What Old Testament passages support Jesus' identity as God in John 10:33? Context in John 10:33 “ ‘We are not stoning You for any good work,’ said the Jews, ‘but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God.’ ” (John 10:33) The leaders understood exactly what Jesus was claiming. He had just spoken of giving eternal life (v. 28) and of His unity with the Father (v. 30). Those are divine privileges in the Old Testament, and the religious authorities reacted accordingly. Below are key Old Testament texts that already affirmed the Messiah would, in fact, be God. Echoes of the Divine Name • Exodus 3:14 — “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ ” – Jesus’ repeated “I AM” claims (John 8:58; 10:11; 11:25) echo Yahweh’s self-designation. • Deuteronomy 32:39 — “See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me.” – Jesus’ words “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30) line up with Yahweh’s exclusivity. Messianic Prophecies That Call the Coming One ‘God’ • Isaiah 9:6 — “For unto us a child is born… and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” • Psalm 45:6-7 — “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever… therefore God, your God, has anointed you.” (Quoted of Jesus in Hebrews 1:8-9.) • Micah 5:2 — The ruler from Bethlehem has “origins from the days of eternity,” pointing to pre-existence. Yahweh Titles Applied to the Messiah • Isaiah 44:6; 48:12 — “I am the first and I am the last.” – Jesus takes the same title in Revelation 1:17; 22:13. • Isaiah 40:3 — “Prepare the way for the LORD [Yahweh].” – John the Baptist applies this to Jesus (John 1:23). • Zechariah 12:10 — “They will look on Me, the One they have pierced.” – John quotes this regarding Jesus’ crucifixion (John 19:37). God the Shepherd—Fulfilled in Jesus • Psalm 23:1 — “The LORD is my shepherd.” • Ezekiel 34:11-15, 23 — Yahweh Himself seeks His sheep; yet He also promises “I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David.” – In John 10:11,14 Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd,” uniting both roles in Himself. Divine Works Reserved for God Alone • Giving eternal life (Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6). • Holding believers securely in His hand (Isaiah 41:10,13). – Jesus claims both in John 10:28-29, prompting the accusation of blasphemy. Psalm 82:6—The Immediate Old Testament Reference • Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6 in John 10:34: “I said, you are gods.” • The psalm rebukes unjust human judges called “gods” only in a representative sense; by contrast, the Son is the true, unique God (John 10:36-38). Why These Texts Matter for John 10:33 • The leaders knew these Scriptures. When Jesus used God’s titles, claimed God’s works, and applied God’s name to Himself, the conclusion was inescapable: He was asserting full deity. • Rather than correcting them, Jesus reinforced His claim: “the Father is in Me, and I in the Father” (10:38). The Old Testament, read plainly, had already prepared Israel to see the Messiah as God-with-us. John 10:33 records the shock of those who refused to believe, but every passage above confirms that Jesus was only claiming what Scripture had long foretold. |
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