What is the meaning of John 10:33? We are not stoning You for any good work - Even Jesus’ adversaries could not deny the “good work” He had just displayed—public miracles of healing and acts of compassion (John 10:32; compare John 9:1-7). - Their statement reveals an unwillingness to recognize that the miracles validated His identity (John 5:36; Acts 10:38). - In essence they admit, “Your works are good, but we reject what those works point to.” said the Jews - John often uses “the Jews” to describe the religious leadership who opposed Jesus (John 7:1, 13; 8:44). - These leaders felt responsible to guard doctrinal purity; however, their zeal was clouded by pride and political fear (John 11:48). - Their invocation of capital punishment shows how seriously they viewed the charge, for stoning was the prescribed penalty for grave offenses under the Law (Deuteronomy 17:2-7). but for blasphemy - Leviticus 24:16 commands, “Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death.” - The leaders believed Jesus had “spoken evil” of God by claiming divine status, the very accusation later voiced at His trial (Mark 14:61-64). - Ironically, they stood on Scripture to condemn the One whom Scripture foretold (Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2). because You, who are a man - They acknowledged His full humanity, seeing only the carpenter’s Son from Nazareth (John 6:42; Matthew 13:55). - Scripture affirms He truly “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14) and “was found in appearance as a man” (Philippians 2:7-8). - Yet their focus on His humanity blinded them to the signs attesting His divinity (Luke 24:39-40). make Yourself out to be God - Two verses earlier Jesus had declared, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), a clear claim of shared deity that echoed His earlier statements (John 5:18; 8:58). - Far from exaggerating His words, the leaders understood Him correctly; Jesus did claim equality with God (Colossians 2:9). - Rather than rebuke their understanding, Jesus responded by grounding His claim in Scripture (John 10:34-38), reinforcing that He is the consecrated Son the Father sent into the world. summary John 10:33 captures the clash between undeniable works and unwavering unbelief. The leaders concede Jesus’ works are good, yet they accuse Him of blasphemy because He, a man before their eyes, openly claims to be God. Their reaction highlights the central issue of the gospel: Jesus is both fully man and fully God. Accepting His good works without embracing His divine identity leaves a person still outside the truth. John records this exchange so that we might see the signs, hear His claims, and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in His name (John 20:31). |
    |