John 8:31-59
Amplified Bible
The Truth Will Make You Free
31 So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone. [a]What do You mean by saying, ‘You will be set free’?”
34 Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, everyone who practices sin habitually is a slave of sin. 35 Now the slave does not remain in a household forever; the son [of the master] does remain forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you plan to kill Me, because My word has no place [to grow] in you [and it makes no change in your heart]. 38 I tell the things that I have seen at My Father’s side [in His very presence]; so you also do the things that you heard from your father.”
39 They answered, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are [truly] Abraham’s children, then do the works of Abraham and follow his example. 40 But as it is, you want to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. This is not the way Abraham acted. 41 You are doing the works of your [own] father.” They said to Him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one [spiritual] Father: God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father [but He is not], you would love and recognize Me, for I came from God [out of His very presence] and have arrived here. For I have not even come on My own initiative [as self-appointed], but He [is the One who] sent Me. 43 Why do you misunderstand what I am saying? It is because [your spiritual ears are deaf and] you are unable to hear [the truth of] My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me [and continue in your unbelief]. 46 Which one of you [has proof and] convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 Whoever is of God and belongs to Him hears [the truth of] God’s words; for this reason you do not hear them: because you are not of God and you are not in fellowship with Him.”
48 The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right when we say You are a [b]Samaritan and [that You] have a demon [and are under its power]?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon. On the contrary, I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 However, I am not seeking glory for Myself. There is One who seeks [glory for Me] and judges [those who dishonor Me]. 51 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if anyone keeps My word [by living in accordance with My message] he will indeed never, ever see and experience [c]death.” 52 The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon [and are under its power]. Abraham died, and also the prophets; yet You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never, ever taste of death.’ 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too! Whom do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is [worth] nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 Yet you do not know Him, but I know Him fully. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham [greatly] rejoiced to see My day (My incarnation). [d]He saw it and was delighted.”(A) 57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not even fifty years old, and You [claim to] have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus replied, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, before Abraham was born, [e]I Am.”(B) 59 So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus concealed Himself and left the temple.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 8:33 The Jews did not grasp the difference between being enslaved physically and being enslaved spiritually because of sin.
- John 8:48 This was a slur intended to incite hatred toward Jesus among Jews, who as a people were in an ancient feud with the Samaritans.
- John 8:51 I.e. spiritual death and separation from God.
- John 8:56 How Abraham saw the incarnation of Jesus is unclear. Some suggest it was simply by faith, others suggest it was through Isaac and the promise of the covenant, but more likely, he saw it from Paradise.
- John 8:58 I.e. I Am the One who is—the Lord, Heb Yahweh.
John 8:31-59
New American Standard Bible
The Truth Will Set You Free
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “(A)If you continue in My word, then you are truly My (B)disciples; 32 and (C)you will know the truth, and (D)the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered Him, “(E)We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, (F)everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 Now (G)the slave does not remain in the house forever; (H)the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son (I)sets you free, you really will be free. 37 I know that you are (J)Abraham’s descendants; yet (K)you are seeking to kill Me, because My word [a]has no place in you. 38 I speak of the things which I have seen [b]with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from (L)your father.”
39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is (M)our father.” Jesus *said to them, “(N)If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. 40 But as it is, (O)you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has (P)told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. 41 You are doing the deeds of (Q)your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born as a result of sexual immorality; (R)we have one Father: God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, (S)you would love Me, (T)for I came forth from God and am here; for I have (U)not even come [c]on My own, but [d](V)He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand [e](W)what I am saying? It is because you cannot (X)listen to My word. 44 (Y)You are of (Z)your father the devil, and (AA)you want to do the desires of your father. (AB)He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because (AC)there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells [f]a lie, he (AD)speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of [g]lies. 45 But because (AE)I say the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If (AF)I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 (AG)The one who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”
48 (AH)The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not rightly say that You are a (AI)Samaritan, and You (AJ)have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not (AK)have a demon; on the contrary, I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 But (AL)I am not seeking My glory; there is One who seeks it, and judges. 51 Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone (AM)follows My word, he will never (AN)see death.” 52 (AO)The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You (AP)have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets as well; and yet You say, ‘If anyone (AQ)follows My word, he will never (AR)taste of death.’ 53 You (AS)are not greater than our father Abraham, who died, are You? The prophets died too. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “(AT)If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; (AU)it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; 55 and (AV)you have not come to know Him, (AW)but I know Him. And if I say that I do not know Him, I will be (AX)a liar like you; (AY)but I do know Him, and I (AZ)follow His word. 56 (BA)Your father Abraham was (BB)overjoyed that he would see My day, and he saw it and rejoiced.” 57 (BC)So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham [h]was born, [i](BD)I am.” 59 Therefore they (BE)picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus (BF)hid Himself and left the temple grounds.
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