Prophecy Against Eli’s Household

²² Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, ^[a]and how they lay with ^(A)the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. ²³ So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. ²⁴ No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the Lord’s people transgress.

Life and Judgment Are Through the Son

²⁴ “Most assuredly, I say to you, ^(A)he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, ^(B)but has passed from death into life. ²⁵ Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when ^(C)the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For ^(D)as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have ^(E)life in Himself, ²⁷ and ^(F)has given Him authority to execute judgment also, ^(G)because He is the Son of Man. ²⁸ Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will ^(H)hear His voice ^29 (I)and come forth—^(J)those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. ^30 (K)I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because ^(L)I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

The Fourfold Witness

^31 (M)“If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not ^[a]true. ^32 (N)There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. ³³ You have sent to John, ^(O)and he has borne witness to the truth. ³⁴ Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. ³⁵ He was the burning and ^(P)shining lamp, and ^(Q)you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. ³⁶ But ^(R)I have a greater witness than John’s; for ^(S)the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very ^(T)works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. ³⁷ And the Father Himself, who sent Me, ^(U)has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, ^(V)nor seen His form. ³⁸ But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. ^39 (W)You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and ^(X)these are they which testify of Me. ^40 (Y)But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

^41 (Z)“I do not receive honor from men. ⁴² But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. ⁴³ I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. ^44 (AA)How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek ^(AB)the honor that comes from the only God? ⁴⁵ Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; ^(AC)there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. ⁴⁶ For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; ^(AD)for he wrote about Me. ⁴⁷ But if you ^(AE)do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

Joy in Forgiveness of Israel’s Sins