Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 8:49
Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honor my Father, and ye do dishonor me.
49. I have not a devil ] He does not notice the charge of being a Samaritan. For Him it contained nothing offensive, for He knew that Samaritans might equal or excel Jews (Joh 4:39-42; Luk 10:33; Luk 17:16) in faith, benevolence, and gratitude. There is an emphasis on ‘I,’ but the meaning of the emphasis is not ‘ I have not a demon, but ye have.’ Rather it means ‘ I have not a demon, but honour My Father; while you on the contrary dishonour My Father through Me.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I have not a devil – To the first part of the charge, that he was a Samaritan, he did not reply. To the other part he replied by saying that he honored his Father. He taught the doctrines that tended to exalt God. He taught that he was holy and true. He sought that men should love him and obey him. All his teaching proved this. An evil spirit would not do this, and this was sufficient proof that he was not influenced by such a spirit.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 49. I have not a devil] The first part of the charge was too futile: if taken literally, it was both absurd and impossible; they did not believe it themselves, and therefore our Lord does not stop a moment to refute it; but he answers to the second with the utmost meekness and conclusiveness: I honour God. This is what no demon can do, nor any man who is under such influence.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I have not a devil; that is, I am not possessed with an evil spirit, as you blaspheme; or, (as others think), I am not mad, I speak the words of truth and soberness, (for it is said, that the Jews held an opinion, That all who were distracted were influenced by all evil spirit, and had a devil). It is true in both senses, Christ had no devil. He did nothing that he did, but for the honour of his Father; this was but a term of scandal and reproach they cast upon Christ. In the mean time it must be observed, with how much meekness the Lamb of God received these most unworthy reproaches cast upon him; that we may learn to behave ourselves in like manner under such temptations.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
49. Jesus answered, I have not adevilWhat calm dignity is here! Verily, “when reviled, Hereviled not again” (1Pe 2:23).Compare Paul (Ac 26:25), “Iam not mad,” c. He adds not, “Nor am I a Samaritan,”that He might not even seem to partake of their contempt for a racethat had already welcomed Him as the Christ, and began to be blessedby Him.
I honour my Father, and ye dodishonour methe language of wounded feeling. But theinterior of His soul at such moments is only to be seen insuch prophetic utterances as these, “For thy sake I have bornereproach shame hath covered my face; I am become a strangerunto my brethren, an alien unto my mother’s children. For the zeal ofthine house hath eaten me up, and the reproaches of them thatreproached thee are fallen upon me” (Ps69:7-9).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Jesus answered, I have not a devil,…. He takes no notice of the first charge and scandalous character, that he was a Samaritan; it being so notorious to all the Jews, that he was not; but was, as they supposed, a Galilean, and of Nazareth; and besides, this was a term of reproach, which they gave to any man, that they had no good opinion of; just as we call a man a Turk, or a Jew; not meaning that he is in fact such an one, but behaves like one: to the other Christ replies, that he had not a devil, had no conversation with one, nor was he possessed or assisted by him, or was mad, and acted the part of a madman: in proof of which he observes,
but I honour my Father; by ascribing his doctrine and miracles to him, by doing his will, seeking his glory, and speaking well of him; all which he would not, had he been in confederacy with the devil; for no man can be familiar with him, or be assisted by him, and honour God; nor could a man out of his senses do all this:
and ye do dishonour me: by such wicked charges, and scandalous imputations: and Jews, who deny Jesus to be the Messiah, and treat him in this opprobrious manner, are not the only persons that dishonour Christ; there are many that are called by his name, who greatly dishonour him; some by their bad principles, and others by their evil practices: such highly reflect upon him, who deny his proper deity, and eternal sonship; who assert, that he is only God by office, and did not exist before his incarnation; who despise and reject his righteousness, submit not to it, but establish their own; who account his blood as common and useless, and speak disrespectfully of his sacrifice and satisfaction; and who consider his sufferings and death only as an example to men, and for the confirmation of his doctrine, but not as in the room and stead of his people, to answer and satisfy divine justice for them: and others they dishonour him, though they talk much of him, and pretend to faith in him, and love to him, and hope of eternal life by him, through their scandalous lives and conversations; dishonour his name and Gospel; give the enemy an occasion to reproach and blaspheme, and by reason of them, the ways and truths of Christ are evil spoken of.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
I have not a demon ( ). This Jesus says calmly, passing by the reference to the Samaritans as beneath notice.
My Father ( ). As in 2:16. He is not mad in claiming to honour God (cf. 7:18). They were insulting the Father in insulting him (cf. 5:23). On ( privative and , to dishonour) see Lu 20:11.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
I have not a devil. He ignores the charge of being a Samaritan, refusing to recognize the national distinction. For devil read demon.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Jesus answered, I have not a devil: (apekrithe lesous ego daimonion ouk echo) “Jesus replied forthright, I have not a demon,” or devil, which many of you all deny exist in the first place. But you are such liars and deceivers you will try to tie me to a devil, simply reflecting your own attachment to your father the devil and his deranged demons, Joh 8:44; 1Jn 3:8; 1Jn 3:10.
2) “But I honour my Father,” (alla timo ton patera mou) “But instead I honour my Father,” Joh 5:41; Joh 12:28. He did this in seeking always to please Him, Luk 22:42; Joh 5:30; Joh 6:38.
3) “And ye do dishonour me.” (kai humeis atimazete me) “And ye all dishonor me,” in not only rejecting my testimony, in word and miraculous deeds, but also in attempting to besmirch my reputation. Rejecting my virgin birth, you circulate insinuations that I am a bastard, born of fornication, then also try to spread the rumor that I am an unclean Samaritan, and had an intimate encounter with a Samaritan woman, Joh 8:41; Joh 8:48.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
49. I have not a devil. He passes by the first charge, and clears himself only of the second. Some think that he did so, because he disregarded the insult offered to his person, and undertook only the defense of the doctrine. But they are mistaken, in my opinion; for it is not probable that the Jews were so ingenious in distinguishing between the life and the doctrine of the Lord Jesus. (244) Besides, the dislike of this name arose, as we have said, from this circumstance, that the Samaritans, being perverse and degenerate observers of the Law, had debased it by many superstitions and corruptions, and had polluted the whole worship of God by foreign inventions. Augustine flies to allegory, and says that Christ did not refuse to be called a Samaritan, because he is a true guardian of his flock. But Christ’s intention appears to me to have been different; for since the two reproaches cast upon him had the same object, by refuting the one, he refutes the other; and, indeed, if the matter be duly considered, they insulted him more grievously by calling him a Samaritan than by calling him a demoniac But, as I have already said, Christ satisfies himself with a simple refutation, which he draws from what is contrary, when he asserts that he labors to promote the honor of his Father; for he who duly and sincerely honors him must be guided by the Spirit of God, and must be a faithful servant of God.
You have dishonored me. This clause may be explained, as if it were a complaint of Christ, that he does not receive the honor due to him on account of his promoting the glory of God. But I think that he looks much higher, and connects the glory of the Father with his own, in this manner. “I claim nothing for myself which does not tend to the glory of God; for his majesty shines in me, his power and authority dwells in me; and therefore, when you treat me so disdainfully, you pour contempt on God himself.” He immediately adds, therefore, that God will revenge this insult. For they might have alleged that he was ambitious, if he had not testified that it was not from any personal feelings of a carnal nature that he cared about the honor or contempt showed to himself, but so far as the honor or contempt of God is concerned. Besides, though we are at a great distance from Christ, let every man be fully convinced that, if he be sincerely desirous to promote the glory of God, he will find that God has secured for him abundant commendation; for we shall always find that saying to be true,
Those who honor me, I will render honorable, (1Sa 2:30.)
If men not only despise, but even load him with reproaches, let him calmly wait till the day of the Lord come.
(244) “ Du Seigneur Jesus.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(49) Jesus answered, I have not a devil.One of the disciples, who was probably present on this day, and heard these words, speaks of Christ our example, who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously (1Pe. 2:23). The charge of being a Samaritan He passes over. His words soon after taught that a Samaritan may be more truly the child of God than priest or Levite is. The statement that He is possessed by an evil power from the spirit world He denies.
I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.There is a connection between all His works and words and the unseen world. It is the union of Father and Son, and His life had been the constant honouring of the Father, whose will it was His meat to do (Joh. 4:31). Their works and words were as constantlyand this last calumny is an instance of itdishonouring Him. The contrast suggests that this dishonour was not of Him only; but also of the Father whom He honoured, and whom they claimed as their God.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
49. Have not Simple, firm, explicit denial without retort.
Honour my Father The divine within me, not the diabolic. He honours the Father (42) in attributing all that is divine in himself to Him, and vindicating Him from all paternity to them.
Ye do dishonour me In attributing my divinity to the devil.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Jesus answered, ‘I am not demon-possessed, but I honour my Father and you dishonour me. Yet I do not seek my own glory, for there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge’.
Jesus denied their charge. Rather than being demon possessed it was He Who truly honoured the Father. That was patently something that no demon possessed person would do. Furthermore He wanted them to know that He was not fighting for His own honour. There was Another Who would defend His honour. And that One was the Judge of all men. And as such He was seeking to glorify Jesus. By seeking to dishonour Jesus, therefore, the Judaisers were attacking God Himself.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
Ver. 49. I have not a devil ] This crime touched his doctrine (as the other his person only), therefore he makes answer to it; but no otherwise than by a simple denial, which in some cases is sufficient. Didicit ille maledicere, et ego contemnere, That one determine to slander and I distain him, in Tacitus. If a wise man speak evil of thee, endure him; if a fool, pardon him, saith another. If Genebrard rail upon Calvin, if Bolsecus or Baldwin call him twenty devils, he can slight or pity them. As, if Luther call me a devil, saith he, yet I will honour him as a servant of God. A reviler, as he affirmeth without reason, so he may be dismissed without refutation.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
49. ] The former term of reproach Jesus passes over (“cum jam inter Samaritanos haberet, qui in eum credebant.” Lampe; but qu.?), and mildly answers ( 1Pe 2:23 ) the malicious charge of having a devil, by an appeal to his whole life and teaching (see ch. Joh 4:34 ), which was not the work of one having a devil. There is no retort of the charge in the emphatic , as Cyr [136] and Lcke; this, as Meyer observes, would have required . At present the followed by only brings out the two parties into stronger contrast.
[136] Cyril, Bp. of Alexandria, 412 444
. . . ] The and correspond strictly to the and of the preceding verse. ‘Our mutual relation is not that, but this: that I honour Him that sent me, and ye, in dishonouring me, dishonour Him.’ It is the same contrast, the and , as before, Joh 8:47 , which lies at the root.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 8:49 . , possessed, or crazed. Cf. Joh 10:20 . To this Jesus replies: . The is emphatic in contrast to the expressed of the last clause; “I am not out of my mind, but all I do and say springs from my desire to honour my Father, while you for your part and on this very account dishonour me”. This dishonour does not stir His resentment, because (Joh 8:50 ) , “I am not seeking my own glory”. Cf. Joh 5:41 . Nevertheless His glory is not to be carelessly slighted and turned into reproach (Psa 4:2 ) for , “there is who seeketh it and judgeth” (Joh 8:22-23 ).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
honour. Compare Joh 5:23.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
49.] The former term of reproach Jesus passes over (cum jam inter Samaritanos haberet, qui in eum credebant. Lampe; but qu.?), and mildly answers (1Pe 2:23) the malicious charge of having a devil, by an appeal to his whole life and teaching (see ch. Joh 4:34), which was not the work of one having a devil. There is no retort of the charge in the emphatic , as Cyr[136] and Lcke; this, as Meyer observes, would have required . At present the followed by only brings out the two parties into stronger contrast.
[136] Cyril, Bp. of Alexandria, 412-444
. . . ] The and correspond strictly to the and of the preceding verse. Our mutual relation is not that, but this: that I honour Him that sent me, and ye, in dishonouring me, dishonour Him. It is the same contrast, the and , as before, Joh 8:47, which lies at the root.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 8:49. , I honour My Father) by making manifest His name.- ) and ye notwithstanding.- , treat me with insult) This they had done at Joh 8:48.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 8:49
Joh 8:49
Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and ye dishonor me.-Jesus insisted that he honored the Father by doing his will, and that they dishonored him by the charges brought against him.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
devil
demon. (See Scofield “Mat 7:22”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
I have not: Pro 26:4, Pro 26:5, 1Pe 2:23
but: Joh 8:29, Joh 11:4, Joh 12:28, Joh 13:31, Joh 13:32, Joh 14:13, Joh 17:4, Isa 42:21, Isa 49:3, Mat 3:15-17, Phi 2:6-11
Reciprocal: 1Sa 2:30 – them Psa 69:19 – dishonour Joh 2:16 – my Joh 7:18 – that speaketh Joh 9:24 – Give Act 26:25 – I am not Heb 12:3 – contradiction Jam 2:6 – ye
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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A sober denial of their charge was the first reply of Jesus. He then made a logical statement, based on his relation to God. Jesus honored his Father and they dishonored Him (Jesus). That was the same as accusing them of dishonoring God also, although these Jews made great claims of respect for God.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 8:49. Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. His answer is a simple denial of the graver accusation of the two, and also such an assertion regarding His thought and purpose as was equivalent to a denial of all such charges. He honours His Father,even in the very words which had seemed to them an insult to God Himself. It is ye, He adds, that are dishonouring me: it is not I who (like Samaritans) dishonour you.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Jesus soberly denied their charge. His claims resulted from His faithfulness to His Father, not from demonic influence. Jesus’ aim was to honor His Father by faithfully carrying out His will. The Jews’ goal was to disgrace Jesus. They tried to do this by rejecting the testimony that the Father sent through Him.