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John 8:52

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

John 8:52

Verse 52 of 59

Scripture focus

Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

John 8:52 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on John 8:52

Theological / Devotional

Now we know. They felt that now they had convincing evidence that Jesus was under the control of a demon. See on Matt. 12:24.

Abraham is dead. Literally, “Abraham died.” Later Jewish tradition named nine who entered Paradise without seeing death, but Abraham was not on the list. However, the Jews misunderstood Jesus’ statement. They thought that Jesus spoke of physical death when He said, “he shall never see death” (v. 51). Certainly Abraham should then have been spared the ravages of death, for Jesus Himself had witnessed to his righteousness (vs. 39, 40).

Taste of death. A common figure of speech (Matt. 16:28; Heb. 2:9). Its essential meaning is not different from the phrase “see death” (John 8:5 1), another figure employed by Jesus. Hence the Jews were not actually misquoting Jesus, as might appear.

By SdaBc