Jesus Teaches at the Feast

7 After this, Jesus walked [from place to place] in Galilee, for He would not walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. ² Now the Jewish ^[a]Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) was approaching. ³ So His ^[b]brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples [there] may also see the works that You do. ⁴ No one does anything in secret when he wants to be known publicly. If You [must] do these things, show Yourself openly to the world and make Yourself known!” ⁵ For not even His brothers believed in Him. ⁶ So Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come; but any time is right for you. ⁷ The world cannot hate you [since you are part of it], but it does hate Me because I denounce it and testify that its deeds are evil. ⁸ Go up to the feast yourselves. I am not going up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” ⁹ Having said these things to them, He stayed behind in Galilee.

¹⁰ But [afterward], when His brothers had gone up to the feast, He went up too, not publicly [with a caravan], but quietly [because He did not want to be noticed]. ¹¹ So the Jews kept looking for Him at the feast and asking, “Where is He?” ¹² There was a lot of whispered discussion and murmuring among the crowds about Him. Some were saying, “He is a good man”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He misleads the people [giving them false ideas].” ¹³ Yet no one was speaking out openly and freely about Him for fear of [the leaders of] the Jews.

¹⁴ When the feast was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple [court] and began to teach. ¹⁵ Then the Jews were perplexed. They said, “How ^[c]did this man become learned [so versed in the Scriptures and theology] ^[d]without formal training?” ¹⁶ Jesus answered them by saying, “My teaching is not My own, but His who sent Me. ¹⁷ If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is of God or whether I speak on My own accord and by My own authority. ¹⁸ He who speaks on his own accord seeks glory and honor for himself. But He who seeks the glory and the honor of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness or deception in Him.

¹⁹ “Did not Moses give you the Law? And yet not one of you keeps the Law. Why do you want to kill Me [for not keeping it]?” ²⁰ The crowd answered, “You have a demon [You are out of Your mind]! Who wants to kill You?” ²¹ Jesus replied, “I did one ^[e]work, and you are all astounded.^{(A) 22} For this reason Moses has given you [God’s law regarding] circumcision (not that it originated with Moses, but with the patriarchs) and you circumcise a man [even] on the Sabbath. ²³ If, to avoid breaking the Law of Moses, a man undergoes ^[f]circumcision on the Sabbath, why are you angry with Me for making a man’s whole body well on the Sabbath? ²⁴ Do not judge by appearance [superficially and arrogantly], but judge fairly and righteously.”

²⁵ Then some of the people of Jerusalem said, “Is this not the Man they want to kill? ²⁶ Look, He is speaking publicly, and they say nothing to Him! Is it possible that the rulers really know that this is the Christ? ²⁷ But we know where this Man is from; whenever the Christ comes, no one will know where He is from.” ²⁸ Then Jesus called out as He taught in the temple, “You know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come on my own initiative [as self-appointed], but He who sent Me is true, and Him you do not know. ²⁹ I know Him Myself because I am from Him [I came from His very presence] and it was He [personally] who sent Me.” ³⁰ So they were eager to arrest Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His time had not yet come. ³¹ But many from the crowd believed in Him. And they kept saying, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs and exhibit more proofs than this Man?”

³² The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things [under their breath] about Him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent ^[g]guards to arrest Him. ³³ Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am [still] with you, and then I go to Him who sent Me. ³⁴ You will look for Me, and will not [be able to] find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” ³⁵ Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does this Man intend to go that we will not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion [of Jews scattered and living] among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? ³⁶ What does this statement of His mean, ‘You will look for Me, and will not [be able to] find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”

³⁷ Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! ³⁸ He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’”^{(B) 39} But He was speaking of the [Holy] Spirit, whom those who believed in Him [as Savior] were to receive afterward. The Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).

Division of People over Jesus

⁴⁰ Listening to these words, some of the people said, “This is certainly the Prophet!”^{(C) 41} Others said, “This is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)!” But others said, “Surely the Christ is not going to come out of Galilee, is He? ⁴² Does the Scripture not say that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”^{(D) 43} So the crowd was divided because of Him. ⁴⁴ Some of them wanted to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

⁴⁵ Then the guards went [back] to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring Him [here with you]?” ⁴⁶ The guards replied, “Never [at any time] has a man talked the way this Man talks!” ⁴⁷ Then the Pharisees said to them, “Have you also been deluded and swept off your feet? ⁴⁸ Has any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him? ⁴⁹ But this [ignorant, contemptible] crowd that does not know the Law is accursed and doomed!” ⁵⁰ Nicodemus (the one who came to Jesus before and was one of them) asked, ⁵¹ “Does our Law convict someone without first giving him a hearing and finding out what he is [accused of] doing?” ⁵² They responded, “Are you also from Galilee? Search [and read the Scriptures], and see [for yourself] that no prophet comes from Galilee!” ^53 [h][And everyone went to his own house.

The Adulterous Woman

8 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ² Early in the morning He came back into the temple [court], and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began teaching them. ³ Now the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. They made her stand in the center of the court, ⁴ and they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of adultery. ⁵ Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women [to death]. So what do You say [to do with her—what is Your sentence]?”^{(E) 6} They said this to test Him, hoping that they would have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and began writing on the ground with His finger. ⁷ However, when they persisted in questioning Him, He straightened up and said, “He who is without [any] sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”^{(F) 8} Then He stooped down again and started writing on the ground. ⁹ They listened [to His reply], and they began to go out one by one, starting with the oldest ones, until He was left alone, with the woman [standing there before Him] in the center of the court. ¹⁰ Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” ¹¹ She answered, “No one, Lord!” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]

Jesus Is the Light of the World

¹² Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “^[i]I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” ¹³ Then the Pharisees told Him, “You are testifying on Your own behalf; Your testimony is not valid.” ¹⁴ Jesus replied, “Even if I do testify on My own behalf, My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. ¹⁵ You judge according to ^[j]human standards [just by what you see]. I do not judge anyone. ¹⁶ But even if I do judge, My judgment is true and My decision is right; for I am not alone [in making it], but I and the Father who sent Me [make the same judgment]. ¹⁷ Even in your own law it is written that the testimony of two persons is true [valid and admissible].^{(G) 18} I am One [of the Two] who testifies about Myself, and My Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” ¹⁹ Then the Pharisees said to Him, “Where is this Father of Yours?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” ²⁰ Jesus said these things in the treasury, as He taught in the temple [courtyard]; and no one seized Him, because His time had not yet come.

²¹ Then He said again to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, and you will die [unforgiven and condemned] in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” ²² So the Jews were asking [among themselves], “Will He kill Himself? Is that why He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” ²³ He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. ²⁴ That is why I told you that you will die [unforgiven and condemned] in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am the One [I claim to be], you will die in your sins.”^{(H) 25} So they said to Him, “Who are You [anyway]?” Jesus replied, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning? ²⁶ I have many things to say and judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I say to the world [only] the things that I have heard from Him.” ²⁷ They did not realize [or have the spiritual insight to understand] that He was speaking to them about the Father. ²⁸ So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man [on the cross], you will know then [without any doubt] that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own authority, but I say these things just as My Father taught Me. ²⁹ And He who sent Me is [always] with Me; He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.” ³⁰ As He said these things, ^[k]many believed in Him.

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. ^[l]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 ^[m]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 ^[n]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). ^[o]He saw it and was delighted.”^{(I) 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, ^[p]I Am.”^{(J) 59} So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus concealed Himself and left the temple.