Explanation of John 8
Door Rev. John Clowes M.A.
Explaining the Inner Meaning of John 8
Verses 8:1, 2. That the Lord elevated himself into his divine love, and filling his humanity with that love, he excites mutual love in the church, and from that love imparts heavenly truth.
Verses 8:3, 4, 5. On which occasion he is questioned by those, who are principled in self-intelligence and self-love, concerning the punishment due to the perversion of the affection of good in the church, which punishment, according to the Word, was deprivation of the truths of faith.
Verses 8:6, 7. But this enquiry proceeds from a purpose of deceit and evil, and therefore the Lord pronounces them damned who make it, and when the enquiry is still persisted in, he announces from his divine love, that the punishment due to the perversion of good, does not come from good, but from the perverting evil.
Verse 8:8. And therefore they are damned, who are in the perverting evil.
Verse 8:9. And in consequence of that evil, they become mere external men, without mutual love, according to the several degrees in which they have confirmed themselves in evil, separating themselves from the Lord, and from the affection of good.
Verses 8:10, 11. That on this occasion the Lord's divine love to the church is excited, and from perception of the separation of those who were in evil, the church is led to enquire concerning the accusations of evil spirits, and the condemnation which they bring, and is thus taught, that no evil condemns, which is not seen to be sinful; but when it is seen to be sinful, then it must no longer be persisted in.
Verse 8:12. Instruction is also given, that the Lord in his Divine Humanity is the divine truth itself, and that whoever acknowledges his humanity to be divine, and does his precepts, shall be preserved from falsities, and shall be principled in divine truths, which teach man eternal life, and lead to heaven.
Verse 8:13. But this instruction is rejected, as contrary to the truth, by those who are principled in self-love, and who contend, that truth cannot be its own testimony.
Verse 8:14. They are therefore instructed further, that the truth carries its own testimony along with it, because it acknowledges its divine origin, and divine end, whereas they, who are principled in self-love, know neither the origin nor the end of truth.
Verse 8:15. Thus they are guided merely by their own self-derived intelligence, which condemns all that are opposed to itself, whereas divine truth united with divine good condemns no one.
Verse 8:16. Nevertheless divine truth exercises just judgement, but then it is a judgement not derived from truth alone, but from divine good in union with it.
Verse 8:17. Agreeable to what the Word teaches, in the internal sense, concerning the testimony of two men.
Verse 8:18. Thus the Lord's humanity, which is divine truth, and his divinity, which is divine good, bear united testimony to the truth.
Verse 8:19. That they of the perverted church, who are principled in self love, are hence led to enquire concerning the divine good, and are instructed that they are ignorant both of divine truth and divine good, and that had they been acquainted with divine truth, or the Lord's Divine Humanity, they would have been acquainted also with divine good, or his divinity.
Verse 8:20. That this instruction was from the knowledges of good and truth in the Lord's humanity, to which humanity no violence was as yet offered, because the period of its glorification was not yet arrived.
Verse 8:21. Therefore the Lord, in that humanity, testifies further concerning those who are principled in self-love, that he is about to leave the world, and that they will speculate concerning him, but still will destroy in themselves all heavenly life through their evils and falsities, and thus can have no communion with him.
Verses 8:22, 23. And when this testimony is misunderstood, he testifies yet further, that all, who are principled in self-love, are in connection with infernal spirits, and are also in worldly love, whereas his humanity is in connection with divinity, and thus undefiled by worldly love.
Verse 8:24. Therefore they, who are principled in self-love, separate themselves from the life of heaven, since such separation is a certain consequence of not acknowledging the Lord in his Divine Humanity to be Jehovah.
Verses 8:25, 26. That enquiry is hence excited amongst those who are of the perverted church, concerning the Lord's humanity, and they are instructed that it is the first and supreme of all principles, agreeable to its constant testimony, being in possession of all knowledge, by reason of its union with the divine good.
Verses 8:27, 28, 29. This however is not apprehended by them, and there fore they are instructed further, that when the humanity is glorified, or made divine, then it will be seen that it is essential life, and that all its operation and thought are from that life, and therefore the divinity is always present with the humanity, and the humanity never separated from divinity, since its operation is always in accord with the divine will.
Verses 8:30, 31, 32. That in consequence of this instruction, faith in the Lord's humanity is excited and prevails, and they, who receive it, are further taught, that if they continue to live according to his precepts, they will be taught of him, and will understand divine truth, and will thus be delivered from the bondage of sin.
Verse 8:33. This instruction however is rejected, and it is argued that since they are in possession of the Word, and were never in bondage to sin, it is to no purpose to speak to them about escaping that bondage.
Verses 8:34, 35. Therefore they are further instructed, that in the love of evil there is servitude, and that they who are in such servitude, cannot enter into heaven, which is open only to those who are in divine truth.
Verse 8:36. If then they are in divine truth, leading them to renounce evil love, then they will attain the true freedom, which consists in being led of the Lord.
Verses 8:37, 38. It is granted that they possess the Word, but inasmuch as they reject divine truth, it is a full proof that the truth of the Word is not received by them, since the truth of the Word is from the divine good, and therefore they, who reject it, cleave to what is false derived from infernal evil.
Verses 8:39, 40, and part of 41. Still they insist that they are regenerated of the Lord ; but they are again taught, that if they were regenerated of the Lord, they would love what the Lord loves, but that in rejecting divine truth, they oppose divine love, and by so doing prove themselves to be in infernal love.
Verses: part of 8:41, 42, 43. Still they insist that they are not principled in evils and falsities, but in divine truth; and therefore they are further instructed, that if they were principled in divine truth, they would love the Lord's humanity, because that humanity was from the divine truth, and is the divine truth; and the reason why they do not understand this, is, because they are not rightly affected towards the internal sense of the Word.
Verse 8:44. Therefore they are in the false of faith, and are thus in the cravings of evil, and destroyers of all intellectual truth, cherishing evil in the will, and the false principles thence derived in the understanding.
Verses 8:45, 46. On which account they reject the Lord in his humanity, although in his humanity he was essential purity, and ought to be believed in as essential truth.
Verse 8:47. For every one, who is principled in divine truth, lives in obedience to divine truth, and if any are disobedient, it is because they are not principled in divine truth.
Verses 8:48, 49. That the perverted church reject this instruction, as proceeding from ignorance of the Word, and from infernal agency, therefore they are further taught, that the Lord's humanity is not under infernal control, but under divine government, and is therefore rejected.
Verses 8:50, 51. And that it does not exalt itself, but is exalted and instructed by the essential divinity, and therefore whoever lives according to the Lord's precepts is delivered from damnation.
Verses 8:52, 53, 54. But this instruction is also rejected by the perverted church, through misinterpretation, and regarded as a further proof of infernal agency, and as exalting the Lord's humanity in an undue measure; therefore they are again taught, that if the humanity exalted itself, its exaltation is no exaltation, but that it is exalted by the Supreme Divinity, who is regarded in the church as the supreme teacher of truth.
Verse 8:55. Who yet is unknown in the church, and known only to the assumed humanity; therefore the humanity must testify to such knowledge, because it is the truth; thus it testifies that both in understanding and in will it is one with the Supreme Divinity.
Verse 8:56. And was accordingly seen in the representative church under a human form, exciting the affections both of truth and good.
Verses 8:57, 58. And notwithstanding appearances to the contrary, arising from its being born in time, is yet the Eternal Jehovah.
Verse 8:59. That this instruction is opposed by the false persuasions originating in the natural mind, which darken the truth in such a manner, that it is no longer seen, and therefore is unnoticed, though it is the central life of all men.
John 8
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but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
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Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them.
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The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst,
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they told him, "Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act.
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Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such. What then do you say about her?"
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They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.
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But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her."
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Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.
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They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle.
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Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, "Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?"
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She said, "No one, Lord." Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more."
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Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life."
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The Pharisees therefore said to him, "You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid."
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Jesus answered them, "Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don't know where I came from, or where I am going.
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You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.
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Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me.
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It's also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid.
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I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me."
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They said therefore to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me, nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also."
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Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
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Jesus said therefore again to them, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can't come."
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The Jews therefore said, "Will he kill himself, that he says, 'Where I am going, you can't come?'"
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He said to them, "You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world.
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I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins."
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They said therefore to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.
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I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world."
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They didn't understand that he spoke to them about the Father.
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Jesus therefore said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things.
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He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn't left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him."
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As he spoke these things, many believed in him.
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Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.
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You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
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They answered him, "We are Abraham's seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, 'You will be made free?'"
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Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.
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A bondservant doesn't live in the house forever. A son remains forever.
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If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
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I know that you are Abraham's seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.
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I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father."
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They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.
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But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn't do this.
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You do the works of your father." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God."
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Therefore Jesus said to them, "If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven't come of myself, but he sent me.
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Why don't you understand my speech? Because you can't hear my word.
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You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn't stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father.
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But because I tell the truth, you don't believe me.
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Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
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He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don't hear, because you are not of God."
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Then the Jews answered him, "Don't we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?"
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Jesus answered, "I don't have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.
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But I don't seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.
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Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death."
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Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, 'If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.'
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Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?"
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Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.
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You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, 'I don't know him,' I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word.
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Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad."
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The Jews therefore said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"
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Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."
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Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the midst of them, and so passed by.
