John 8:40 kjv
But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
John 8:40 nkjv
But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.
John 8:40 niv
As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.
John 8:40 esv
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 8:40 nlt
Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.
John 8 40 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 8:31 | Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples..." | Fulfillment of abiding in His word |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." | Jesus as the embodiment of truth |
| John 14:6 | Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." | Jesus as the sole truth |
| Galatians 5:1 | "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." | Spiritual freedom in Christ |
| Romans 8:2 | "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death." | Freedom from sin and death |
| 1 John 5:20 | "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." | Knowing the True God |
| Psalm 119:160 | "The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever." | The Word is truth |
| Jeremiah 10:10 | "But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting king. At his wrath the earth will tremble, and the nations will not withstand his indignation." | God as the True God |
| John 17:17 | "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." | God's Word as sanctifying truth |
| John 17:19 | "And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth." | Jesus' consecration for truth |
| 2 Corinthians 3:17 | "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." | Freedom through the Spirit |
| Colossians 1:13 | "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son," | Deliverance from darkness |
| Hebrews 10:16 | "I will put my laws into their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." | New Covenant truth |
| Acts 4:12 | "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." | Exclusivity of salvation in Jesus |
| Romans 6:22 | "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you bear leads to holiness, and the end of that is eternal life." | Freedom as service to God |
| Galatians 4:31 | "So, brothers, we are not children of an slave, but of the free woman." | Freedom from bondage |
| Ephesians 4:24 | "and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." | Living in true righteousness |
| 1 Peter 1:22 | "Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another deeply from a pure heart," | Obedience to the truth |
| John 8:32 | "and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." | Knowing and the effect of truth |
| John 15:7 | "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." | The result of abiding in Christ's words |
John 8 verses
John 8 40 Meaning
This verse states that Jesus spoke the truth and that truth has the power to set people free. He directly addresses those who have believed in Him, asserting that He will continue to abide in their words, meaning He will remain true to them, and that by knowing and abiding in His truth, they will experience genuine freedom.
John 8 40 Context
This verse is spoken by Jesus during a heated exchange with some of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, recorded in the Gospel of John chapter 8. Jesus had been teaching in the temple courts, and many people believed in Him. However, these leaders challenged His authority. Jesus engaged them in dialogue, explaining that true freedom comes not from Abrahamic lineage but from obedience to God's word and belonging to Him. The exchange intensifies, with Jesus rebuking their spiritual bondage to sin. He then makes a strong assertion about His relationship with the Father and His message of truth. Verse 40 directly follows Jesus stating, "I do not seek my own glory... there is One who seeks it and judges." This verse is crucial as it bridges Jesus' divine nature, His role as the revealer of truth, and the salvific power of that truth in granting true spiritual freedom from sin and spiritual death. The audience Jesus is directly addressing, the Jews who "believed in him," likely represent those open to His message but still needing a deeper understanding of His identity and the implications of His truth.
John 8 40 Word analysis
- "I": Refers to Jesus Christ, asserting His personal identity and authority.
- "have spoken": Denotes a past action with ongoing results. Jesus' words are definitive and foundational.
- "the truth": Refers to Jesus Himself (John 14:6) and the divine message He proclaims. It's objective reality, the gospel.
- "that which I have heard from God": Emphasizes Jesus' divine origin and His unique connection to the Father. His message is not His own invention but divinely revealed.
- "therefore": A logical connector, indicating that the following statement is a consequence of what Jesus has just stated.
- "you do": Refers to the action of hearing and accepting His words.
- "seek": Implies a deliberate pursuit or desire.
- "my": Possessive pronoun belonging to Jesus, indicating that the following "glory" is related to Him and His mission.
- "glory": In this context, it refers to honor, praise, and vindication. Jesus declares that He seeks the glory of God, not His own human glory. This contrasts with the leaders who sought their own honor.
- "but": A conjunction of contrast, setting up the following statement as a counterpoint.
- "he": Refers to God the Father, who seeks Jesus' glory.
- "who": A relative pronoun introducing the subject who seeks the glory.
- "has sent": Indicates God's commission and authority given to Jesus.
- "me": Jesus referring to Himself in the third person relative to the Father's action.
- "and": A conjunction connecting two actions.
- "judges": Refers to God's assessment and vindication of Jesus. This points to the ultimate accountability and affirmation of Jesus' divine mission.
John 8 40 Bonus section
The phrase "I have spoken the truth that I heard from God" can be understood as Jesus’ continuous reliance on the Father's revelation and will. It reflects His unique position as the Logos (Word) who was with God and was God (John 1:1). This intimate knowledge of God allowed Him to accurately represent Him and speak His will. The verse also alludes to the concept of divine judgment and vindication. God the Father’s seeking of Jesus' glory implies an endorsement and confirmation of His Son’s mission, an act of justice that will ultimately be revealed. This contrasts with the self-seeking often prevalent in human endeavors and spiritual leadership of that era.
John 8 40 Commentary
Jesus articulates the source and nature of His mission and message: they originate directly from God the Father. His purpose is not self-aggrandizement but the glorification of God, who sent Him. This establishes His absolute truthfulness and divine authority. The profound implication for the believers addressed is that by adhering to the words Jesus has spoken – words that are rooted in divine truth and that seek God's glory – they will be enabled to practice what is true, leading to genuine freedom from sin and spiritual bondage. It highlights a reciprocal relationship: Jesus abiding in their words means His truth sustains them, and they, in turn, should live by that truth. This internal transformation through God's truth is the ultimate liberty.