John 8:16-42

I Am the Light of the World

16 Yet even if I do judge, w my judgment is true, for x it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father 1 who sent me. 17 y In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and z the Father who sent me bears witness about me." 19 They said to him therefore, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, a "You know neither me nor my Father. b If you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20 These words he spoke in c the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but d no one arrested him, because e his hour had not yet come.

21 So he said to them again, f "I am going away, and g you will seek me, and h you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come." 22 So the Jews said, i "Will he kill himself, since he says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?" 23 He said to them, j "You are from below; I am from above. k You are of this world; l I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you m would die in your sins, for n unless you believe that o I am he you will die in your sins." 25 So they said to him, p "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but q he who sent me is true, and I declare r to the world s what I have heard from him." 27 They did not understand that t he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, "When you have u lifted up the Son of Man, v then you will know that w I am he, and that x I do nothing on my own authority, but y speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And z he who sent me is with me. z He has not left me alone, for a I always do the things that are pleasing to him." 30 As he was saying these things, b many believed in him.

The Truth Will Set You Free

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, c "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will d know the truth, and the truth e will set you free." 33 They answered him, f "We are offspring of Abraham 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, g everyone who commits sin is a slave 2 to sin. 35 h The slave does not remain in the house forever; i the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet j you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 k I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard l from your father."

You Are of Your Father the Devil

39 They answered him, m "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, n "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now o you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth p that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did." They said to him, q "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have r one Father - even God." 42 Jesus said to them, s "If God were your Father, you would love me, for t I came from God and u I am here. v I came not of my own accord, but w he sent me.

  1. Cross References
    John 5:30
    I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
  2. Cross References
    John 8:29
    And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.
    John 16:32
    Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
  3. Cross References
    Numbers 35:30
    If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
  4. Cross References
    John 5:37
    And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen.
  5. Cross References
    John 8:55
    But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.
    John 16:3
    And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.
  6. Cross References
    John 14:7
    If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.
  7. Cross References
    Matthew 27:6
    But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.
  8. Cross References
    John 7:30
    So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.
  9. Cross References
    John 7:8
    You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.
  10. Cross References
    John 14:28
    You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
    John 14:2 - 3
    In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
    John 16:7
    Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
  11. Cross References
    John 7:34
    You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.
  12. Cross References
    John 8:24
    I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.
    Ezekiel 3:18
    If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
    Ezekiel 33:8
    If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
  13. Cross References
    John 7:35
    The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?
  14. Cross References
    John 8:44
    You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
    John 3:31
    He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.
  15. Cross References
    1 John 4:5
    They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.
  16. Cross References
    John 17:14
    I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
    John 17:16
    They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
  17. Cross References
    John 8:21
    So he said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.
  18. Cross References
    John 16:9
    Concerning sin, because they do not believe in me.
  19. Cross References
    Mark 13:6
    Many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray.
    Luke 21:8
    And he said, "See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them.
  20. Cross References
    John 1:19
    And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?
  21. Cross References
    John 3:33
    Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.
    John 7:28
    So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know.
    Romans 3:4
    By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.
  22. Cross References
    John 18:20
    Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.
  23. Cross References
    John 8:40
    But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.
    John 15:15
    No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
    John 3:32
    He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.
    Revelation 1:1
    The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John.
  24. Cross References
    John 8:18
    I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.
    John 8:26
    I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.
  25. Cross References
    John 3:14
    And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.
    John 12:32
    And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
    John 12:34
    So the crowd answered him, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?
  26. Cross References
    John 16:8 - 11
    And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
  27. Cross References
    John 8:24
    I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.
  28. Cross References
    John 5:30
    I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
  29. Cross References
    John 7:16
    So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
  30. Cross References
    John 8:16
    Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.
    John 16:32
    Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
    Acts 10:38
    How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
    John 10:38
    But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.
  31. Cross References
    John 8:16
    Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.
    John 16:32
    Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
    Acts 10:38
    How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
    John 10:38
    But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.
  32. Cross References
    John 4:34
    Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
    John 5:30
    I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
    John 6:38
    For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
    1 John 3:22
    And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
  33. Cross References
    John 7:31
    Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, "When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?
  34. Cross References
    John 15:7 - 8
    If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
    2 John 1:9
    Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
  35. Cross References
    2 John 1:1
    The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth.
  36. Cross References
    John 8:36
    So if the Son sets you free, you will be free i...
    Romans 6:18
    And, having been set free from sin, have become...
    Romans 6:22
    But now that you have been set free from sin an...
    Romans 8:2
    For the law of the Spirit of life has set you f...
    1 Corinthians 7:22
    For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is...
    2 Corinthians 3:17
    Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spiri...
    Galatians 5:1
    For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm ...
    Galatians 5:13
    For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only ...
    James 1:25
    But the one who looks into the perfect law, the...
    James 2:12
    So speak and so act as those who are to be judg...
    1 Peter 2:16
    Live as people who are free, not using your fre...
  37. Cross References
    John 8:37
    I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.
    John 8:39
    They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did.
    Matthew 3:9
    And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
    Luke 19:9
    And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.
    Romans 9:7
    And not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.
  38. Cross References
    Romans 6:16 - 20
    Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
    Titus 3:3
    For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
    2 Peter 2:19
    They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
  39. Cross References
    Genesis 21:10
    So she said to Abraham, "Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.
    Galatians 4:30
    But what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.
  40. Cross References
    Luke 15:31
    And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
  41. Cross References
    John 8:40
    But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.
    John 7:1
    After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.
  42. Cross References
    John 3:32
    He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.
    John 5:19
    So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
    John 6:46
    Not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.
  43. Cross References
    John 8:41
    You are doing the works your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father - even God.
    John 8:44
    You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
  44. Cross References
    John 8:33
    They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?
    John 8:56
    Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.
  45. Cross References
    Galatians 3:7
    Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
    Galatians 3:9
    So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
  46. Cross References
    John 8:37
    I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.
  47. Cross References
    John 8:26
    I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.
  48. Cross References
    Hosea 2:4
    Upon her children also I will have no mercy, because they are children of whoredom.
  49. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:6
    Do you thus repay the Lord, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?
    Isaiah 63:16
    For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.
    Isaiah 64:8
    But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
    John 8:47
    Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.
  50. Cross References
    1 John 5:1
    Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.
  51. Cross References
    1 John 5:20
    And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
    Hebrews 10:9
    Then he added, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He does away with the first in order to establish the second.
  52. Cross References
    John 16:28
    I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.
    John 17:8
    For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
  53. Cross References
    John 7:28
    So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know.
  54. Cross References
    John 3:17
    For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.