John 10:25
in John 10“I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, these bear witness of me.
KJV
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
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This verse in John 10
Commentary
14 notes on this verseEven Christ therefore considered it superfluous to say the same things over again to those who had often heard them and had not been persuaded by them. For every one's nature ought to be estimated from the quality of his works, and we ought by no means to look [solely] at his words.
This site's exposition
The works I do in My Father’s name
on John 10:25-26
The telling has already happened, and the works done in His Father's name carry the testimony. Verse 26 puts the belonging first: they refuse to believe because they are not of His sheep. The obstacle named is the will.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"Jesus answered them, I tell you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me: but ye believe not; because ye are not of my sheep." Ye have already learned above who the sheep are: be ye sheep. They are sheep through believing, sheep in following the Shepherd, sheep in not despising their Redeemer, sheep in entering by the door, sheep in going out and finding pasture, sheep in the enjoyment of eternal life. What did He mean, then, in saying to them, "Ye are not of my sheep"? That He saw them predestined to everlasting destruction, not won to eternal life by the price of His own blood.
But I shall not linger long over this point for Christ's own definition comes to our aid at once.
"I told you often," He saith, "and ye believe not: the works that I do in My Father's Name, they are they that bear witness of Me." A remark which the more tolerable among them continually made to one another; "A man that is a sinner cannot do such miracles." And again, "A devil cannot open the eyes of the blind": and, "No man can do such miracles except God be with him." (c. iii. 2.) And beholding the miracles that He did, they said, "Is not this the Christ?" Others said, "When Christ cometh, will He do greater miracles than those which this Man hath done?" (c. vii. 31.) And these very persons as many as then desired to believe on Him, saying, "What sign showest thou us, that we may see, and believe thee?" (c. vi. 30.) When then they who had not been persuaded by such great works, pretended that they should be persuaded by a bare word, He rebuketh their wickedness, saying, "If ye believe not My works, how will ye believe My words? so that your questioning is superfluous." "But," He saith, "I told you, and ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep." "For I on My part have fulfilled all that it behooved a Shepherd to do, and if ye follow Me not, it is not because I am not a Shepherd, but because ye are not My sheep."
The Medieval Church2 voices
"Jesus answered them." After the inquiry has been set forth, here is set forth the presentation of a certain sign, and this indeed in the following manner. First, therefore, in the Lord's response is set forth the reproof of the Jews; second, the expression of …
Now we have the answer of Christ, where he shows their unbelief, proving they were deceitful in saying they wished to know the truth when they said, "How long will you keep us in suspense?" He shows this in two ways. First, because they did …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
And thus they intended to give Him into the hands of the Proconsul for punishment, as an usurper against the emperor. Our Lord so managed His reply as to stop the mouths of His calumniators, open those of the believers; and to those who enquired of Him as a man, reveal the mysteries of His divinity: Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not; the works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me.
Therefore, exposing them for asking with evil intent, the Lord answers them: "I have told you many times, and you do not believe." And in another sense: "Why do you pretend that you would obey a simple word? You do not accept the works which …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not,....
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
I told you - It is not recorded that Jesus had told them in so many words that he was the Christ, but he had used expressions designed to convey the same truth, and which many of them understood as claiming to be the Messiah. See Joh 5:19; Joh 8:36, Joh 8:56; Joh 10:1. The expression “the Son of God” they understood to be equivalent to the Messiah. This he had often used of himself in a sense not to be mistaken.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)
proposed
Another sharp division took place among the Jewish authorities because of these words. Many of them were saying, "He is possessed by a demon and has lost his mind. Why do you listen to him?" Others said, "These are not the words of someone possessed by a demon. A demon cannot cause the blind to see, can it?" Then came the feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon’s Portico. The Jewish religious leaders surrounded him and said, "How long will you keep us in suspense?
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)
proposed
Another sharp division took place among the Jewish authorities because of these words. Many of them were saying, "He is possessed by a demon and has lost his mind. Why do you listen to him?" Others said, "These are not the words of someone possessed by a demon. A demon cannot cause the blind to see, can it?" Then came the feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon’s Portico. The Jewish religious leaders surrounded him and said, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus replied, "I told you and you do not believe. The deeds I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one." We should notice, first, in this passage, what strifes and controversies our Lord occasioned when He was on earth. We read that "there was a division among the Jews for His sayings"—and that "many of them said He has a devil, and is mad," while others took an opposite view. It may seem strange, at first sight, that He who came to preach peace between God and man should be the cause of contention. But herein were His own words literally fulfilled—"I came not to send peace, but a sword." (Matt. 10:34.) The fault was not in Christ or His doctrine, but in the carnal mind of His Jewish hearers. Let us never be surprised if we see the same thing in our own day. Human nature never changes. So long as the heart of man is without grace, so long we must expect to see it dislike the Gospel of Christ.
I told you, etc. - That is, I told you before what I tell you now again, that the works which I do, bear testimony to me. I have told you that I am the light of the world: the Son of God: the good shepherd: that I am come to save - to give life - to give liberty - to redeem you: that, in order to this, I must die, and rise again; and that I am absolute master of my life, and of my death. Have you not noticed my omniscience, in searching and discovering the very secrets of your hearts? Have you not seen my omnipotence in the miracles which I have wrought? Have not all these been sufficient to convince you? - and yet ye will not believe! - See the works which bore testimony to him, as the Messiah, enumerated, Mat 11:5 (note).
How the passage was read
On John 10:22-39On John 10:22-39
The feast Jesus was keeping
“The Feast of Dedication” is the festival modern Jews call Hanukkah: an eight-day winter feast, beginning on the 25th of the month Kislev (falling in December), that remembers the cleansing and rededication of the Temple in 164 BC. Antiochus IV, the Greek-Syrian king, had defiled the altar; Judas Maccabeus and his brothers retook Jerusalem, rebuilt the altar, and ordained the annual celebration (1 Maccabees 4:36–59). Today it is kept by lighting one more candle each night on a nine-branched lampstand, which is why it is also called the Festival of Lights; the lamp-lighting custom is discussed in the Talmud (Shabbat 21b).
Two things follow for the reader. This feast is not commanded anywhere in the Law of Moses: it was instituted between the Testaments, and John records Jesus walking in the Temple courts during it without a word of censure. And the setting is loaded: at the feast that celebrates the Temple's rescue from a ruler who claimed divine honors, the crowd asks Jesus plainly whether He is the Messiah (John 10:24).
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Sources: 1 Maccabees 4:36–59 (the feast's institution; studied on this site) · Shabbat 21b (Babylonian Talmud, the lamp-lighting custom) · The Maccabean Revolt (this site's study of the history)
The words behind it
24 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἀπεκρίθη | apekrithe | Answered | G611 → | 231 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰησοῦς· | iesous | Jesus; | G2424 → | 908 times |
| εἶπον | eipon | I told | G2036 → | 925 times |
| ὑμῖν, | humin | you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| πιστεύετε. | pisteuete | you believe. | G4100 → | 237 times |
| τὰ | ta | The | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἔργα | erga | works | G2041 → | 168 times |
| ἃ | ha | that | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| ποιῶ | poio | do | G4160 → | 569 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὀνόματι | onomati | name | G3686 → | 227 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πατρός | patros | Father | G3962 → | 410 times |
| μου, | mou | of Mine, | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ταῦτα | tauta | these | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| μαρτυρεῖ | marturei | bear witness | G3140 → | 76 times |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| ἐμοῦ· | emou | Me; | G1473 → | 839 times |
ἈπεκρίθηAnswered
apekritheG611 →231 times
αὐτοῖςthem
autoisG846 →5565 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
Ἰησοῦς·Jesus;
iesousG2424 →908 times
εἶπονI told
eiponG2036 →925 times
ὑμῖν,you,
huminG4771 →2973 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
πιστεύετε.you believe.
pisteueteG4100 →237 times
τὰThe
taG3588 →19766 times
ἔργαworks
ergaG2041 →168 times
ἃthat
haG3739 →1405 times
ἐγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
ποιῶdo
poioG4160 →569 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ὀνόματιname
onomatiG3686 →227 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
πατρόςFather
patrosG3962 →410 times
μου,of Mine,
mouG3165 →1936 times
ταῦταthese
tautaG3778 →1381 times
μαρτυρεῖbear witness
martureiG3140 →76 times
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →332 times
ἐμοῦ·Me;
emouG1473 →839 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 8:58“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
it leads to
- Exodus 3:14
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
- Colossians 1:17
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
- John 17:5
And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.
- John 1:1–2
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- Isaiah 44:6
Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.
- Exodus 3:14
Through
Hebrews 2:3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
it leads to
- Hebrews 10:28–29
Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- Hebrews 10:28–29
Through
John 10:38But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in…
it leads to
- Acts 2:22
Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 2:22
Through
John 14:11Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me—or at least believe on account of the works themselves.
it leads to
- John 10:38
But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in…
- John 10:38
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies35
On this verse
On this chapter
- The Animal Apocalypse
- Hanukkah: the Feast the Revolt Made
- The Apocrypha
- The Major Prophets
- David
- The Divine Council
Show the next 6 titles
- Eternal Life
- Eternal Security, and the Five Warnings of Hebrews
- The Fall Feasts
- The Words Tov and Agathosyne
- Hearing God
- Jesus on Himself
Show the next 6 titles
Show the next 6 titles
About John
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Augustine of Hippo, Tractates on John 48; Bonaventure, Commentary on John, Chapter 10; Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 7; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Calvin, Commentary on the Gospel according to John; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of John 61; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Tertullian, Against Marcion Book II; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on John and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on John.