صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني
[ocr errors]

1

:

CHAP. VIII.

THEN Jesus went out to the mount of Olives: 2 And early in the morning returned to the temple, and all the people went unto him; and he 3 sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery and when they had sat her in the 4 midst, they say unto him, Master, this woman 5 was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law has commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have an accusation against him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the 7 ground, (as though he heard them not.) But when they continued asking him, he raised up himself, and said unto them, He who is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the 9 ground. And they who 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 10 standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, 11 Noman, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee:* go, and sin no more.

That is, I pronounce no sentence against thee. We cannot suppose that our Lord meant to be understood, as not condemning such conduct. But he came not as a judge. Nor did he choose to exercise judicial authority when on

earth.

12

Then Jesus spake again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have 13 the light of life. Then the Pharisees said unto him, Thou bearest witness of thyself; thy tes14 timony is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bearwitness of myself, yet my testimony is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell 15 whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge 16 after the flesh;* I judge no man. And yet if

I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not 17 alone, but I and the Father that sent me.†

It is also written in your law, that the testimony 18 of two men is true. I am one who beareth

witness of myself, and the Father who sent me 19 beareth witness of me. Then they said 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 20 Father also. These words Jesus spake in the treasury, as he taught in the temple and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not 21 yet come. Then Jesus said again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22 Then said the Jews, will he kill himself? be

cause he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath;

That is, from appearance or prejudice.

As if he said, my judgment and opinion are not that of a man only; but I speak and judge under the influence of the spirit of God. See 26th and 29th verses.

[ocr errors]

I am from above:* ye are of this world; I 24 am not of this world. I 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 25 sins. Then they said unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same 26 that I said unto you from the first. I 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. 27 They understood not that he spake to them of 28 the Father. Then Jesus said 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 29 speak these things. And he who sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30 As he spake these words, many believed on 31 him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who

believed on him, If ye continue in my word, 32 then are ye my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make ye free.

33

They answered him, We are Abraham's offspring, and were never in bondage to any man: How sayest thou, Ye shall be made

See chap. iii. 13.

†That is, the Messiah.

And

That I am the Christ, and was sent from God. many Jews did believe in Jesus as the Messiah, when they witnessed the awful events which took place at his crucifix ion, and the gift of the Holy Spirit to his apostles.

34 free?* Jesus answered them, Verily, verily I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin, is 35 the servant of sin. And the servant abideth

not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth 36 ever. If the Son therefore shall make you 37 free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's offspring: but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father and ye do that which ye have seen with 39 your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would 40 do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me; a man who hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God; this did not Abra41 ham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then

they said to him, We are not born of fornica42 tion: we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father,† ye would love me: for I proceed forth and came from God; I did not come of myself, but he 43 sent me. Why do ye not understand my discourse? It is because ye cannot hear my doc44 trine. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye. will do. He was a

The Jews thought they had no need of instruction or reformation, as they had the law of Moses, and were des@endants of Abraham. But Christ taught them that they were in error, and under the power of sin, and therefore needed the benefit of his doctrine as well as the rest of the world.

If ye treated God as your Father, and possessed the disposition he requires of his children, if ye were humble, candid and obedient.

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. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe 46 me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe He who is of God, heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because 48 ye are not of God. Then the Jews said unto

47 me?

him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, 49 and hast a demon?* Jesus answered, I have

not a demon; but I honor my Father, and ye do 50 dishonor nie. And I seek not mine own

glory there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily I say unto you, if a man keep 52 my saying, he shall never see death.† Then

the Jews said unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man adhere to my doctrine, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? The prophets also are dead: 54 whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered,

If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honoreth me, of whom ye say, 55 that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I

* By thus characterizing Jesus, they meant to reproach him as one who was distracted, or impious. See chap. x. 20. The charge was, that he was assisted by an evil spirit, and was a magician, and not a true prophet.

The Jews and Arabians had a proverb to this effectthat the good live, though in the abodes of death; and that the wicked were dead, even whilst they lived.

« السابقةمتابعة »