Jesus has just declared himself the light of the world during the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, sparking heated debate with the Pharisees about his identity and authority. He has claimed that God is his Father and that he will soon depart to a place where his opponents cannot follow. Many people believe in him after he predicts his crucifixion and explains that he does nothing on his own authority but speaks only what the Father has taught him. The temple treasury area, where these discussions have been occurring, remains the setting as Jesus continues addressing those who have expressed belief in him. Jesus is addressing Jewish believers who have just professed faith in him, though Pharisees and other Jewish leaders hostile to his claims are also present in the crowd.
[31] Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. [32] And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
[33] They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
[34] Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. [35] And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. [36] Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
[37] “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. [38] I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”
[39] They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”
Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. [40] But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. [41] You do the deeds of your father.”
Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”
[42] Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. [43] Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. [44] You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. [45] But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. [46] Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? [47] He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
[48] Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
[49] Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. [50] And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. [51] Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”
[52] Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ [53] Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”
[54] Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. [55] Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. [56] Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
[57] Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
[58] Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
[59] Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Jesus travels through towns and villages teaching on his way to Jerusalem. Someone asks him whether only a few will be saved, prompting Jesus to warn about the narrow door and the danger of being shut out despite familiarity with him. He speaks of people coming from all directions to feast in God's kingdom while some who expect entrance will be cast out. Pharisees then approach Jesus warning that Herod wants to kill him, but Jesus responds by calling Herod a fox and expressing his determination to continue his work. He laments over Jerusalem's rejection of God's messengers and prophets throughout history, expressing his desire to gather the city's children as a hen gathers her chicks, but they were unwilling. Jesus is addressing the Pharisees who brought the warning about Herod, and his final lament is directed toward Jerusalem itself.
[22] And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. [23] Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”
And He said to them, [24] “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. [25] When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ [26] then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ [27] But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ [28] There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. [29] They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. [30] And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”
[31] On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.”
[32] And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ [33] Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.
[34] “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! [35] See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
Paul has been ministering in Ephesus for over two years, establishing a strong Christian community and performing extraordinary miracles through God's power. His preaching has significantly impacted the city's economy, particularly affecting the craftsmen who manufacture silver shrines of the goddess Artemis. A silversmith named Demetrius gathers fellow artisans and warns them that Paul's message—that handmade gods are not gods at all—threatens both their profitable trade and the honor of Artemis, whose temple in Ephesus is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This incites a citywide uproar, with crowds rushing into the theater shouting praises to Artemis. Paul's traveling companions Gaius and Aristarchus are seized by the mob, while Paul himself is prevented from entering the dangerous situation by both disciples and friendly Asiatic officials.
[21] When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” [22] So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.
[23] And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. [24] For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. [25] He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. [26] Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. [27] So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”
[28] Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” [29] So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions. [30] And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him. [31] Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater. [32] Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. [33] And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. [34] But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
[35] And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus? [36] Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. [37] For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. [38] Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. [39] But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly. [40] For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.”
John has been warning his readers about deceivers and antichrists who deny that Jesus is the Christ and reject both the Father and the Son. He has contrasted these false teachers with true believers who possess the anointing from the Holy One, which enables them to know the truth and recognize lies. John has encouraged his audience to let the truth they heard from the beginning remain in them, promising that if they do, they will abide in both the Son and the Father. He has just reminded them that the anointing they received teaches them about all things, is true and not a lie, and instructs them to abide in Christ as it has taught them.
[26] These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. [27] But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
[28] And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
Jesus has just confronted the Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem who criticized his disciples for not following ceremonial hand-washing traditions. He rebuked them for invalidating God's commandments through their traditions and exposed their hypocrisy by quoting Isaiah, explaining that they honor God with their lips while their hearts remain far from him. He then taught the crowd that what defiles a person comes not from external food entering the mouth but from evil thoughts and actions proceeding from the heart. After his disciples asked for clarification, Jesus explained this principle more fully, listing specific sins that originate from within and truly defile a person. Following this confrontation with the religious leaders in Galilee, Jesus withdrew from that region.
[21] Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. [22] And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”
[23] But He answered her not a word.
And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”
[24] But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
[25] Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”
[26] But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
[27] And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
[28] Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
During this period of Jesus's ministry in the Decapolis region, a predominantly Gentile area east of the Sea of Galilee, large crowds have been following Him for three days to witness His teachings and healings. Jesus has been ministering extensively in this region after leaving Tyre and Sidon, performing numerous miracles including healing a deaf man with a speech impediment. The multitude has remained with Him throughout this time, listening to His words and observing His works, but their provisions have been depleted. Jesus expresses concern to His disciples about the crowd's physical welfare, noting that many have traveled from distant places and will collapse from hunger if sent away without food.
[1] In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, [2] “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. [3] And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.”
[4] Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?”
[5] He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”
And they said, “Seven.”
[6] So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. [7] They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. [8] So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. [9] Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away,