John 8:48-50 - Homiletics

The indignant retort of the Jews.

Our Lord's last words inflamed their spirits beyond endurance.

I. THEIR INSOLENT RETORT . "Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?"

1 . The words suggest that they regarded Jesus as their national enemy, estranged from the hopes of Israel, and withal a rejecter of the full revelation made by God. The term "Samaritan" was always used by the Jews in an insulting sense.

2 . The imputation that he had a devil implied that he was a fanatic and misguided enthusiast, influenced by essentially evil principles.

II. OUR LORD 'S REPLY TO THE RETORT . "I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me."

1 . Jesus takes no notice of the imputation of his Samaritanism. That was pure insult, for the Jews knew that he was a Galilaean. "He, when he was reviled, reviled not again, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" ( 1 Peter 2:23 ). He teaches soon after that a Samaritan may be more truly a child of God than either priest or Levite. He thus makes light of the distinction of race which breathed so largely in Jewish conceptions.

2 . He denies the imputation that he has a devil, because it was important to assure them that his words were those, not of wild or dark fanaticism, but of truth and soberness.

3 . The true motive of his mission is not hatred to the Jews, but the honour due to his Father.

4 . The union of Father and Son involved, through their faithless attitude, a deep dishonour to himself ; for by refusing to honour the Father, they withheld the honour due to him, who is the Son and the Sent of the Father.

5 . Yet the insults offered to himself would be divinely judged. "And I seek not mine own glory: there is One that seeketh and judgeth."