John 8:22

22 Then said the Jews, will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

John 8:22 Meaning and Commentary

John 8:22

Then said the Jews, will he kill himself?
&c.] Which was not only a wicked, but a foolish consequence, drawn from his words: for it by no means followed, because he was going away, and whither they could not come, that therefore he must destroy himself; this seems to be what they would have been glad he would have done, and suggested the thought that he might do it, in which they imitated Satan, ( Matthew 4:6 ) , under whose influence they now apparently were, and hoped that he would, which would at once extricate them out of their difficulties on his account:

because he sayeth, whither I go ye cannot come:
this is no reason at all; for had Christ's meaning been, as they blasphemously intimate, they might have destroyed themselves too, and have gone after him.

John 8:22 In-Context

20 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him, for his hour was not yet come.
21 Then said Jesus again to them, I am going away, and ye will seek me, and will die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22 Then said the Jews, will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23 And he said to them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I said therefore to you, that ye will die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [he], ye will die in your sins.
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