| Scripture |
Additional Comments |
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| 1 |
According to Professor Tischendorf's Notes, Verses 1-11 are spurious. Nevertheless very many translations contain these verses. According to the law when people were caught in adultery they were to be put to death by stoning (Lev. 20:10). However, for the death penalty, it must be established by two or three witnesses (Deut.17:6; 19:15). The LORD added responsibility to the witnesses in that they were to be the ones who cast the first stones. (Deut. 17:7 "The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people.") What our Lord did here is remarkable indeed. Not only did he, by his remark to the witnesses "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone," cause all to leave her alone, but his grasp of the law insured that He was not in a position to condemn her either. Since Jesus did not witness the act and the law required the witnesses to be the first to take action to put her to death and afterward all the people, Jesus, therefore was not in a position to take action against her. |
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It is interesting to note that under the Law, both the man and the woman were to be put to death. Since the scribes and Pharisees claimed she was caught "in the very act," it would appear that they themselves were in violation of the Law because they did not bring the man also. Lev. 20:10 |
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Where are those thine accusers – Jesus here makes reference to the Law (Deut. 17:6) that no one could be put to death except by the mouth of two or three witnesses. |
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Neither do I condemn thee – Jesus again is referring to the same part of the Law (Deut. 17:7) which declares that the witnesses must be the first to take physical action against those to be put to death, and afterward the rest of the people. Since the witnesses had left, and they had to cast the first stones, it would have been a violation of the Law for Jesus (or anyone else) to take action to put her to death. |
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| 12 Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.
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| 13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest witness of thyself; thy witness is not true. |
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| 14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Even if I bear witness of myself, my witness is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye know not whence I come, or whither I go.
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| 15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
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| 16 Yes and if I judge, my judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
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| 17 Yes and in your law it is written, that the witness of two men is true.
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| 18 I am he that beareth witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
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| 19 They said therefore unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye know neither me, nor my Father: if ye knew me, ye would know my Father also.
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| 20 These words spake he in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man took him; because his hour was not yet come. |
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| 21 He said therefore again unto them, I go away, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sin: whither I go, ye cannot come.
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| 22 The Jews therefore said, Will he kill himself, that he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come? |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 25 They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? Jesus said unto them, Even that which I have also spoken unto you from the beginning.
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| 26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you: howbeit he that sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these speak I unto the world.
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| 27 They perceived not that he spake to them of the Father. |
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| 28 Jesus therefore said, 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 the Father taught me, I speak these things.
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| 29 And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him.
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| 30 As he spake these things, many believed on him. |
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| 31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples;
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| 32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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| 33 They answered unto him, We are Abraham’s seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? |
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| 34 Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin.
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| 35 And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever.
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| 36 If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
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| 37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed: yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you.
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| 38 I speak the things which I have seen with my Father: and ye also do the things which ye heard from your father.
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| 39 They answered and said unto him, Our father is Abraham. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
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| 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I heard from God: this did not Abraham.
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| 41 Ye do the works of your father.
They said unto him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. |
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| 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I came forth and am come from God; for neither have I come of myself, but he sent me.
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| 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word.
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| 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth 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 thereof.
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| 45 But because I say the truth, ye believe me not.
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| 46 Which of you convicteth me of sin? If I say a truth, why do ye not believe me?
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| 47 He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God.
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| 48 The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon? |
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| 49 Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and ye dishonor me.
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| 50 But I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
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| 51 Truly, truly, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death.
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| 52 The Jews said unto him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death. |
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| 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died: whom makest thou thyself? |
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| 54 Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father that glorifieth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God;
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| 55 and ye have not known him: but I know him; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be like unto you, a liar: but I know him, and keep his word.
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| 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.
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| 57 The Jews therefore said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? |
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| 58 Jesus said unto them, Truly, truly, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.
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| 59 They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple. |
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