Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 8:29
And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
29. the Father hath not left me alone ] Here again we have an aorist, not a perfect; ‘ He left Me not alone ’ (‘the Father’ being omitted in the best MSS.). It will depend on the interpretation whether the aorist or perfect is to be used in English. If it refers to God sending the Messiah into the world, then we must keep the aorist; He left. But if it refers to Christ’s experience in each particular case, the perfect may be substituted: He hath left. In some cases it is the idiom in English to use the perfect where the aorist is used in Greek, and then to translate the Greek aorist by the English aorist would be misleading. See on Joh 16:32.
for I do always ] Or, because the things which are pleasing to Him I always do. ‘I’ and ‘always’ are emphatic; and ‘always’ literally means ‘on every occasion,’ which is somewhat in favour of the second interpretation in the preceding note. ‘He hath never left me alone, because in every case I do what pleaseth Him.’ The emphasis on ‘I’ is perhaps in mournful contrast to the Jews. In any case it is a distinct claim to Divinity. What blasphemous effrontery would such a declaration be in the mouth of any but the Incarnate Deity. The theory that Jesus was the noblest and holiest of teachers, but nothing more, shatters against such words as these. What saint or prophet ever dared to say, ‘The things which are pleasing to God I in every instance do?’ Comp. Joh 8:46. And if it be said, that perhaps Jesus never uttered these words, then it may also be said that perhaps He never uttered any of the words attributed to Him. We have the same authority for what is accepted as His as for what is rejected as not His. History becomes impossible if we are to admit evidence that we like, and refuse evidence that we dislike.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Is with me – In working miracles, etc.
Hath not left me alone – Though men had forsaken and rejected him, yet God attended him.
Those things that please him – See Mat 3:17; This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, Phi 2:8; Isa 53:10-12; 2Pe 1:17; Luk 3:22; Mat 17:5. His undertaking the work of redemption was pleasing to God, and he had the consciousness that in executing it he did those things which God approved. It is a small matter to have men opposed to us, if we have a conscience void of offence, and evidence that we please God. Compare Heb 11:5; Enoch – before his translation had this testimony that he pleased God. See also 1Co 4:3.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 29. The Father hath not left me alone] Though ye shalt have power to put me to death, yet this shall not be because he hath abandoned me. No-he is ever with me, because I do that which pleaseth him; and it is his pleasure that I should lay down my life for the salvation of the world. Does not our Lord allude to the following scriptures?-Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; my ears hast thou opened: (or, a body hast thou prepared me: Heb 10:5🙂 then said I, Lo, I come: this is written in the volume of the book concerning me. I delight to do thy will, O my God! Thy law is in my heart. Ps 40:6-8.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I have the presence of God with me, as I am Mediator; the Father hath not sent me into the world to do his will, and left me alone without his presence; for I do his will; I drive no separate design from my Father, but always do those things which please him. From whence all faithful ministers and Christians may learn how to conclude of Gods presence with them, which they can no longer promise to themselves, than they speak and do those things that please him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
29. the Father hath not left mealone; for I do always those things that please him, c.thatis, To you, who gnash upon Me with your teeth, and frown down allopen appearance for Me, I seem to stand uncountenanced and alone butI have a sympathy and support transcending all human applause; I camehither to do My Father’s will, and in the doing of it have not ceasedto please Him; therefore is He ever by Me with His approving smile,His cheering words, His supporting arm.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he that sent me is with me,…. By virtue of that near union there is between them, they being one in nature, essence, power, and glory, and by the gracious, powerful, comfortable, assisting, and strengthening presence of his Father, which he vouchsafed to him as man, and Mediator;
the Father hath not left me alone; Christ, as the word, was with the Father from all eternity, and, as the Son of God, was in heaven, and in the bosom of the Father, when he, as the son of man, was here on earth; for though he came forth from the Father into this world, by assumption of the human nature, yet the Father was always with him, and he with the Father, through the unity of the divine nature; nor did he withhold his supporting and assisting presence from him as man; nor did he withdraw, at least he had not yet withdrawn his gracious and comfortable presence from him, though he afterwards did, when upon the cross: compare with this Joh 16:32;
for I do always those things that please him; by submitting to Gospel ordinances, as to baptism, at which the Father declared his well pleasedness in him; and by complying with the ordinances of the ceremonial law, which were typical of him; and by perfectly obeying the precepts of the moral law, and bearing the penalty of it; or by suffering and dying in the room and stead of his people; all which were the will of God, and well pleasing to him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Is with me (‘ ). The Incarnation brought separation from the Father in one sense, but in essence there is complete harmony and fellowship as he had already said (8:16) and will expand in 17:21-26.
He hath not left me alone ( ). First aorist active indicative of . “He did not leave me alone.” However much the crowds and the disciples misunderstood or left Jesus, the Father always comforted and understood him (Mark 6:46; Matt 14:23; John 6:15).
That are pleasing to him ( ). This old verbal adjective, from , to please, in N.T. only here, Acts 6:2; Acts 12:3; 1John 3:32. The joy of Jesus was in doing the will of the Father who sent him (4:34).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
The Father. The best texts omit.
Alone. See ver. 16.
Those things that please Him [ ] . Literally, as Rev., the things that are pleasing to Him. Always [] closing the sentence, is emphatic. Jesus ‘ holy activity is habitual and continuous. See Joh 4:34.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And he that sent me is with me: (kai ho pempsas me met’ emou estin) “And the on who sent me is(exists) with me,” to comfort and assure through His words, deeds, and character, Joh 3:17; Luk 19:10.
2) “The Father hath not left me alone,” (ouk apheken me monon) “He did not leave me alone,” isolated from Him: 1) at my birth, when He sent angels to witness of my identity-, Luk 2:17-18; Heb 1:14; Hebrews 2) At my baptism, 3) At my transfiguration, Mat 17:5; or 4) In my miraculous deeds, Joh 4:36.
3) “For I do always those things that please him.” (hoti ego ta aresta auto poio pantote) “Because I do always the things that are pleasing to him,” Joh 4:34; Joh 6:38; See also Psa 49:7-8; Joh 17:4-5. Do I even try to please the Father and the Son always? Php_2:5-8.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
29. And he who hath sent me is with me. He again boasts that God, under whose guidance and authority he does every thing, will assist him, so that he shall not labor in vain and to no purpose, as if he had said, that the power of the Spirit of God accompanies his ministry. All faithful teachers ought to be endued with the same confidence, so as to entertain no doubt that the hand of God will be near them, when, with a pure conscience, they discharge such a ministry as he demands. For God does not furnish them with his word, in order that they may strike the air with an idle and useless sound, but makes his word successful by the secret efficacy of his Spirit, and at the same time guards them by his protection, that, when their enemies shall have been subdued, they may remain invincible against the whole world. And, indeed, if they judge of themselves and their own powers, they must give way every hour; so that the only method of pursuing is, to be convinced that they are supported by the hand of God.
Because I do always the things which please him. We must observe the reason why Christ declares that God is on his side, and that he will never be deprived of his assistance. It is, because he is regulated entirely by his will, and serves him in sincerity. For this is what he means by the word always, that he does not obey God only in part, but is entirely and unreservedly devoted to his service. Wherefore, if we desire to enjoy the same presence of God, our whole reason must be subjected to his authority; for if our senses hold the government in any degree, all our exertions will be fruitless, because the blessing of God will not be on them. And though for a time we may be delighted with the joyful prospect of success, yet the final result will be dismal.
The Father hath not left me alone By these words, he indirectly complains of the treachery of his nation, in which he found scarcely any that gave him their support. Yet he shows that he reckons this alone to be abundantly sufficient, that he has God to protect him. Such is the courage with which we ought to be animated in the present day, that we may not give way on account of the small number of believers; for, though the whole world be opposed to his doctrine, still we are not alone Hence, too, it is evident how foolish is the boasting of the Papists, who, while they neglect God, proudly boast of their vast numbers.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(29) The Father hath not left me alone.The Greek words mean exactly, the Father (or, as the better MSS. read, without change of meaning, He) left Me not alone, and they are sometimes taken to refer to the time of His mission into the world. The context rather points to their application to every moment of life. He was ever conscious of a Presence which they knew not of, but which the future should reveal to them. We shall find Him resting in this consciousness again when He looks on to the dark hour when the disciples shall be scattered every man to his own, and He shall be left as men would think alone. (Comp. Note on Joh. 16:32.)
For do always those things that please him.It would be less ambiguous to read, because I do always . . . The words furnish the reason for the presence of the Father in every act and moment of His life. All things done by Him at all times were in accordance with the Fathers will. In His human nature perpetual communion is conditioned by perpetual obedience. The same thought recurs in His words to the disciples in Joh. 15:10. Comp. also, on the relation of the Son to the Father, Note on Joh. 5:19.
Emphasis should be laid here upon the pronoun, for I do always. It was true of His human nature, as distinct from all others, that no act, at any moment of life, had cast its shadow on the brightness of the vision of the Fathers presence. Later in this same discourse (Joh. 8:46) He appeals to their knowledge of His holy life. Here, in words that none other in human form could ever utter, He appeals to His own consciousness of a life, every act of which was pleasing in the presence of God.
[(b) Jesus is Light (continued).
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True discipleship and freedom (Joh. 8:30-59).
Freedom by the Sons word (Joh. 8:30-36).
Natural and ethical sonship (Joh. 8:37-47).
Eternal life by the Sons word. The Sons eternity (Joh. 8:48-59).]
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
29. He is with me Did some of these listeners fabricate for a moment the theory that this lifting up, in Joh 8:28, was a kingly elevation to the Messianic throne; and the Father who was with him, etc., was the aid to his high design? We have, then, the key to the brief belief of the many of the next verse.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
In spite of His rejection by them He wants them to know that He is conscious that the Father is continually with Him. They may reject Him but His Father will not desert Him or leave Him on His own. Indeed He is with Him continually. For He is pleased with what He is doing. For as Jesus stresses, He always does what pleases Him. His whole life is given up to pleasing the Father.
His words remind us of the words of the Servant in Isa 42:1, and the words spoken by God at His baptism, ‘the one in whom I am well pleased’ (although the Greek words for ‘please’ are not the same). Jesus is the faithful Servant. Although He is facing approaching death His Father has not deserted Him, for He is doing His Father’s will. Though He may be ‘lifted up’ on the cross He will not be left alone, for He has been sent to be the One who would be led like a lamb to the slaughter that He may bear the sins of the world (Isa 53:6-7; Isa 53:10).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
Ver. 29. And he that sent me is with me ] So that I shall not labour altogether in vain, but accomplish the work that he hath given me to do. So shall all God’s faithful ministers (though they may think all their labour lost, and be ready to cry out, Eheu quam pingui macer est mihi taurus in arvo ). Yet, if they strive to do always those things that please him, he will both protect and prosper them.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
29. ] , aor. referring to the appointment of the Father by which His work was begun, and which the carries on through that work: see ch. Joh 16:32 .
, because ; not ‘for,’ as if what follows were merely a token that it is so (Olsh.). The . . is the very essential being of the Son, and is the cause why the Father is ever with Him.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 8:29 . . His fidelity to the purpose of the Father that sent Him secured His perpetual presence with Him. By His entire self-abnegation and freedom from self-will He gave room to the Spirit of the Father. Or, as Westcott supposes, the clause may give the evidence or sign of the preceding rather than its cause; and the meaning may be that the result of the Father’s presence is seen in the perfect correspondence of the conduct of the Son with the will of the Father.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
with. Greek. meta. App-104.
alone. Compare Joh 8:16.
I do always, &c. = I do the things pleasing to Him always. The last word in the sentence in the Greek emphasized by the Figure of speech Hyperbaton (App-6).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
29.] , aor. referring to the appointment of the Father by which His work was begun, and which the carries on through that work: see ch. Joh 16:32.
, because;-not for, as if what follows were merely a token that it is so (Olsh.). The . . is the very essential being of the Son, and is the cause why the Father is ever with Him.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Christ thus spake to his adversaries.
Joh 8:29. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone: for I do always those things that please him.
Brethren, what Christ could say, I trust many of his servants can also say in a like manner. He that sent me is with me. What power, what pleasure, must the presence of God give to his servants! The Father hath not left me alone. Oh! how blessed to feel that behind us is the sound of our Masters feet, and that in us is the temple of his presence! We cannot, however, say, as Christ did, I do always those things that please him, for, alas! we have the remembrance of sin this morning, and have to confess it in his sight. But let us also remember that he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.
Joh 8:30-31. As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
It is not a mere profession that makes a man a saint; there must be a continuance of well-doing. We bind lads apprentice for a little time, but no man belongs to Christ unless he belongeth to him for ever. There must be an entire giving up of ones self, in life and unto death, to the Lords cause.
Joh 8:32-34. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abrahams seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
There is this in the original, Whosoever maketh sin. It is not exactly, Whosoever committeth it, because if so, all would be the servants of sin, and God would have no sons at all. But it says in the original Whosoever maketh sin, that is, whosoever makes it his choice, and makes it the delight of his soul, whosoever doth this is the servant of sin, and is no son of God.
Joh 8:35. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
He may be in the house, and have slender privileges for a time, but these soon go away.
Joh 8:36. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
And give you the privileges of sons.
Joh 8:37-38. I know that ye are Abrahams seed, but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Men always act according to their natures. We shall find the polluted fountain sending forth filthy streams. We do not expect to hear sweet singing from a serpent, nor, on the other hand, do we expect hissing from the bird, but every creature is after its own kind. Christ, coming from the Father, reveals God: ungodly men, coming from the devil, reveal the devil.
Joh 8:39-42. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abrahams children, ye would do the works of Abraham 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. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him. We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
You would see in me a brother; you would perceive in me the attributes of God, and, being made like unto God as his sons, would, love the God-head in me.
Joh 8:43-44. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
Christ doth not speak very gentle words at all times. A deeply-rooted disease needs a sharp medicine, and he gives it. He uses the knife sometimes, and if there be a deadly ulcer that must be cut away, he knoweth how to do it with all the sternness of which his loving heart is capable.
Joh 8:44. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there was no truth in him.
The first murder was committed by his suggestion. Cain was guilty of it, but Satan instigated it. He hath ever been a man-killer, and so Christ says that inasmuch as they sought to kill him, they were worthy sons of their parent. There is no truth in him.
Joh 8:44. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own:
It is his own idiom. You may always know him by it.
Joh 8:44. For he is a liar, and the father of it.
The father of all liars, and of all lies.
Joh 8:45-46. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
Oh! matchless argument! Now were they silent indeed. His whole life was before them; he had not lived in secret and yet he could appeal to his whole life, from the first day even to this time, and say, Which of you convinceth me of sin? It is this that weakens our testimony for God that we are so imperfect and full of sin. Let us seek to imitate the Master, for the more clean we are from these imperfections, the more shall we be able to shut the mouths of our adversaries.
Joh 8:47-48. He that is of God heareth Gods words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil.
Always abuse your adversary if you cannot answer him: this is always the devils tactic. When he cannot overthrow religion, then he seeks to append opprobrious titles to those who profess it. It is an old and stale trick, and has lost much of its force. Our Saviour did not answer the accusation of his being a Samaritan, but inasmuch as what they said about his having a devil would touch his doctrine, he answered that.
Joh 8:49-51 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you. If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
The sting of it shall be taken away; he may fall asleep; he will do so, but he shall not see death.
Joh 8:52-56. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil Abraham is dead, and the prophets: and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say that he is your God: yet ye have not know him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.
There is a great force in the original language here, He was glad. There was an excessive joy which holy men had in looking forward to the coming of Christ. I do not think that we give ourselves enough room for joy in our religion. There are some persons who think it the right thing to restrain their emotions. They have no burstings forth of joy, and seldom a shout of sacred song. But oh! my brethren, if there is anything that deserves the flashing eye, and the leaping foot, and the bounding heart, it is the great truth that Jesus Christ has come into the world to save sinners, even the chief. Let us be glad so often as we make mention of his name.
Joh 8:57. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Why, he was hardly thirty, but sorrow had made him appear old.
Joh 8:58. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was I am.
Here he claims his Deity to the fullest extent, and those who can read the New Testament, and profess to believe it, and yet not see Christ as a claimant of Deity, must be sinfully blind.
Joh 8:59. Then, took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
This is always the sinners argument against the right: first, hard words, and then stones.
This exposition consisted of readings from Joh 8:29-59. Mar 14:1-9. Joh 12:1-7.
Fuente: Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible
Joh 8:29. , and) and so.- , hath not left me) The Prterite signifies that He is never at any time abandoned. The , always, corresponds to this.[226]-, because) Comp. ch. Joh 15:10, If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Fathers commandments, and abide in His love.- , the things, which are pleasing to Him) The same argument, by which the Jews were led to believe in Jesus Christ, serves also to prove the whole authority of Holy Scripture, and of the Christian religion. At all times, in all places, in every way, He requires of all, and teaches all, all those things, which are pleasing to God, and worthy of God.-, at all times) The Lord spake these things with the utmost sweetness).[227]
[226] In the next clause, i.e. I always please Him, therefore at no time does He leave me.-E. and T.
[227] Ver. 30, , believed) This was as it were the delicate bud of faith. But a severe conflict followed between good and evil, ver. 44.-V. g.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 8:29
Joh 8:29
And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him.-The ground for the Fathers presence with Jesus is that he always did the will of his Father. God is with all who do his will.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
he that sent: Joh 8:16, Joh 14:10, Joh 14:11, Joh 16:32, Isa 42:1, Isa 42:6, Isa 49:4-8, Isa 50:4-9, 2Ti 4:17, 2Ti 4:22
for: Joh 4:34, Joh 5:30, Joh 6:38, Joh 14:31, Joh 15:10, Joh 17:4, Isa 42:1, Isa 42:21, Mat 3:17, Mat 17:5, Heb 4:15, Heb 5:8, Heb 5:9, Heb 7:26, Heb 10:5-10, 1Jo 2:1
Reciprocal: Gen 7:5 – all that Num 6:12 – but the Deu 6:18 – shalt do Isa 50:5 – General Mat 3:15 – for Luk 2:49 – my Joh 3:11 – We speak Joh 5:43 – come Joh 8:49 – but Joh 8:55 – and keep Joh 11:42 – I knew Rom 8:8 – please Rom 15:3 – Christ Heb 3:2 – faithful 1Jo 3:22 – do 1Jo 4:9 – God sent
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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God was not with Jesus in person, but was in spirit, and gave evidence of it by supporting him in his great works. Jesus did not come into the world to do his own will, but, to do that of his Father. (See Heb 10:7.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 8:29. And he that sent me is with me: he left me not alone, because I do always the things that are pleasing to him. The words, I heard (Joh 8:26), taught (Joh 8:28), point back to the past, laying stress on the Divine commission received: they must not be so understood as to exclude a present fellowship with the Father, He that sent me is with me. When He sent the Son, He sent Him not away from Himself,not for a moment did He leave Him alone. The abiding presence of the Father is the consequence and the sign of the Sons habitual performance of the Fathers will. In all this Jesus is speaking as the Son of man, as the Sent of the Father. It is most interesting to compare the corresponding words of chap. 5, where the subject throughout is the Son of God. It will be seen how prominent are two thoughts in this chapter,the association of Jesus with the Father who sent Him (Joh 8:16; Joh 8:18; Joh 8:23; Joh 8:26; Joh 8:28-29; Joh 8:38; Joh 8:40; Joh 8:42; Joh 8:47; Joh 8:54-55), and the strong moral contrast between Jesus and the Jews (Joh 8:15; Joh 8:21; Joh 8:23-24; Joh 8:37-38; Joh 8:40, etc.). The observance of this will make clearer the links connecting the several parts.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
That is, he that sent and commissioned me for the great work of redemption, he is continually with me, both to assist and to accept me, I doing every thing that is agreeable to his holy will and pleasure.
Hence learn, 1. That the work of redemption in the hands of Jesus Christ, was a work well-pleasing to God the Father; the work itself was highly pleasing to him; and Christ’s way of managing it was well-pleasing also.
2. That the reason why it was thus well-pleasing to God, was, because he acted in a constant conformity to his Father’s will, kept to his Father’s commission, and executed his Father’s commands, doing always those things that pleaseth him.
Learn, 3. That as the Father and Christ were inseparable in respect of the unity of the divine essence; so the Father was always with Christ as Mediator, both to support and uphold him, to accept and reward him. The Father hath not left me alone, either in the doing of his will, or in the suffering of his pleasure.
Learn, 4. That those who desire the gracious and special presence of God with them in all conditions, particularly in times of sufferings and trouble; they must make it their care and study to please God, and to observe his will in all things: then God will be with them in his guiding presence, in his strengthening presence, in his comforting, in his quickening, in his sanctifying, sympathizing, and accepting, presence.