John 10:32
in John 10But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from the Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
KJV
Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
⋯
This verse in John 10
Commentary
15 notes on this verseMany good works have I showed you - I have healed your sick, delivered those of you who were possessed from the power of demons; I have fed multitudes of your poor, and I have taught you in all places, at all times, without expense, with patience; and is this my reward? To show good works or good things is a Hebraism, which signifies to do them really, to give good things liberally. The phrase is similar to the following: Who will Show us any good? Psa 4:6; i.e. who shall give us good things.
This site's exposition
picked up stones to stone Him
on John 10:31-32
This is the second stoning John records, after 8:59. The reach for stones is how they heard the claim of verse 30. Jesus answers with a question about the good works shown from the Father, asking which of them earns the stones.
This site's exposition
many good works from the Father
Adam Clarke reads I have shown you many good works as a Hebrew idiom for doing good freely. He lists them: the sick healed, the possessed set free, the poor fed. From the Father answers the charge of seizing divine rights.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
When he says, "I and my Father are one" in essence [unum], he shows that there are two, whom he puts on an equality and unites in one. He therefore adds to this very statement, that he had "shown them many good works from the Father," for none of which did he deserve to be stoned.
He therefore adds to this very statement, that He "had showed them many works from the Father," for none of which did He deserve to be stoned.
The Medieval Church3 voices
Our Lord remonstrates with them; Many good works have I showed you from My Father, showing that they had no just reason for their anger.
The Lord, reproving them and showing that they have no reasonable cause for their fury against Him, but rage in vain, reminds them of the miracles He performed and says: "I have shown you many good works; for which of them do you wish to …
"Jesus answered them." Here the reason for the persecution is noted. And first the Lord shows that they are moved irrationally; therefore He says: "Many good works I have shown you from My Father; for which of those works do you stone Me?" That is, …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
Healing of the sick, teaching, miracles. He showed them of the Father, because He sought His Father's glory in all of them. For which of these works do ye stone Me? They confess, though reluctantly, the benefit they have received from Him, but charge Him at the same time with blasphemy, for asserting His equality with the Father; For a good work we stone Thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that Thou, being a man, makest Thyself God.
Secondly, we see our Lord reprove their violence, saying, I have shown you many good works. First, he reminds them of the benefits given to them; secondly, he reproves their violence. He recalls the benefits he granted in healing the sick, in teaching them and …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Jesus answered them, many good works,....
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)
We should observe, in these verses, the extreme wickedness of human nature. The unbelieving Jews at Jerusalem was neither moved by our Lord's miracles, nor by His preaching. They were determined not to receive Him as their Messiah. Once more it is written that "they took up stones to stone Him." Our Lord had done the Jews no injury. He was no robber, murderer, or rebel against the law of the land. He was one whose whole life was love, and who "went about doing good." (Acts 10:38.) There was no fault or inconsistency in His character.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
This He says to meet the imputation of unwarrantable assumption of the divine prerogatives [LUTHARDT]. for which of those works do ye stone me?--"are ye stoning (that is, going to stone) me?"
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)
proposed
We should observe, in these verses, the extreme wickedness of human nature. The unbelieving Jews at Jerusalem was neither moved by our Lord's miracles, nor by His preaching. They were determined not to receive Him as their Messiah. Once more it is written that "they took up stones to stone Him." Our Lord had done the Jews no injury. He was no robber, murderer, or rebel against the law of the land. He was one whose whole life was love, and who "went about doing good." (Acts 10:38.) There was no fault or inconsistency in His character. There was no crime that could be laid to His charge. So perfect and spotless a man had never walked on the face of this earth. But yet the Jews hated Him, and thirsted for His blood. How true are the words of Scripture—"They hated Him without a cause." (John 15:25.) How just the remark of an old divine—"Unconverted men would kill God Himself if they could only get at Him." The true Christian has surely no right to wonder if he meets with the same kind of treatment as our blessed Lord. In fact, the more like he is to his Master, and the more holy and spiritual his life, the more probable is it that he will have to endure hatred and persecution. Let him not suppose that any degree of consistency will deliver him from this cross. It is not his faults, but his graces, which call forth the enmity of men. The world hates to see anything of God's image. The children of the world are vexed and pierced in conscience when they see others better than themselves. Why did Cain hate his brother Abel, and slay him? "Because," says John, "his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." (1 John 3:12.) Why did the Jews hate Christ? Because He exposed their sins and false doctrines; and they knew in their own hearts that he was right and they were wrong.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Many good works - Many miracles of benevolence healing the sick, etc. His miracles were good works, as they tended to promote the happiness of men, and were proofs of his benevolence. He had performed no other works than those of benevolence; he knew that they could charge him with no other, and he confidently appealed to them as witnesses of that. Happy would it be if all, when they are opposed and persecuted, could appeal even to their persecutors in proof of their own innocence.
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
18 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 |
| πολλὰ | polla | Many | G4183 → | 367 times |
| ἔργα | erga | works | G2041 → | 168 times |
| καλὰ | kala | good | G2570 → | 101 times |
| ἔδειξα | edeixa | I have shown | G1166 → | 33 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐκ | ek | from | G1537 → | 911 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πατρός | patros | Father | G3962 → | 410 times |
| διὰ | dia | because of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| ποῖον | poion | which | G4169 → | 33 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of these | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἔργον | ergon | work | G2041 → | 168 times |
| ἐμὲ | eme | Me myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| λιθάζετε;¶ | lithazete | do you stone | G3034 → | 8 times |
ἀπεκρίθηAnswered
apekritheG611 →231 times
αὐτοῖςthem
autoisG846 →5565 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
Ἰησοῦς·Jesus;
iesousG2424 →908 times
πολλὰMany
pollaG4183 →367 times
ἔργαworks
ergaG2041 →168 times
καλὰgood
kalaG2570 →101 times
ἔδειξαI have shown
edeixaG1166 →33 times
ὑμῖνyou
huminG4771 →2973 times
ἐκfrom
ekG1537 →911 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
πατρόςFather
patrosG3962 →410 times
διὰbecause of
diaG1223 →664 times
ποῖονwhich
poionG4169 →33 times
αὐτῶνof these
autonG846 →5565 times
ἔργονwork
ergonG2041 →168 times
ἐμὲMe myself
emeG1473 →839 times
λιθάζετε;¶do you stone
lithazeteG3034 →8 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
1 John 3:12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
it leads to
- Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he…
- Genesis 4:4–15
while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
- Proverbs 29:27
An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked.
- Hebrews 11:4
Through
John 5:36But I have testimony more substantial than that of John. For the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works I am doing—testify about Me that the Father has sent Me.
it leads to
- John 10:25
“I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf.
- John 2:23
While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the signs He was doing and believed in His name.
- John 15:24
If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father.
- John 10:37–38
If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me.
- John 10:25
Through
Ecclesiastes 4:4I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
it leads to
- 1 John 3:12
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
- 1 John 3:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies35
- 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 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on John, Chapter 10; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Tertullian, AGAINST PRAXEAS 22; Tertullian, Against Praxeas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on John and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on John.