come] or where I am going [my destination, whither I go]. word study 15 You [judging from a human perspective] judge according to the [physical, earthly] flesh; I [emphatically, completely] judge no one [no human being, none]. word study 16 But even if I do judge [make a decision, render a verdict], My judgment [divine verdict, decision] is true [authentic, trustworthy], because I am not alone [solitary, by myself]; I am with the Father [the paternal source, my sender] who sent Me [commissioned, appointed me]. word study 17 Even [also, and] in your own [belonging to you, given to you] Law [a set of rules or regulations] it is written [recorded or inscribed] that the testimony [giving evidence or witness] of two [a pair] men [human beings] is valid [true, genuine or real]. word study 18 I [the Messiah, myself] am One who testifies [bears witness, gives evidence] about Myself, and the Father [my heavenly Father], who sent Me, also testifies [gives witness, bears testimony] about Me [concerning my identity and mission].” word study 19 “Where [in what location, at what point] is Your [belonging to you] Father [a male parent, the originator]?” they asked Him. “You [as a plural group] do not know [have no understanding, are unaware of] Me [I, the Messiah, Jesus] or [neither] My [belonging to Me] Father [the heavenly Father, God],” Jesus [God is salvation] answered. “If [on the condition that, in case] you knew [had knowledge, understood] Me, you would know [have insight, perceive] My [belonging to Me] Father [the One who sent Me] as well [also, in the same way].” word study 20 He spoke [uttered, declared] these words [declarations, utterances] while teaching [instructing, guiding] in the temple [sacred place, house of God] courts, near the treasury [place of storage, repository]. Yet no one [nobody, none] seized [arrested, caught] Him, because His hour [appointed time, specific moment] had not yet [not as yet, still to come] come. word study 21 Again [once more, a second time] He said to them, “I [Jesus, the Son of God] am going away [departing, leaving], and you will look for Me [seek, search], but you will die [perish, succumb] in your sin [transgression, rebellion]. Where [to the place] I am going [proceeding, departing], you cannot [are not able, have no power] come [follow, accompany].” word study 22 So the Jews [the Jewish leaders, people of Judah] began to ask, “Will He [Jesus, the Messiah] kill [destroy, take His own life] Himself [His own physical body], since He says [speaks, teaches], ‘Where [in what place, to what destination] I am going [departing, traveling], you [as a group, collectively] cannot [are not able, do not have the power] come’?” word study 23 Then He told them, “You [from beneath, of the earth] are from below [under, in a lower realm]; I am from above [from heaven, in a higher realm]. You [as inhabitants, belonging to] are of this world [the earthly sphere, the system of humanity]; I am not of this world [not belonging to, separate from the worldly system]. word study 24 That is why [for this reason, therefore] I told you that you would die [perish, stop living] in your sins [transgressions, missing the mark]. For unless [if not, except] you believe [trust, have faith] that I am [exist, have being] He [the Messiah, the Christ], you will die [pass away, succumb] in your sins [guilt, rebellion against God].” word study 25 “Who [which one, what person] are You?” they asked. “Just what [exactly, precisely] I have been telling [speaking, sharing] you from the beginning [the start, the origin],” Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] replied. word study 26 “I have much [many things] to say about you and [much to judge, many things to condemn] much to judge. But the One who sent Me [is faithful, is true] is truthful, and what I have heard [and understood, and been instructed] from Him, I tell [speak, proclaim] the world [all people, humanity].” word study 27 They did not understand [perceived not, knew not] that He was telling [speaking to, saying to] them about [concerning, of] the Father [his Father in heaven, God]. word study 28 So Jesus [the Son of God, the Messiah] said, “When you have lifted up [exalted, crucified] the Son of Man [the divine-human Savior], then you will know [understand, recognize] that I am He [the Christ, the promised One], and that I do nothing [no action, no decision] on My own [by Myself, independently], but speak [declare, proclaim] exactly what [all that, everything] the Father [God, the heavenly Parent] has taught [instructed, guided] Me [as His Son, as the Messiah]. word study 29 He who sent Me [the Father, the one who commissioned Me] is with Me [in close relationship, accompanying Me]. He has not left Me alone [abandoned, forsaken], because I always do [continually, habitually] what pleases Him [is pleasing, agreeable to Him].” word study 30 As Jesus spoke [uttering words, proclaiming] these things [referring to His teachings], many [a large crowd, numerous] believed [trusted, had faith] in Him [toward and into His person]. word study 31 So He said to the Jews [people from Judah, God’s chosen] who had believed [trusted, had faith] Him, “If you continue [remain, abide] in My word [message, teachings, Logos], you are truly [indeed, surely] My disciples [followers, learners, pupils]. word study 32 Then you [as believers] will know [understand, recognize] the truth [reality of God’s nature, divine authenticity], and the truth [absolute reality, God’s word] will set [make, bring] you free [from sin’s bondage, liberated].” word study 33 “We are Abraham’s descendants [seed, offspring],” they answered. “We have never been [bondservants] slaves to anyone [at any time, ever]. How can You say we will be set [completely, utterly] free [from spiritual bondage, liberated]?” word study 34 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly [verily, I say unto you], I tell you, everyone who [commits, practices] sins is a slave [servant, bondservant] to sin [the principle of rebellion against God]. word study 35 A [bondservant] slave is not a permanent [lasting, forever] member of the family [household, household of faith], but a [beloved, eternal] son [child of God, heir] belongs to it [the family, God’s household] forever [for all eternity, to the age]. word study 36 So if [if indeed] the Son [a child of God] sets [liberates from bondage] you free, you will be [exist as] free [unrestricted and unshackled] indeed [truly and really]. word study 37 I know [am conscious, perceive] you are Abraham’s [seed, offspring] descendants, but [yet, however] you are trying [seek, attempt] to kill [destroy, take the life of] Me because [since, for the reason that] My [divine, heavenly] word [Logos, message] has [finds] no [not any, none] place [room, space] within [in, among] you. word study 38 I [as the Son of God] speak of what I have seen [with my spiritual eyes, perceived] in the presence [beside, with] of the Father [my heavenly Father], and you do [carry out, obey] what you have heard [received, learned] from your father [your earthly father, the devil].” word study 39 “Abraham [our ancestor and father] is our father,” they replied. “If you were [truly, spiritually] children of Abraham [having his faith and character],” said Jesus, “you would do [practice, perform, and fulfill] the works [deeds, actions, and accomplishments] of Abraham [reflecting his obedience and trust in God]. word study 40 But now [at this present time] you are trying to kill Me, a man [a human being, a mortal] who has told you the truth [the reality of a matter, the genuine message] that I heard [listened to and understood] from God [the one true deity, the Father]. Abraham [the father of the Jewish nation] never did [did not perform, did not commit] such a thing [this kind of action, an evil deed]. word study 41 You [as individuals, personally] are doing the works [deeds, actions, occupations] of your father [the one who sired you, your paternal ancestor].” “We are not [certainly not, by no means] illegitimate [born of fornication, out of wedlock] children [offspring, descendants],” they declared [said, spoke]. “Our only [one and the same] Father [the supreme Parent, divine Creator] is God [the Almighty, the all-powerful One] Himself [personally, uniquely].” word study 42 Jesus [the Son of God, the Messiah] said to them, “If God [the Father, the Almighty] were your Father, you would love Me [with a deep affection, as a child loves their parent], for I have come [proceeded forth, been sent] here from God [the source of all life, the divine]. I have not come [on My own initiative, by My own authority] on My own, but He [the Father, the One who sent Me] sent Me [on a mission, with a purpose]. word study 43 Why do you not understand [cannot comprehend, are unable to grasp] what I am saying? It is because [on account of, due to the fact that] you are unable [lack the power, cannot] to accept [hear and obey, receive with faith] My message [word, teaching, logos]. word study 44 You belong to your father [Satan], the devil [the adversary, deceiver], and you want to carry out his desires [lusts, evil intentions]. He was a murderer [a taker of life, a killer] from the beginning [from the start, the origin], refusing to uphold the truth [abiding not in the truth, standing not in reality], because there is no truth [no reality, no integrity] in him. When he lies [speaks a lie, utters falsehood], he speaks his native language [of his own, from his own nature], because he is a liar [a deceiver, false] and the father of lies [the originator of falsehood, the source of deception]. word study 45 But because [for the reason that, since] I speak [say, tell] the truth [reality, what is genuine], you do not [absolutely not, no] believe [trust, have faith in] Me [in My words, in who I am]! word study 46 Which [who, any one] of you can prove [convict, show to be guilty] Me [I, the Messiah] guilty of sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards]? If I speak [say, declare] the truth [reality, divine truth], why do you not believe [trust, have faith] Me [in Me, as the Son of God]? word study 47 Whoever [truly, genuinely] belongs to God [as His child, having His nature] hears [listens to, obeys] the words [declarations, utterances] of God. The reason [cause, explanation] you do not hear [listen, understand] is that you do not [are not, cannot be] belong to God [are not of His family, do not have His Spirit].” word study 48 The Jews [from the tribe of Judah, Jewish leaders] answered Him, “Are we not right [justified, correct] to say that You are a Samaritan [from the region of Samaria, a mixed-heritage people] and You have a demon [an evil spirit, unclean being]?” word study 49 “I do not have a demon [evil spirit],” Jesus replied, “but I honor [show respect to] My Father [the supreme Creator, God], and you dishonor [treat with disrespect] Me. word study 50 I [personally, as the speaker] do not seek [or pursue, to look for] My own [personal, belonging to Me] glory [honor, praise, or admiration]. There is One [a specific being, the Father] who seeks [and pursues, to look for] it [this glory], and He [the ultimate Judge] is the Judge [who evaluates and decides, the righteous One]. word study 51 Truly, truly [verily, I assure you], I tell you, if anyone [a person, one who believes] keeps [observes, watches over] My word [Logos, the divine message], he will never [not at all, under no circumstances] see [experience, behold] death [separation from God, eternal darkness].” word study 52 “Now [at this moment, in this present time] we know [have come to understand, are convinced] that You have [possess, are under the influence of] a demon [an evil spirit, unclean being]!” declared [said, spoke] the Jews [Jewish leaders, people of Judah]. “Abraham [the father of the Jewish nation] died [passed away, ceased to live], and so did [similarly] the prophets [messengers of God, speakers of His word], yet [but, in contrast] You say [declare, teach] that anyone [whoever, any person] who keeps [guards, observes, obeys] Your word [message, teaching, Logos] will never [not at all, under no circumstances] taste [experience, partake of] death [physical or spiritual separation from God]. word study 53 Are You [greater in authority and power] greater than our father [patriarch and ancestor] Abraham? He died [passed away, ceased to live], as did the prophets [God’s messengers and spokesmen]. Who do You claim [assert or profess] to be [who do You make Yourself out to be, what is Your identity]?” word study 54 Jesus [the Son of God, the Messiah] answered, “If I [personally, of my own accord] glorify [honor, praise, exalt] Myself [my own person, my own name], My glory [honor, praise, renown] means [is considered, is valued as] nothing [of no importance, insignificant]. The One [the Father, God Himself] who glorifies [honors, praises, exalts] Me [Jesus, the Son] is My Father [the One who sent Me, the Creator], of whom [concerning whom, regarding whom] you say [declare, affirm, claim] ‘He is our [your, Israel’s] God [the one true God, the Supreme Being].’ word study 55 You do not know [have no understanding of, are unaware of] Him, but I know [have a deep understanding of, am intimately acquainted with] Him. If I said I did not know [was ignorant of, had no knowledge of] Him, I would be a liar [one who speaks falsely, a deceiver] like you. But I do know [am confident in my understanding of] Him, and I keep [obey, observe carefully] His word [message, teachings, Logos]. word study 56 Your father [ancestor, patriarch] Abraham [the father of faith] rejoiced [was full of joy, delighted] that he would see [perceive, experience] My day [time, era]. He saw [perceived, understood] it and was glad [rejoiced, happy].” word study 57 Then the Jews [the Jewish leaders, from the tribe of Judah] said to Him, “You are not yet [at this point in time, up to now] fifty years old [reaching the age of maturity], and You have seen [perceived, experienced, or encountered] Abraham [the father of the Jewish nation]?” word study 58 “Truly, truly [verily, most certainly], I tell you,” Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] declared, “before [prior to, sooner than] Abraham [the father of the Jewish nation] was born [came into being, existed], I am [exist, have being, I exist eternally]! ” word study 59 At this, they picked up [took up, to cast] stones [literal rocks, figurative stumbling blocks] to throw [with force, to cast] at Him [Jesus, the Son of God]. But Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] was hidden [concealed, tucked away] and went out [departed, came out] of the temple [a sacred place, the entire area] area [courtyard, outer space] [going through the midst, passing by]. word study