Joh 10:22-42 | JFB | STEP | 22-23. it was ... the feast of the dedication-- celebrated rather more than two months after the feast of tabernacles, during which intermediate period our Lord seems to have remained in the neighborhood of Jerusalem. It was instituted by Jude Maccabeus, to commemorate the purification of the temple from the profanations to which it had been subjected by Antiochus Epiphanes 165 B.C., and kept for eight days, from the twenty-fifth Chisleu (December), the day on which Judas began the first joyous celebration of it (1 Maccabees 4:52,56,59; and Josephus, Antiquities, 7.7.7). it was winter-- implying some inclemency. Therefore,

‏ John 10:22-42

Joh 10:22-42. Discourse at the Feast of Dedication--From the Fury of His Enemies Jesus Escapes beyond Jordan, Where Many Believe on Him.

22-23. it was ... the feast of the dedication--celebrated rather more than two months after the feast of tabernacles, during which intermediate period our Lord seems to have remained in the neighborhood of Jerusalem. It was instituted by Jude Maccabeus, to commemorate the purification of the temple from the profanations to which it had been subjected by Antiochus Epiphanes 165 B.C., and kept for eight days, from the twenty-fifth Chisleu (December), the day on which Judas began the first joyous celebration of it (1 Maccabees 4:52,56,59; and Josephus, Antiquities, 7.7.7).

it was winter--implying some inclemency. Therefore,

24. Then came the Jews--the rulers. (See on Joh 1:19).

How long dost thou make us to doubt?--"hold us in suspense" (Margin).

If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly--But when the plainest evidence of it was resisted, what weight could a mere assertion of it have?

25-26. Jesus answered them, I told you--that is, in substance, what I am (for example Joh 7:37, 38; 8:12, 35, 36, 58).

27-30. My sheep hear my voice, &c.--(See on Joh 10:8).

31. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him--and for precisely the same thing as before (Joh 8:58, 59).

32. Many good works have I showed you--that is, works of pure benevolence (as in Ac 10:38, "Who went about doing good," &c.; see Mr 7:37).

from my Father--not so much by His power, but as directly commissioned by Him to do them. 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?"

33. for a blasphemy--whose legal punishment was stoning (Le 24:11-16).

thou, being a man--that is, a man only.

makest thyself God--Twice before they understood Him to advance the same claim, and both times they prepared themselves to avenge what they took to be the insulted honor of God, as here, in the way directed by their law (Joh 5:18; 8:59).

34-36. Is it not written in your law--in Psa 82:6, respecting judges or magistrates.

Ye are gods--being the official representatives and commissioned agents of God.

37-39. though ye believe not me, believe the works--There was in Christ's words, independently of any miracles, a self-evidencing truth, majesty and grace, which those who had any spiritual susceptibility were unable to resist (Joh 7:46; 8:30). But, for those who wanted this, "the works" were a mighty help. When these failed, the case was desperate indeed.

that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him--thus reiterating His claim to essential oneness with the Father, which He had only seemed to soften down, that He might calm their rage and get their ear again for a moment.

40-42. went away again beyond Jordan ... the place where John at first baptized--(See on Joh 1:28).