Jesus Delivers the Adulterous Woman
1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Jesus the Light of the World
(1 John 1:5-10)
12Then 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. 13The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. 14Jesus answered and said unto them, 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. 15Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. 19Then 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. 20These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
21Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 25Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. 26I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. 28Then 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, I speak these things. 29And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30As he spake these words, many believed on him.
The Truth will Set You Free
(2 John 1:4-6)
31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 37I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
39They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
The Children of the Devil
42Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Before Abraham Was, I Am
48Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Woman Caught in Adultery
1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst, 4 they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such. What then do you say about her?” 6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. 9 They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. 10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”
Jesus the Light of the World
(1 John 1:5–10)
12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 The Pharisees therefore said to him, “You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.” 14 Jesus answered them, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don’t know where I came from, or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one. 16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me. 17 It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid. 18 I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.” 19 They said therefore to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me, nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
21 Jesus said therefore again to them, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can’t come.” 22 The Jews therefore said, “Will he kill himself, that he says, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come?’” 23 He said to them, “You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.” 25 They said therefore to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.
26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world.” 27 They didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father. 28 Jesus therefore said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things. 29 He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
The Truth Will Set You Free
(2 John 1:4–6)
30 As he spoke these things, many believed in him.
31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free?’”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. 35 A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you. 38 I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.”
39 They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this. 41 You do the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.”
42 Therefore Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. 44 You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father. 45 But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me. 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.”
Before Abraham Was Born, I Am
48 Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges. 51 Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God. 55 You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad.” 57 The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.” 59 Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through their midst, and so passed by.
The Woman Caught in Adultery
1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. a All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them. 3 The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them 4 and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?”
6 They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.
7 When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” 8 And again He bent down and wrote on the ground.
9 When they heard this, b they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there. 10 Then Jesus straightened up c and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? d Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, Lord,” she answered.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”
Jesus the Light of the World
(1 John 1:5–10)
12 Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13 So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus replied, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 But even if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone; I am with the Father who sent Me. e 17 Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. f 18 I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father, who sent Me, also testifies about Me.”
19 “Where is Your Father?” they asked Him.
“You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well.”
20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts, near the treasury. Yet no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.
21 Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
22 So the Jews began to ask, “Will He kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
23 Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
25 “Who are You?” they asked.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say about you and much to judge. But the One who sent Me is truthful, and what I have heard from Him, I tell the world.”
27 They did not understand that He was telling them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me. 29 He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”
The Truth Will Set You Free
(2 John 1:4–6)
30 As Jesus spoke these things, many believed in Him. 31 So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 “We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?”
34 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
37 I know you are Abraham’s descendants, but you are trying to kill Me because My word has no place within you. 38 I speak of what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
39 “Abraham is our father,” they replied.
“If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. 41 You are doing the works of your father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they declared. “Our only Father is God Himself.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me.
43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!
46 Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Before Abraham Was Born, I Am
48 The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”
49 “I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 I do not seek My own glory. There is One who seeks it, and He is the Judge. 51 Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.”
52 “Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death. 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, as did the prophets. Who do You claim to be?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory means nothing. The One who glorifies Me is My Father, of whom you say ‘He is our g God.’ 55 You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.”
57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?”
58 “Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am! h”
59 At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area. i
Footnotes:
2 a Literally the temple ; also in verse 20
9 b NE, BYZ, and TR include and were convicted by their conscience,
10 c NE, BYZ, and TR include and saw no one but the woman .
10 d WH and NA where are they
16 e Literally but (it is) I and the Father who sent Me ; NE but (it is) I and the One who sent Me
17 f See Deuteronomy 19:15.
54 g WH and TR Your
58 h Literally before Abraham was, I am!
59 i BYZ and TR include going through the midst of them, and so He passed by .
Jesus Delivers the Adulterous Woman
1And at dawn he came again to the temple, 2and all the people were coming unto him, and having sat down, he was teaching them; 3and the scribes and the Pharisees bring unto him a woman having been taken in adultery, and having set her in the midst, 4they say to him, 'Teacher, this woman was taken in the very crime -- committing adultery, 5and in the law, Moses did command us that such be stoned; thou, therefore, what dost thou say?' 6and this they said, trying him, that they might have to accuse him. And Jesus, having stooped down, with the finger he was writing on the ground, 7and when they continued asking him, having bent himself back, he said unto them, 'The sinless of you -- let him first cast the stone at her;' 8and again having stooped down, he was writing on the ground, 9and they having heard, and by the conscience being convicted, were going forth one by one, having begun from the elders -- unto the last; and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10And Jesus having bent himself back, and having seen no one but the woman, said to her, 'Woman, where are those -- thine accusers? did no one pass sentence upon thee?' 11and she said, 'No one, Sir;' and Jesus said to her, 'Neither do I pass sentence on thee; be going on, and no more sin.'
Jesus the Light of the World
(1 John 1:5-10)
12Again, therefore, Jesus spake to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world; he who is following me shall not walk in the darkness, but he shall have the light of the life.' 13The Pharisees, therefore, said to him, 'Thou of thyself dost testify, thy testimony is not true;' 14Jesus answered and said to them, 'And if I testify of myself -- my testimony is true, because I have known whence I came, and whither I go, and ye -- ye have not known whence I come, or whither I go. 15'Ye according to the flesh do judge; I do not judge any one, 16and even if I do judge my judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent me; 17and also in your law it hath been written, that the testimony of two men are true; 18I am one who is testifying of myself, and the Father who sent me doth testify of me.' 19They said, therefore, to him, 'Where is thy father?' Jesus answered, 'Ye have neither known me nor my Father: if me ye had known, my Father also ye had known.' 20These sayings spake Jesus in the treasury, teaching in the temple, and no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come;
21therefore said Jesus again to them, 'I go away, and ye will seek me, and in your sin ye shall die; whither I go away, ye are not able to come.' 22The Jews, therefore, said, 'Will he kill himself, because he saith, Whither I go away, ye are not able to come?' 23and he said to them, 'Ye are from beneath, I am from above; ye are of this world, I am not of this world; 24I said, therefore, to you, that ye shall die in your sins, for if ye may not believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.' 25They said, therefore, to him, 'Thou -- who art thou?' and Jesus said to them, 'Even what I did speak of to you at the beginning; 26many things I have to speak concerning you and to judge, but He who sent me is true, and I -- what things I heard from Him -- these I say to the world.' 27They knew not that of the Father he spake to them; 28Jesus, therefore, said to them, 'When ye may lift up the Son of Man then ye will know that I am he; and of myself I do nothing, but according as my Father did teach me, these things I speak; 29and He who sent me is with me; the Father did not leave me alone, because I, the things pleasing to Him, do always.' 30As he is speaking these things, many believed in him;
The Truth will Set You Free
(2 John 1:4-6)
31Jesus, therefore, said unto the Jews who believed in him, 'If ye may remain in my word, truly my disciples ye are, and ye shall know the truth, 32and the truth shall make you free.' 33They answered him, 'Seed of Abraham we are; and to no one have we been servants at any time; how dost thou say -- Ye shall become free?'
34Jesus answered them, 'Verily, verily, I say to you -- Every one who is committing sin, is a servant of the sin, 35and the servant doth not remain in the house -- to the age, the son doth remain -- to the age; 36if then the son may make you free, in reality ye shall be free. 37'I have known that ye are seed of Abraham, but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you; 38I -- that which I have seen with my Father do speak, and ye, therefore, that which ye have seen with your father -- ye do.'
39They answered and said to him, 'Our father is Abraham;' Jesus saith to them, 'If children of Abraham ye were, the works of Abraham ye were doing; 40and now, ye seek to kill me -- a man who hath spoken to you the truth I heard from God; this Abraham did not; 41ye do the works of your father.' They said, therefore, to him, 'We of whoredom have not been born; one Father we have -- God;'
The Children of the Devil
42Jesus then said to them, 'If God were your father, ye were loving me, for I came forth from God, and am come; for neither have I come of myself, but He sent me; 43wherefore do ye not know my speech? because ye are not able to hear my word. 44'Ye are of a father -- the devil, and the desires of your father ye will to do; he was a man-slayer from the beginning, and in the truth he hath not stood, because there is no truth in him; when one may speak the falsehood, of his own he speaketh, because he is a liar -- also his father. 45'And because I say the truth, ye do not believe me. 46Who of you doth convict me of sin? and if I speak truth, wherefore do ye not believe me? 47he who is of God, the sayings of God he doth hear; because of this ye do not hear, because of God ye are not.'
Before Abraham Was, I Am
48The Jews, therefore, answered and said to him, 'Do we not say well, that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?' 49Jesus answered, 'I have not a demon, but I honour my Father, and ye dishonour me; 50and I do not seek my own glory; there is who is seeking and is judging; 51verily, verily, I say to you, If any one may keep my word, death he may not see -- to the age.' 52The Jews, therefore, said to him, 'Now we have known that thou hast a demon; Abraham did die, and the prophets, and thou dost say, If any one may keep my word, he shall not taste of death -- to the age! 53Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died; whom dost thou make thyself?' 54Jesus answered, 'If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who is glorifying me, of whom ye say that He is your God; 55and ye have not known Him, and I have known Him, and if I say that I have not known Him, I shall be like you -- speaking falsely; but I have known Him, and His word I keep; 56Abraham, your father, was glad that he might see my day; and he saw, and did rejoice.' 57The Jews, therefore, said unto him, 'Thou art not yet fifty years old, and Abraham hast thou seen?' 58Jesus said to them, 'Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham's coming -- I am;' 59they took up, therefore, stones that they may cast at him, but Jesus hid himself, and went forth out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
The Woman Caught in Adultery
¹ Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ² Early the next morning, He returned to the temple courts, where all the people gathered around Him, and He sat down to teach them. ³ The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What do You say?”
⁶ They were using this question as a trap, hoping to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began writing on the ground with His finger.* ⁷ When they kept pressing Him, He straightened up and said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her!” ⁸ Then He stooped down again and wrote on the ground.
⁹ One by one, those who heard Him began to leave, starting with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰ Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
¹¹ “No one, sir,” she replied.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”*
Jesus, the Light of the World
¹² When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world! Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
¹³ The Pharisees challenged Him, “Here You are, appearing as Your own witness; Your testimony is not valid.”
¹⁴ Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on My own behalf, My testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. ¹⁵ You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. ¹⁶ But if I do judge, My decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent Me. ¹⁷ In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. ¹⁸ I am one who testifies for Myself; My other witness is the Father, who sent Me.”
¹⁹ Then they asked Him, “Where is Your Father?”
“You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” ²⁰ He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.*
Warning About Unbelief
²¹ Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”
²² This made the Jews ask, “Will He kill Himself? Is that why He says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
²³ But He continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. ²⁴ I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am He, you will indeed die in your sins.”
²⁵ “Who are You?” they asked.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. ²⁶ “I have much to say in judgment of you. But He who sent Me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from Him I tell the world.” ²⁷ They did not understand that He was telling them about His Father. ²⁸ So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing on My own but speak just what the Father has taught Me. ²⁹ The One who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.” ³⁰ Even as He spoke, many believed in Him.
The Truth Will Set You Free
³¹ To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
³³ They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can You say that we shall be set free?”
³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed! ³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill Me, because you have no room for My word. ³⁸ I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”
Children of Abraham?
³⁹ “Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. ⁴⁰ As it is, you are looking for a way to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. ⁴¹ You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God Himself.”
⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own; God sent Me. ⁴³ Why is My language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. ⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵ Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me! ⁴⁶ Can any of you prove Me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe Me? ⁴⁷ Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Jesus and Abraham
⁴⁸ The Jews answered Him, “Aren’t we right in saying that You are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”
⁴⁹ “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. ⁵⁰ I am not seeking glory for Myself, but there is One who seeks it, and He is the judge. ⁵¹ Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys My word will never see death.”
⁵² At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that You are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet You say that whoever obeys Your word will never taste death. ⁵³ Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do You think You are?”
⁵⁴ Jesus replied, “If I glorify Myself, My glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the One who glorifies Me. ⁵⁵ Though you do not know Him, I know Him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know Him and obey His word. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing My day; he saw it and was glad.”
⁵⁷ “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to Him, “and You have seen Abraham!”
⁵⁸ “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I AM!”
⁵⁹ At this, they picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus hid Himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
Footnotes:
8:6: Writing on the ground may have symbolized reflection or judgment; it also created a pause that defused the tension.
8:11: Jesus’ command to “leave your life of sin” highlights both His grace and His call to a transformed life.
8:20: “His hour had not yet come” points to God’s sovereign timing in Jesus’ journey to the cross.
8:21: Jesus speaks of His coming departure through death, resurrection, and ascension, which the people do not yet understand.
8:28: “When you have lifted up the Son of Man” refers to Jesus’ crucifixion, which will reveal His true identity and mission.
8:32: Knowing the truth brings freedom from sin, which enslaves people; this echoes the idea of liberation through the gospel.
8:58: Jesus’ claim, “I AM,” directly links Him to the divine name God revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14, affirming His divinity.
