John 8

A Woman Caught in Adultery

1 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2 Early the next morning he returned to the temple courtyard. All the people went to him, so he sat down and began to teach them.
3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of everyone4 and asked Jesus, “Teacher, we caught this woman in the act of adultery.5 In his teachings, Moses ordered us to stone women like this to death. What do you say?”

6 They asked this to test him. They wanted to find a reason to bring charges against him.
Jesus bent down and used his finger to write on the ground.7 When they persisted in asking him questions, he straightened up and said, “The person who is sinless should be the first to throw a stone at her.”

8 Then he bent down again and continued writing on the ground.
9 One by one, beginning with the older men, the scribes and Pharisees left. Jesus was left alone with the woman.

10 Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Where did they go? Has anyone condemned you?”
11 The woman answered, “No one, sir.”Jesus said, “I don’t condemn you either. Go! From now on don’t sin.”

Jesus Speaks With the Pharisees About His Father

12 Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have a life filled with light and will never live in the dark.”13 The Pharisees said to him, “You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony isn’t true.”14 Jesus replied to them, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is true because I know where I came from and where I’m going. However, you don’t know where I came from or where I’m going.15 You judge the way humans do. I don’t judge anyone.16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is valid because I don’t make it on my own. I make my judgment with the Father who sent me.17 Your own teachings say that the testimony of two people is true.

18 I testify on my own behalf, and so does the Father who sent me.”
19 The Pharisees asked him, “Where is your father?”Jesus replied, “You don’t know me or my Father. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.”20 Jesus spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury area of the temple courtyard. No one arrested him, because his time had not yet come.21 Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. He said, “I’m going away, and you’ll look for me. But you will die because of your sin. You can’t go where I’m going.”22 Then the Jews asked, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means when he says, ‘You can’t go where I’m going’?”23 Jesus said to them, “You’re from below. I’m from above. You’re from this world. I’m not from this world.

24 For this reason I told you that you’ll die because of your sins. If you don’t believe that I am the one, you’ll die because of your sins.”
25 The Jews asked him, “Who did you say you are?”Jesus told them, “I am whom I said I was from the beginning.26 I have a lot I could say about you and a lot I could condemn you for. But the one who sent me is true. So I tell the world exactly what he has told me.”

27 (The Jews didn’t know that he was talking to them about the Father.)
28 So Jesus told them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you’ll know that I am the one and that I can’t do anything on my own. Instead, I speak as the Father taught me.

29 Besides, the one who sent me is with me. He hasn’t left me by myself. I always do what pleases him.”
30 As Jesus was saying this, many people believed in him.31 So Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples.

32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They replied to Jesus, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and we’ve never been anyone’s slaves. So how can you say that we will be set free?”34 Jesus answered them, “I can guarantee this truth: Whoever lives a sinful life is a slave to sin.35 A slave doesn’t live in the home forever, but a son does.36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be absolutely free.37 I know that you’re Abraham’s descendants. However, you want to kill me because you don’t like what I’m saying.

38 What I’m saying is what I have seen in my Father’s presence. But you do what you’ve heard from your father.”
39 The Jews replied to Jesus, “Abraham is our father.”Jesus told them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do what Abraham did.40 I am a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. But now you want to kill me. Abraham wouldn’t have done that.

41 You’re doing what your father does.”
The Jews said to Jesus, “We’re not illegitimate children. God is our only Father.”42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me. After all, I’m here, and I came from God. I didn’t come on my own. Instead, God sent me.43 Why don’t you understand the language I use? Is it because you can’t understand the words I use?44 You come from your father, the devil, and you desire to do what your father wants you to do. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He has never been truthful. He doesn’t know what the truth is. Whenever he tells a lie, he’s doing what comes naturally to him. He’s a liar and the father of lies.45 So you don’t believe me because I tell the truth.46 Can any of you convict me of committing a sin? If I’m telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?

47 The person who belongs to God understands what God says. You don’t understand because you don’t belong to God.”
48 The Jews replied to Jesus, “Aren’t we right when we say that you’re a Samaritan and that you’re possessed by a demon?”49 Jesus answered, “I’m not possessed. I honor my Father, but you dishonor me.50 I don’t want my own glory. But there is someone who wants it, and he is the judge.

51 I can guarantee this truth: Whoever obeys what I say will never see death.”
52 The Jews told Jesus, “Now we know that you’re possessed by a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, but you say, ‘Whoever does what I say will never taste death.’

53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets have also died. Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus said, “If I bring glory to myself, my glory is nothing. My Father is the one who gives me glory, and you say that he is your God.55 Yet, you haven’t known him. However, I know him. If I would say that I didn’t know him, I would be a liar like all of you. But I do know him, and I do what he says.

56 Your father Abraham was pleased to see that my day was coming. He saw it and was happy.”
57 The Jews said to Jesus, “You’re not even fifty years old. How could you have seen Abraham?”58 Jesus told them, “I can guarantee this truth: Before Abraham was ever born, I am.”59 Then some of the Jews picked up stones to throw at Jesus. However, Jesus was concealed, and he left the temple courtyard.

John 8

1 but Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.3 And the scribes and the Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery; and having set her in the midst,4 they say unto him, Teacher, this woman hath been taken in adultery, in the very act.5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such: what then sayest thou of her?6 And this they said, trying him, that they might have whereof to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.7 But 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.8 And again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.9 And they, when they heard it, went out one by one, beginning from the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst.10 And Jesus lifted up himself, and said unto her, Woman, where are they? did no man condemn thee?11 And she said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn thee: go thy way; from henceforth sin no more.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.13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest witness of thyself; thy witness is not true.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.15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.16 Yea and if I judge, my judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.17 Yea and in your law it is written, that the witness of two men is true.18 I am he that beareth witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.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.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.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.22 The Jews therefore said, Will he kill himself, that he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come?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.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.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.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.27 They perceived not that he spake to them of the Father.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.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.30 As he spake these things, many believed on him.31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples;32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.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?34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin.35 And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever.36 If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed: yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you.38 I speak the things which I have seen with my Father: and ye also do the things which ye heard from your father.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.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.41 Ye do the works of your father. They said unto him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.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.43 Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word.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.45 But because I say the truth, ye believe me not.46 Which of you convicteth me of sin? If I say truth, why do ye not believe me?47 He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God.48 The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?49 Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and ye dishonor me.50 But I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death.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.53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died: whom makest thou thyself?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;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.56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.57 The Jews therefore said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.59 They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.