John 8:43 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

NIV: Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.

NASB: Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot listen to My word.

CSB: Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to my word.

NLT: Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me!

KJV: Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

NKJV: Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

Here, again, Jesus makes a point He has already taught. Those who cannot understand the will of God, or the message of God, are those who do not want to understand. The problem is not their intellect or their learning. The problem is that they are committed to rejecting what they do not want to hear. Their intent overrides all evidence, logic, and spiritual humility (John 7:17). Jesus has pointed out that these men have access to the Scriptures (John 5:39–40), have witnessed His miracles (John 3:1–2; 5:36), have heard human testimony (John 5:33–34), and have heard the very words of One who came from heaven (John 8:23).

This obstinate attitude is rooted in their nature; nature is something man inherits through a father. According to these religious leaders, their father is Abraham (John 8:33). As Jesus pointed out, however, their actions suggest something very different. Abraham might be their earthly ancestor, but he is not their spiritual father. Those who are "true sons" of Abraham would do what Abraham did—obey God (John 8:39–42). These men deal in lies and violence (John 5:18). Jesus has made several subtle references to some "other" father (John 8:38), and His critics have responded by calling Him an illegitimate child (John 8:41).

In the next verse, Jesus will complete His crushing condemnation of these men by pointing out their true spiritual father, who is both a liar and a murderer (John 8:44).

John 8:31–59 dovetails with John 2:13–22. There, Jesus drove corrupt businessmen from the temple. These Scriptures disprove any myths that Jesus was weak, timid, passive, or soft. In this exchange with the Pharisees, Jesus pulls no punches. Jerusalem's religious leaders, and their followers, continue to resist Jesus' preaching. They rely on arrogance and insults, to which Jesus responds with blunt, unfiltered condemnation. This culminates in Jesus making an overt statement of His own divinity, punctuating the debate by declaring ''before Abraham was, I am!''

This begins with the story of the adulterous woman, a well-known but controversial passage. Most scholars believe this story is authentic, but not originally found in this exact spot in Scripture. The rest of chapter 8 continues Jesus' preaching during the Feast of Booths, where He once again comes into conflict with local religious leaders. Here, Christ will make His second ''I am" statement, using the analogy of light, which is a common theme in Hebrew theology. This conversation will become more and more heated. Jesus' opponents become so enraged that they attempt to kill Him right then and there.

Jesus is attending the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem. There He once again conflicts with local religious authorities. Previously, Jesus referred to Himself as a source of living water (John 7:37–38). That built on the festival's ritual pouring of water in the temple. In this chapter, Jesus will do something similar with the imagery of lights also related to festival traditions. This demonstrates Jesus' willingness to be direct, even aggressive, with His critics. The next few chapters will complete Jesus' public ministry, as He prepares for His impending death.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.