Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 8:30
As he spake these words, many believed on him.
30. many believed on him ] Nothing exasperated His opponents so much as His success; and therefore in leading us on to the final catastrophe, the Evangelist carefully notes the instances in which He won, though often only for a time, adherents and believers. See on Joh 6:15. Among these ‘many’ were some of the hierarchy ( Joh 8:51). Their faith, poor as it proves, is better than that of the many in Joh 2:23; belief that results from teaching is higher than that which results from miracles. Jesus recognises both its worth and its weakness, and applies a test, which might have raised it to something higher, but under which it breaks down.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Many believed on him – Such was the convincing nature and force of the truths which he presented, that they believed he was the Messiah and received his doctrine. While there were many that became more obstinate and hardened under his preaching, there were many, also, who by the same truth were made penitent and believing. The same sun that hardens the clay, softens the wax (Clarke).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 30. As he spake these words, many believed on him.] The same sun that hardens the clay softens the wax. This discourse, which proved the savour of death unto death to the obstinate Pharisees, became the savour of life unto life to many of the simple-hearted people.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Believing on him is not here to be understood strictly of saving faith; but rather, of some preparations toward it: they began to believe that he was the true Messias, and to have more honourable thoughts than they had of him: that this was all, will appear from what we find in the following verses; and believing often signifieth no more in the New Testament than a light assent given to some propositions of the gospel relating to Christ.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
30. As he spake these words, manybelieved on himInstead of wondering at this, the wonder wouldbe if words of such unearthly, surpassing grandeur could beuttered without captivating some that heard them. And just as”all that sat in the council” to try Stephen “sawhis face“though expecting nothing but death”asit had been the face of an angel” (Ac6:15), so may we suppose that, full of the sweet supporting senseof His Father’s presence, amidst the rage and scorn of the rulers, adivine benignity beamed from His countenance, irradiated the wordsthat fell from Him, and won over the candid “many” of Hisaudience.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
As he spake these words,…. Concerning his being lifted up, or his crucifixion, and the knowledge the Jews should then have of him; of the excellency and divinity of his doctrine, of his mission from the Father, and of the Father’s presence with him, and of his always doing the things that are pleasing in his sight; which were spoken by him with majesty and authority, and came with power:
many believed on him: as the Son of God, and true Messiah: faith came by hearing; Christ’s hearers were of different sorts; some understood him not, and disbelieved, and rejected him; others had their eyes, and their hearts opened, and received him, and his words.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Many believed on him ( ). Ingressive aorist active indicative, came to believe, nominally at any rate, as in 2:23. But the tension was keen and Jesus proceeded to test the faith of these new believers from among the Pharisees.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Believed on [ ] . See on 1 12, and compare believed Him, ver. 31.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “As he spake these words,” (tauta autou lalountos) “As he was speaking these things,” as the “Son of man,” the heir, the Savior, the Redeemer whose sight rejoiced the heart of John the Baptist, Joh 1:29; Joh 3:28-29; of the aged Simeon and Anna in the temple at His circumcision, Luk 2:22-38.
2) “Many believed in him.” (polloi episteusan eis auton) “Many trusted in him,” or believed on Him, as they heard His words and saw His deeds and His patience, evidence that He was Divine, Joh 10:41-42; 1Ti 3:16; Rom 1:16; Rom 10:9-13.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
30. While he spoke these things. Though the Jews, at that time, almost resembled a dry and barren soil, yet God did not permit the seed of his word to be entirely lost. Thus, contrary to all hopes, and amidst so many obstructions, some fruit appears. But the Evangelist inaccurately gives the name of faith to that which was only a sort of preparation for faith For he affirms nothing higher concerning them than that they were disposed to receive the doctrine of Christ, to which also the preceding warning refers.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(30) Many believed on him.Wonder has often been expressed at the want of apprehension spoken of in Joh. 8:27. There is surely no less room for wonder in the faith spoken of here. Those who believe are of the rulers (those Jews, Joh. 8:31). The words which they now heard (Joh. 8:28-29) contain nothing of what we commonly call proof. They are an appeal to the future which should prove them true, and to His own consciousness of perfect obedience to the Fathers will, and of unbroken realisation of the Fathers presence. They are indeed, in part, words which men have since dwelt upon to prove that He who uttered them did not claim to be divine. It was not so with those who heard Him. They are watching for a technical assertion of His divinity, and do not hear it; but they are convinced by the power of His words that He is divine. (Comp. Note on Joh. 7:31.) These scribes and Pharisees feel, as their officers felt before, that Never man spake like this Man. Where was priest or Rabbi who could appeal to the spotless purity of a life? There is the irresistible power of truth in the appeal which carries conviction to the heart. We have already found in the case of Nicodemus an example, probably not a solitary one, of a faith among the rulers which dared not confess itself. (See also Joh. 12:42.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
30. Many believed Induced by the new hope that he was soon to be lifted up to a kingly throne.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘As he spoke these things many believed on Him’.
There was something in what Jesus said which, while not fully understood, struck a cord in the hearts of some of His listeners, and they responded in full faith. They ‘believed into him’ (eis auton – eis with the accusative), in contrast with the Jews of Joh 8:31 who ‘had believed in him’ (auto – dative case ), the latter a faith similar to those in Joh 2:23 which could not be relied on. His words were thus not totally in vain. This is a typical Johannine contrast.
(The question of what is meant by a ‘believer’ is in constant tension in John. Sometimes it means full believers. Those whose response is total. At other times it means those who are ‘won over’ by some aspect of His ministry without being actually totally committed. We can rest assured that there were always some of both kinds, just as there are today, and the one often became the other).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Joh 8:30. As he spake these words, many believed on him. It seems probable, that by the phrase of lifting up, the Jews did not understand our Lord’s crucifixion, but his exaltation to the throne and kingdom of David. Hearing him, therefore, speak of a temporal kingdom, as they supposed, they began now to think that he entertained sentiments worthy of the Messiah; and on that account acknowledged him as such, believing the doctrine that he had delivered concerning his divine mission. Or, if this supposition be not admitted, and it be thought that they understood him in the proper sense, we may reasonably believe, that through grace they felt their hearts impressed with what they heard from him in the whole preceding discourse, as well as by observing his temper and conduct; seeing him bear the perverseness of his enemies with so much patience; hearing him speak of an ignominious and painful death with such holy composure, and expressing so genuine and lively a sense of his Father’s approbation, and so sweet a complacency in it.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Joh 8:30-32 . The opening of a new section in the discourse, but not first on the following day (Godet), which must then have been indicated as in Joh 8:12 ; Joh 8:21 .
Notice the separation of the persons in question. The are many among His hearers in general; among these there were also Jewish hierarchs , and because He knew how fleeting and impure was their momentary faith, [21] Jesus addresses to them the words in Joh 8:31-32 , which at once had the effect of converting them into opponents; hence there is no inconsistency in His treatment of His hearers.
. ] previously . . The latter was the consequence of their having believed Him, i.e . His words.
, etc.] if you on your part , etc.; for they were mixed up with the unbelieving crowd, and by means of are selected from it as the persons to whom the admonition and promise are addressed. They are to abide in the word of Jesus, that is, as in the permanent element of their inner and outer life. For another form of the conception, see Joh 8:38 ; Joh 15:7 ; Joh 12:47 . Comp. 2Jn 1:9 .
] really , not merely in appearance, after being momentarily carried away.
. .] for divine truth is the content of the of Christ, Christ Himself is its possessor and vehicle; and the knowledge of it, therefore, first commences when a man believes, inasmuch as the knowledge is the inwardly experienced, living, and moral intelligence of faith ( Joh 17:17 ; 1Jn 1:3 ff.).
.] from the slavery, i.e . from the determining power, of sin. See Joh 8:34 ; Rom 6:18 ff. “Ea libertas est, quae pectus purum et firmum gestitat” (Ennius, fr. 340). Divine truth is conceived as the causa medians of that regeneration and sanctification which makes him morally free who is justified by faith. Comp. Rom 8:2 ; Jas 1:20 ; Jas 2:12 .
[21] Mere susceptibility to salvation is not termed Faith by John, as Messner ( Lehre der Ap. p. 349) assumes in reference to this passage. Also not in Joh 6:69 , or 1Jn 4:16 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Ver. 30. Many believed on him ] See Trapp on “ Joh 7:31 “
Abideth not in the house ] Is not heir of the promises; though it be ordinary with such praesumendo sperare, et sperando perire (as one saith), to presume and perish.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
30. ] They believed on Him with a higher degree of faith than those in ch. Joh 2:23 , inasmuch as faith wrought by hearing is higher than that by miracles; but still wanted confirming.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 8:30 . . “As He spake these things many believed on Him,” not only believed what He said, but accepted Him as the Messenger of God. The statement closes one paragraph and prepares for the next, in which it is shown what this faith amounted to (Holtzmann).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
John
THREE ASPECTS OF FAITH
Joh 8:30 – Joh 8:31
The Revised Version accurately represents the original by varying the expression in these two clauses, retaining ‘believed on Him’ in the former, and substituting the simple ‘believed Him’ in the latter. The variation in two contiguous clauses can scarcely be accidental in so careful a writer as the Apostle John. And the reason and meaning of it are obvious enough on the face of the narrative. His purpose is to distinguish between more and less perfect acceptance of Jesus Christ. The more perfect is the former, ‘they believed on Him’; the less perfect is the latter, the simple acceptance of His word on His claim of Messiahship, which is stigmatised as shallow, and proved to be transient by the context.
They were ‘Jews’ which believed, and they continued to be so whilst they were believing. Now, the word ‘Jew’ in this Gospel always connotes antagonism to Jesus Christ; and as for these persons, how slight and unreliable their adhesion to the Lord is, comes out in the course of the next few verses; and by the end of the chapter they are taking up stones to stone Him. So John would show us that there is a kind of acceptance which may be real, and may be the basis of something much better hereafter, but which, if it does not grow, rots and disappears; and he would draw a broad line of distinction between that and the other mental act, far deeper, more wholesome, more lasting and vital, which he designates as ‘believing on Him.’ I take these words, then, for consideration, not so much to deal with other thoughts suggested by them, as because they afford me a starting-point for the consideration of the various phases of the act of believing, its blessings and its nature, and its relation to its objects, which are expressed in the New Testament by the various grammatical connections and constructions of this word.
Now, the facts with which I wish to deal may be very briefly stated. There are three ways in which the New Testament represents the act of believing, and its relation to its Object, Christ. These three are, first, the simple one which appears in the text as ‘believed Him.’ Then there is a second, which appears in two forms, slightly different, but which, for our purpose, may be treated as substantially the same-’believing on Him.’ And then there is a third, which, literally and accurately translated is, ‘believing unto’ or ‘into Him.’ That phrase is John’s favourite one, and rather unfortunately, though perhaps necessarily, it has been generally rendered by our translators by the less forcible ‘believing in,’ which gives the idea of repose in, but does not give the idea of motion towards. These three, then, I think, do set forth, if we will ponder them, very large lessons as to the essence of this act of believing, as to the Object upon which it fastens, and as to the blessings which flow from it, which it will be worth our while to consider now. I may cast the whole into the shape of three exhortations: believe Him, believe on Him, believe unto Him.
I. First, then, believe Christ.
I do not need to insist upon that at any length here-it would take me away from my present purpose; but what I do wish to emphasise is, that from the very starting-point, the smallest germ of the most rudimentary and imperfect faith which knits a soul to Jesus Christ has Him for its Object, and is thus distinguished from the mere acceptance of truths which, on other grounds than the authority of the speaker, may legitimately commend themselves to a man.
Then believe Him. Now, that breaks up into two thoughts, which are all that I intend to deduce from it now, although many more might be suggested. The one is this, that the least and the lowest that Jesus Christ asks from us is the entire and unhesitating acceptance of His utterances as final, conclusive, and absolutely true. Whatever more Jesus Christ may be, He is, by His life and words, the Communicator of divine and certain truth. He is a Teacher, though He is a great deal more. And whatever more Christian faith may be-and it is a great deal more-it requires, at least, the frank and full recognition of the authority of every word that comes from His lips. A Christianity without a creed is a dream. Bones without flesh are very dry, no doubt; but what about flesh without bones? An inert, shapeless mass. You will never have a vigorous and true Christian life if it is to be moulded according to the fantastic dream of these latter days, which tells us that we may take Jesus as the Guide of our conduct and need not mind about what He says to us. ‘Believe Me’ is His requirement. The words of His mouth, and the revelations which He has made in the sweetness of His life, and in all the graciousness of His dealings, are the very unveiling to man of absolute and final and certain truth.
But then, on the other hand, let us remember that, while all this is most clear and distinct in the teaching of Scripture, it carries us but a very short way. We find, in the instance from which we take our starting-point in this sermon, the broad distinction drawn, and practically illustrated in the conduct of the persons concerned, between the simple acceptance of what Christ says, and a true faith that clings to Him for evermore. And the same kind of disparagement of the lower process of merely accepting His word is found more than once in connection with the same phrases. We find, for instance, the two which are connected in our texts used in a previous conversation between our Lord and His antagonists. When He says to them, ‘This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent,’ they reply, dragging down His claim to a lower level, ‘What sign showest Thou, that we may see, and believe Thee?’ He demanded belief on Himself; they answer, ‘We are ready to believe you, on condition that we see something that may make the rendering of our belief a logical necessity for us.’
Let us lay to heart the rudimentary and incomplete character of a faith which simply accepts the teaching of Jesus Christ, and does no more. The notion that orthodoxy is Christianity, that a man who does not contradict the teaching of the New Testament is thereby a Christian, is a very old and very perilous and very widespread one. There are many of us who have no better claim to be called Christians than this, that we never denied anything that Jesus Christ said, though we are not sufficiently interested in it, I was going to say, even to deny it. This rudimentary faith, which contents itself with the acceptance of the truth revealed, hardens into mere formalism, or liquefies into mere careless indifference as to the very truth that it professes to believe. There is nothing more impotent than creeds which lie dormant in our brains, and have no influence upon our lives. I wonder how many readers of this sermon, who fancy themselves good Christians, do with their creed as the Japanese used to do with their Emperor-keep him in a palace behind bamboo screens, and never let him do anything, whilst all the reality of power was possessed by another man, who did not profess to be a king at all. Do you think you are Christians because you would sign thirty-nine or three hundred and ninety articles of Christianity, if they were offered to you, while there is not one of them that influences either your thinking or your conduct? Do not let us have these ‘sluggish kings,’ with a mayor of the place to do the real government, but set on the throne of your hearts the principles of your religion, and see to it that all your convictions be translated into practice, and all your practice be informed by your convictions.
This belief in a set of dogmas, on the authority of Jesus Christ, about which dogmas we do not care a rush, and which make no difference upon our lives, is the faith about which James has so many hard things to say; and he ventures upon a parallel that I should not like to venture on unless I were made bold by his example: ‘Thou believest, O vain man! thou doest well: the devils also believe, and’-better than you, in that their belief does something for them, they ‘believe-and tremble!’ But what shall we say about a man who professes himself a disciple, and neither trembles, nor thrills, nor hopes, nor dreads, nor desires, nor does any single thing because of his creed? Believe Jesus, but do not stop there.
II. Believe on Christ.
The first of them, and the one which we may regard as governing the others, is that found in the words of Isaiah, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stone, a sure Foundation’; and, as the Apostle Peter comments, ‘He that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.’ There the thoughts presented are the superposition of the building upon its Foundation, the rest of the soul, and the rearing of the life on the basis of Jesus Christ.
How much that metaphor says to us about Him as the Foundation, in all the aspects in which we can apply that term! He is the Basis of our hope, the Guarantee of our security, the Foundation-stone of our beliefs, the very Ground on which our whole life reposes, the Source of our tranquillity, the Pledge of our peace. All that I think, feel, desire, wish, and do, ought to be rested upon that dear Lord, and builded on Him by simple faith. By patient persistence of effort rearing up the fabric of my life firmly upon Him, and grafting every stone of it-if I might so use the metaphor-into the bedding-stone, which is Christ, I shall be strong, peaceful, and pure.
The storm comes, the waters rise, the winds howl, the hail and the rain ‘sweep away the refuge of lies,’ and the dwellers in these frail and foundationless houses are hurrying in wild confusion from one peak to another, before the steadily rising tide. But he that builds on that Foundation ‘shall not make haste,’ as Isaiah has it; shall not need to hurry to shift his quarters before the flood overtake him; shall look out serene upon all the hurtling fury of the wild storm, and the rise of the sullen waters. So, reliance on Christ, and the honest making of Him the Basis, not of our hopes only, but of our thinkings and of our doings, and of our whole being, is the secret of security, and the pledge of peace.
Then there is another form of the same phrase, ‘believing on,’ in which is suggested not so much the figure of building upon a foundation, as of some feeble man resting upon a strong stay, or clinging to an outstretched and mighty arm. The same metaphor is implied in the word ‘reliance.’ We lean upon Christ when, forsaking all other props, and realising His sufficiency and sweetness, we rest the whole weight of our weariness and all the impotence of our weakness upon His strong and unwearied arm, and so are saved. All other stays are like that one to which the prophet compares the King of Egypt-the papyrus reed in the Nile stream, on which, if a man leans, it will break into splinters which will go into his flesh, and make a poisoned wound. But if we lean on Christ, we lean on a brazen wall and an iron pillar, and anything is possible sooner than that that stay shall give.
There is still another form of the metaphor, in which neither building upon a foundation, nor leaning upon a support which is thought of as below what rests upon it, are suggested, but rather the hanging upon something firm and secure which is above what hangs from it. The same picture is suggested by our word ‘dependence.’ ‘As a nail fastened in a sure place,’ said one of the prophets, ‘on Him shall hang all the glory of His Father’s house.’
‘Hangs my helpless soul on Thee.’ The rope lowered over the cliffs supports the adventurous bird-nester in safety above the murmuring sea. They who clasp Christ’s hand outstretched from above, may swing over the deepest, most vacuous abyss, and fear no fall.
So, brother, build on Christ, rely on Him, depend on Him, and it shall not be in vain. But if you will not build on the sure Foundation, do not wonder if the rotten one gives way. If you will not lean on the strong Stay, complain not when the weak one crumbles to dust beneath your weight. And if you choose to swing over the profound depth at the end of a piece of pack-thread, instead of holding on by an adamantine chain wrapped round God’s throne, you must be prepared for its breaking and your being smashed to pieces below.
III. The last exhortation that comes out of this comparative study of these phrases is-Believe into Christ.
So, then, true Christian faith is the flight of the soul towards Christ. Therein is one of the special blessednesses of the Christian life, that it has for its object and aim absolutely infinite and unattainable completeness and glory, so that unwearied freshness, inexhaustible buoyancy, endless progress, are the dower of every spirit that truly trusts in Christ. All other aims and objects are limited, transient, and will be left behind. Every other landmark will sink beneath the horizon, where so many of our landmarks have sunk already, and where they will all disappear when the last moment comes. But we may have, and if we are Christian people we shall have, bright before us, sufficiently certain of being reached to make our efforts hopeful and confident, sufficiently certain of never being reached to make our efforts blessed with endless aspirations, the great light and love of that dear Lord, to yearn after whom is better than to possess all besides, and following hard after whom, even in the very motion there is rest, and in the search there is finding. Religion is the flight of the soul, the aspiration of the whole man after the unattainable Attainable-’that I may know Him, and be found in Him.’
Oh, how such thoughts ought to shame us who call ourselves Christians! Growth, progress, getting nearer to Christ, yearning ever with a great desire after Him!-do not the words seem irony when applied to most of us? Think of the average type of sluggish contentment with present attainments that marks Christian people-tortoises in their crawling rather than eagles in their flight. And let us take our portion of shame, and remember that the faith which believes Him, and that which believes on Him, both need to be crowned and perfected by that which believes towards Him, of which the motto is, ‘Forgetting the things that are behind, I reach forward to the things that are before.’
But there is another side to this last phase of faith. That true believing towards or unto Christ is the rest of the soul in Him. By faith that deep and most real union of the believing soul with Jesus Christ is effected which may be fitly described as our entrance into and abode in Him. The believer is as if incorporated into Him in whom he believes. Indeed, the Apostle ventures to use a more startling expression than incorporation when he says that ‘he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit.’ If by faith we press towards, by faith we shall be in, Christ. Faith is at once motion and rest, search and finding, desire and fruition. The felicity of this last form of the phrase is its expression of both these ideas, which are united in fact as in word. A rare construction of the verb to believe, with the simple preposition in, coincides with this part of the meaning of believing unto or into, and need not be separately considered.
With this understanding of its meaning, we see how natural is John’s preference for this construction. For surely, if he has anything to tell us, it is that the true Christian life is a life enclosed, as it were, in Jesus Christ. Nor need I remind you how Paul, though he starts from a different point of view, yet coincides with John in this teaching. For, to him, to be ‘in Christ’ is the sum of all blessedness, righteousness, peace, and power. As in an atmosphere, we may dwell in Him. He may be the strong Habitation to which we may continually resort. One of the Old Testament words for trusting means taking refuge, and such a thought is naturally suggested by this New Testament form of expression. ‘I flee unto Thee to hide me.’ In that Fortress we dwell secure.
To be in Jesus, wedded to Him by the conjunction of will and desire, wedded to Him in the oneness of a believing spirit and in the obedience of a life, to be thus in Christ is the crown and climax of faith, and the condition of all perfection. To be in Christ is life; to be out of Him is death. In Him we have redemption; in Him we have wisdom, truth, peace, righteousness, hope, confidence. To be in Him is to be in heaven. We enter by faith. Faith is not the acceptance merely of His Word, but is the reliance of the soul on Him, the flight of the soul towards Him, the dwelling of the soul in Him. ‘Come, My people, into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee . . . until the indignation be overpast.’
Fuente: Expositions Of Holy Scripture by Alexander MacLaren
words = things. believed on. See note on Joh 1:7, and App-150. Compare Joh 8:31.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
30.] They believed on Him with a higher degree of faith than those in ch. Joh 2:23, inasmuch as faith wrought by hearing is higher than that by miracles; but still wanted confirming.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 8:30
Joh 8:30
As he spake these things, many believed on him.-[Their faith was produced by the testimony presented by him.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
many: Joh 2:23, Joh 6:14, Joh 7:31, Joh 10:42, Joh 11:45
Reciprocal: Exo 14:31 – believed Psa 106:12 – General Psa 119:45 – And I will Luk 8:13 – which Joh 7:8 – I go not Act 8:13 – believed Col 1:23 – ye continue
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Many believed on him. The evident fairness of Jesus in leaving the truthfulness of his claims to rest on proposed facts to come, had its effect on some of the people, so that they professed confidence in it.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 8:30. As he spake these things, many believed in him. We are not told to what class these belonged. The latter part of the chapter shows how completely the Jews had hardened themselves: probably therefore these believers mainly belonged to the general body of the hearers, and not (in any large proportion) to the Jews. Once more then we have an illustration of that twofold effect of our Lords teaching which John so frequently portrays.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe here, 1. The blessed fruit and success of our Saviour’s foregiong discourse concerning his person anad office. As he spake these words, many believed on him: not at their own natural power and ability, but by Christ’s omnipotent and efficacious grace: he that spake to the ear, caused his word to reach the heart; Christ himself that planted and watered, gave also the increase.
Observe, 2. The love and care of Christ mentioned to these new converts; he watereth immediately these plants with wholesome advice and counsel. If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.
Where note, It must be Christ’s word, the true doctrine of the gospel; and this abided and continued in, which will evince our discipleship.
Observe, 3. A special privilege which shall follow upon abiding in the doctrine of Christ; they shall increase in the knowledge of it, and be made free by it. Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Where note, 1. That man is naturally in bondage and captivity, by blindness of mind, by hardness of heart, by rebellion of will.
2. That the means appointed by God for setting him at liberty from this captivity and bondage, is the word of Christ, and the doctrine of the gospel. The truth shall make you free.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Joh 8:30-32. As he spake these words, many believed on him Believed that he was the Messiah, and were strongly inclined to follow him as such. Some have supposed that the ambiguity of the expression, in Joh 8:28, (When you have lifted up the Son of man,) induced those here spoken of to believe him to be the Messiah; supposing that it intimated an exaltation to some temporal authority and power. Hearing him speak, says Dr. Macknight, of a temporal kingdom, as they supposed, they began now to think that he entertained some sentiments worthy of the Messiah; and on that account acknowledged him as such. But surely it is much more reasonable to suppose, from the evangelists affirming that they believed on him, without giving any intimation that their faith was in any respect erroneous, and especially from what Jesus says to them in the next verse, that they really had felt their hearts impressed with what they heard from him in the preceding discourse, and were induced to believe on him with a true and saving faith, by the dignity and force attending his words on this occasion. Then Jesus Knowing the weakness of human nature, the deceitfulness of the human heart, and the difficulties which they would meet with, if they attempted to act according to their present inclinations and purposes; said to those which believed on him And were now ready to profess their faith; If ye continue in my word Continue to attend on my instructions, and believe and obey them; then are ye my disciples indeed And I will finally own you as such; and ye shall know the truth The whole truth comprehended in my gospel, as far as is necessary or conducive to your salvation, or to your holiness, usefulness, or comfort; and the truth shall make you free Shall put you in possession of that state of glorious liberty which it is the privilege of my disciples to enjoy. Our Lord meant, that the instructions of his word, accompanied with the illumination of his Spirit, would remove their prejudices, correct their errors, enlarge their views, and by giving them the full assurance of understanding in the doctrine of the gospel, would scatter their doubts, bring satisfaction, peace, and serenity to their minds; and also that it would free them from the slavery of sin and Satan, the love of the world, and the lusts of the flesh, and all the consequences thereof; and even from the yoke of the ceremonial law, under which they at present groaned, from the spirit of bondage, and the tormenting fear of death.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
4. I and you: 8:30-59.
Jesus, in His second discourse (Joh 8:12-20) attributed to Himself two modes of teaching: testimony, by which He reveals His origin, His mission, His work, and judgment, by which He unveils the moral state of His hearers. In this sense He had also said, Joh 8:26 : I have yet many things to say and to judge concerning you. These more severe judgments which Jesus bore in His mind respecting the moral state of His people, we find expressed in the first section of the following discourse; it is judgment reaching its culminating point (Joh 8:30-50): you are not free; you are not children of Abraham; you are not children of God, but of the devil. Such are the severe judgments which are gradually introduced in the conversation between Jesus and even the least ill- disposed of His hearers. The second part is that of testimony. Jesus rises to His greatest height: He is the destroyer of death; He is before Abraham (Joh 8:51-59).
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
DEGREES OF FAITH
Joh 8:30-32. He speaking these words, many believed on Him. Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed on Him, If you may abide in My Word you are truly My disciples; you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. We see from the context that these Jews, addressed in these verses, had but a vague, shadowy faith in Him, believing that He was an extraordinary messenger sent of God, a prophet, and might perhaps, in the end, prove to be the Christ who is to redeem Israel. O how the Churches of the present day abound in this superficial, carnal belief in Christ, which staggers at the promises, failing in their appropriation!
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
John noted that, in spite of the confusion of many that resulted from Jesus’ teaching, others believed on Him because of these words (cf. Joh 7:31). God opened their understanding with His illuminating and life-giving words. However in view of the following verses, the faith of some of them seems to have been quite shallow.