JOHN

Chapter 8

"Scribes and Pharisees: Temptation, Condemned, and their Rebuke."

 

This Bible Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's transcription/ location
is provided by
http://www.theseason.org/ 

John 8:1 "Jesus went unto the mount of Olives."

The mount of Olives is right outside the East Gate, and it is from here that Jesus gave us prophesies dealing with the end times that even apply to us today.

John 8:2 "And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came unto Him; and He sat down, and taught them."

When the morning came, Jesus went back into the temple to teach the people. When Jesus taught it would always draw a large crowd.

John 8:3 "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,"

While Jesus was teaching the scribes and the Pharisees, this same band of religious leaders that were plotting to kill Jesus, brought a woman taken in adultery to Christ. They were about to put on a side show, while humiliating this woman, and making her a public disgrace.

John 8:4 "They say unto Him, "Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act."

John 8:5 "Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest Thou?"

It appears that these scribes and Pharisees have Jesus boxed in, as Jesus was a teacher of the law. When you set yourself up as a teacher and you are confronted with the very law you are teaching, you had better know that law. These people are trying to entrap Jesus with His own teaching. They are setting the trap.

John 8:6 "This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him." But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not."

They did this to test Jesus, so that they would have more to accuse Him of, when they finally brought Him to trial. When they were talking and making their accusations against this woman, Jesus acted like He never heard them, but stooped over and started writing on the ground.

This woman was an adulteress, meaning a married woman. The punishment for a married woman committing such an act is given in Numbers 5:11-31. The punishment is different for a single maiden [virgin] caught in such an act, and the law dealing with a this woman is given in Deuteronomy 22:22, 23. The punishment for both the man and the married woman was stoning, but the way it is carried out makes the difference. These scribes and Pharisees tried to have the punishment for this married woman be given, without the man caught in the act with her being present. Both the man and the woman are to be stoned, and if one goes free so does the other.

Deuteronomy 22:22; "If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel."

Deuteronomy 22:23, 24; "If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city and lie with her;" [23] "Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; The damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you." [24]

Are you getting the picture? With the term "adultery" meant this woman was either married, or committed to be married, in either case she was considered a wife. With the charge, the man is equally responsible and if there is a stoning being carried out, they are to be stoned together.

These scribes and Pharisees wanted Jesus to answer the charge of Deuteronomy 22:23, but here it was who she was that made the difference. There is a strong indication that what Jesus wrote was Numbers 5:23. calling attention to these scribes and Pharisees that the requirements of the stoning of this woman had not been met.

Numbers 5:23, 24; "And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter :" [23] "And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter." [24]

Did you notice that when the woman is unmarried and uncommitted in engagement, there is no reference to stoning of this woman caught in the act of fornication, but that she drink the bitter water.

John 8:7 "So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."

Jesus knew that these scribes and Pharisees were not wise enough to understand Deuteronomy 22:22, and 23, so He threw the test right back on their own shoulders. They did have a conscience, and they all knew that they had sin within themselves. The one that picks up the rock first, is telling the others that he is the perfect one, and they all knew better then that.

John 8:8 "And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground."

Jesus is giving their conscience time to work.

John 8:9 "And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst."

Notice here two important things. They were convicted "one by one", as the conscience of each started to work, they saw the sin in themselves, and could not convict this woman in their condition. Then secondly, their conviction started with the oldest first, and continued to the youngest. The oldest men were suppose to be setting the example, and had the greatest conviction. More then likely most of these old men had ruffled the sheets in the past and got away with it, or maybe messed up in their dealings in their business shops. They each knew those secret things they had done, and one thing they did know about the law, is that there was an almighty God that judged in the here-after life. These Pharisees were not like the Sadducees that believed there was no God, and that the grave was the end of the soul.

John 8:10 "When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, "Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?"

Jesus stood up, and there was only the woman. You can be sure that no man condemned her for in doing so they knew that God's judgment would be passed off on themselves. As they were convicted, they left with a heavy conscience.

I have a feeling that Jesus was writing the acts of these men right there in the sand, and Jesus probably started with the oldest and most pious of the bunch. The others saw there time coming and headed out the gate with the old men. Many of these men probably thought that this must be the Messiah, for nobody could have known that.

John 8:11 "She said, "No man, Lord." And Jesus said unto her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

This woman saw the whole thing take place, and she is believing in Jesus. This shows faith. Adultery is the sin that leads to divorce, and Jesus addresses it also. Once you have true repent and recognize Jesus as Lord, you have a clean slate before God, and a new start. Jesus is the one who can and will forgive all sin, and adultery is forgiven when it is repented. If God forgives the adultery and makes the sinner whole, He will not forgive you if you throw that sin back into the face of the one He has forgiven.

We must watch how we judge others, or join others in a mob action, for that is what it is when you gang up on one that has been forgiven. We must let forgiveness enter our hearts, mind, and especially within our churches. We must not make second class citizens out of those that have sinned and truly repented. By hanging on to forgiven sins leads your entire church into being second class citizens. Friend, all of have sinned and come short of the God's holy law and sought repentance for those sins in Jesus name. When you deny this, then the truth is not in you.

God help you if you judge that divorce person that has repented before the Lord, it is time then for your repentance. This applies to any sin from vanity to Sodomy, for when the soul repents, there is forgiveness at the cross of Christ. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Just as Jesus told this woman, "Go and sin on more".

John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Jesus continued his teaching at a later time, and with a new thought. Remember that many of the scribes and Pharisees were Kenites, and not of tribe of Judah, Benjamin or Levi.

Jesus is speaking of the Spirit of God in Him that is in the World, and He is the light of the world. We discussed in earlier chapters of John, where Jesus and the Father are one, and you have seen the Father you have see me, declared Jesus. The very Spirit of God, is also the Spirit of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is light. A person may be able to see with physical eyes, but have his spiritual eyes are closed to the true Light of the world.

Jesus is declaring His oneness With the Spirit of the Father. When a person repents and believes in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit enters the soul and spirit of that person, and reveals spiritual understanding of many things that he was blinded to before.

When you are in the dark days of depression, and the load of the world is on your shoulders, you are not in the light. If you have nothing to worry about, then you dream up a burden you can carry around. You do this because you are spiritually blinded from light of the Spirit of God, and the only way to come into the Light that Christ gives is to trust on Him, and turn that burden over to Him. Jesus said in Matthew 11:29-30:

Matthew 11:29, 30; "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto you souls." [29] "For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." [30]

The purpose of a "yoke" is to distribute the weight of the burden, so that the strong and the week will share in the pulling of the load, so each will do what they are capable of doing. The strong [Christ] will take all the burdens, and leave you with only what you can handle.

When you are yoked to Christ, He takes those heavy loads, and kicks the stones out of your path. Christ pulls in the times when you haven't the strength to continue on. That is what is meant by being yoked to Christ. We become yoked to Him, when we trust Him, and learn of Him; and we do that by studying His Word. When the way seems dark, His Spirit, the Holy Spirit will lighten the way, and open your spiritual eyes to give you understanding.

Darkness, evil, wickedness, worry, all come from Satan. When you have the light you are no longer part of that darkness of Satan's ways.

John 8:13 "The Pharisees therefore said unto Him, "Thou bearest record of Thyself; Thy record is not true."

The Pharisees are claiming that all Jesus is trying to do is make a name for Himself. They are saying that Jesus is lying, and that He is trying to make up things as He goes along to build Himself a reputation.

John 8:14 "Jesus answered and said unto them, "Though I bear record of Myself, yet My record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go."

Jesus can make this statement for a very good reason, the Scriptures declare it. These scribes and Pharisees could not see what was happening in the life of Christ, because their Spiritual eyes were not opened. The only thing that was obvious to them was what the could see with their physical eyes, and reason in their distorted minds.

John 8:15 "Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man."

You judge only what you can see of the outside of man. At this time of Jesus ministry, Jesus would not judge any man because He had not gone to the cross yet.

John 8:16 "And yet if I judge, My judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father That sent Me."

Here it is stated again, if you see the Son, you see the Father, for they are one.

John 8:17 "It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true."

John 8:18 "I am one that bear witness of Myself, and the Father That sent Me beareth witness of Me."

This would be very easy to say, I am one witness, and the one that sent me is another. Any one that can talk could make that statement, but it was written in Scriptures every detail of Jesus life. His birth to even the time and place where He would be born, and all the details of His Ministry. It was the Father that bear witness, for it was the Father that gave the words for the Prophets to write down. This then is the double witness, the Father and the Son.

Jesus witness of Himself as being the Son of the Living God through the miracles that He preformed. Everywhere He went the sick were healed, and even the dead came to life. These men standing before Jesus had witnessed some of these miracles and they knew that the miracles were not man, but of God.

No man could take the five barley loaves of bread, and feed five thousand men with it. It just can't happen, but it did and many of these men witnessed it. They knew, but Satan so blinded their minds that they just could not accept the witness.

John 8:19 "Then said they unto Him, "Where is Thy Father?" Jesus answered, "Ye neither know Me, nor My Father: if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also."

These men had the writings of the prophets but did not understand them, nor could they apply the meanings.

John 8:20 "These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as He taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on Him; for His hour was not yet come."

Jesus spoke with boldness and authority, so that no one dared to question Jesus publically. If one had taken Jesus, the public would have arose against them. God's divine nature works on all mankind to fulfill the purpose of God's plan. The entire Word will be fulfilled as it is written.

John 8:21 "Then said Jesus again unto them, "I go My way, and ye shall seek Me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go ye cannot come"

What Jesus is saying here is that with your line of thought, you can only see and understand by the world's mind, and that mind will take you to hell in your sins. I am going the other way to heaven, and unless you change your way, you cannot come with Me. Christ here is ministering as an evangelist, He is saying you have to change your ways, or you will go to hell.

John 8:22 "Then said the Jews, "Will He kill Himself? because He saith, 'Whither I go, ye cannot come.' "

This will show you how far out the minds of these Kenites were. They could not understand the spiritual application, but thought He was talking of killing Himself. They are totally in the dark in spiritual truth, and everything in their mind is of the physical realm. They are just like those people that ate their fish sandwiches. They could only see the sandwich that their senses held, and not the spiritual application. As long as their tummy's were filled, they followed, but when the spiritual teaching came, they couldn't see it.

Keep in mind also that these Jews believed that if you killed yourself, you were going to hell, and were of the devil, and they didn't want to go there. So this also caused them to believe that Jesus was of the devil. These self-righteous hypocrites knew in their minds that they would not be going where Christ went.

John 8:23 "And He said unto them, "Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world."

We are not to close our eyes to this world because we are living in this world. We are to approach this world with our spiritual eyes wide open, for we are told in the Scriptures what is to happen in these end times, so we will not be deceived when we see those events. We are to be smarter then the people of this world, and beat them at their own game. We are to be wiser then the serpent, yet as peaceful as a dove.

All these men could see was the ways of the their world. Their world was turning the laws to fit their own satisfaction, and trimming the other guy before he trims you. An eye for an eye, and lets get even. It is no different then as it is now.

John 8:24 "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins."

Jesus is telling them, that the only way that they could be forgiven of their sins was through Him. If you try any other way, you will die in your sins.

John 8:25 "Then said they unto Him, "Who art Thou?" And Jesus saith unto them, "Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning."

They are starting to see that Jesus is not changing in what He is teaching. Jesus told them that He is the same person that He claimed to be from the beginning of His ministry. I told you then "I am the Christ", and that is who I am. I told you that My Father and I are one, and that is the truth.

John 8:26 "I have many things to say and to judge of you: but He That sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him."

What Jesus is telling them is that He has enough things on you, to hang you and send you to hell right now. The subject is "going to hell". Remember that Jesus told them that He was going one direction and they were going in the other direction.

What did Jesus have on them? These men were plotting to murder Jesus, and they were gathering false witnesses to lie. The one thing that God does not approve of is murder. God said that if you have two or more witnesses to the fact that a person is a murderer, then stone him and send his soul to Me. If they repent of their murderous act they can be saved, but the capitol punishment must be carried out. These self-righteous religious people were really murderers at heart. Jesus is telling them, even with this in your heart, I'll still forgive you.

John 8:27 "They understood not that He spake to them of the Father."

They did not understand that if they repented to the Father, that He would forgive them.

John 8:28 "Then said Jesus unto them, "When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things."

Jesus is telling them to their face that when they crucify Me, and nail Me to the cross; there are many things that you will learn of Me at that time that you don't understand now. At that time you will know that I am "the Anointed One" [the Christ]. You will know then that what I have said was given to Me by My Father, and that He taught Me all things.

While even hanging on the cross, the words that Jesus spoke were in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, God the Father did not desert Jesus at any time. "When ye have lifted up the Son of man" is that time when Jesus is hung on the cross. Jesus is telling them to pay attention to the Scriptures then, and you will know that I was sent from the Father, and that all of the things that I have told you are the truth.

John 8:29 "And He That sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him."

Christ is our example, in that everything that we do should be done to please the Father, and that even goes for our work on the job. When you please the Father, He will bless you for the pleasure that you have given Him.

John 8:30 "As He spake these words, many believed on Him."

After Jesus had spoken, many that were standing before Jesus believe Him.

John 8:31 "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, "If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed;"

Jesus is directing this to those that are now believing on Him. A "disciple" is one that studies His Word, and disciplines themselves in that Word. The reason Jesus addresses the "Jews" here, is that many of them are Kenites, and even a Kenite can be saved. When a person comes to see and understand that he or she is a sinners, and then repents and believe on Jesus. Jesus is telling all those that believe on Him, to study and continue in His Word, and then they are truly My disciples.

John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Many people work this verse over to where it loses the meaning. They believe that truth is mearly to be saved, and then you are set free. The seed that is the Word, is the truth. Until you become familiar with God's Word, all of it, you are not really free. The Word sets your mind and conscience free from the slavery of every part of this world today. It puts you into a position whereby you are wiser then those that would suppress you with their traditions of men. You will know why you have the freedom to do what you do, and when others come at you and place their guilt trip on you, you will not be entrapped by their accusations.

It is a privilege from God that we can learn and serve to please Him.

John 8:33 "They answered him, "We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest Thou, 'Ye shall be made free?' "

First of all these men are still confused, they are not looking at the spiritual, for they can only think of the position of a slave as being one that is not free.

John 8:34 "Jesus answered them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."

When you commit any sin, then you become a slave to that sin. You must learn to rise above the things of this world that would enslave you. We all will fall short, and sin, but repentance when we have fallen, raises us above those enslavements. When you in turn learn the truth, then it helps you to know when you have sinned, and you repent for that sin. It frees your mind from the guilt of sin. You know how to stay out of the traps of the world, and when your human weakness causes you to sin, that is the time for repentance.

Now in reference to the term, "We be Abraham's seed," Abraham's name was first called "Abram", and God changed his name to "Abraham". The word "Abraham" means in the Hebrew tongue, "father of all nations", and this is in reference to the Gentile nations also. For through "Abraham's Seed", which is Jesus Christ, there is spiritual life given to all people that will believe, and repent, of all nations and races.

John 8:35 "And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever."

If your a servant to sin, you are not going to live forever. You will not have eternal life.

John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Remember that the Son is the Truth, which is the Word, and "Jesus is the Word that was made flesh and dwelt amongst us." Do you get what this is saying? The Truth, the Word, the Son, and Jesus Christ are all the same; and believing on Him is the only way you can have eternal life. Jesus has used His own name and made it the same as the Truth; this is because Jesus is the Living Word.

When we study the Words of the Father from the Old Testament and compare them with the truths the Son gives us in the New Testament, we will see that they are the same. The only error in the Scriptures is not within the Scriptures, but in a persons ability to understand the spiritual meanings that is being taught. The understanding comes by studying the word and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you in your study.

The Spirit will open your mind to what you are capable of understanding, and God will hold you accountable for what you know. Don't worry about not being able to understand a level of study beyond your limits. But rejoice with the promises that you do understand. God loves you, and He seeks your love back, and for it He will bless you and give you peace of mind.

John 8:37 "I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill Me, because My word hath no place in you."

These Jews, many of them Kenites, started to believe in Jesus because of the miracles He preformed, but in their heart they will still seek to kill Jesus. Jesus is looking ahead, and He knows how they will leave their convictions of this moment. They will do this because they limit of their belief only to the physical. They just can not see the spiritual truths of Jesus Word, because their spiritual eyes are still blind.

You see this many times today, where the emotions of the service will cause one to come forward and the Word is presented to that person. Yet when he or she goes back in to the world, there is nothing spiritual that causes that person to follow Christ. The Word is not in his (her) heart and his (her) mind is blank. Jesus knows that these Jews will turn against Him when the moment of the emotional high is over, just like those without the Word will drift back into their worldly state. However Jesus is saying that now he will become even more sinful.

Jesus is agreeing with these Jews that they are of Abraham's seed, but their spiritual eyes are still not open. Jesus is telling them that His Word just hasn't taken root in your heart (mind). It is all just lip service.

John 8:38 "I speak that which I have seen with My Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father."

Jesus is now using a comparison of Him to the heavenly Father, and them, the Jews to their father.

This should turn your mind to the last two verses of the Old Testament. Malachi 4:5, 6; "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:" [5] "And he [Elijah] shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." [6]

Elijah's end time ministry is to turn you one way or to the other. There will no middle of the road. You will either turn to the Heavenly Father, or you will turn to the fake father, the Antichrist Satan. If you are sealed in your mind with the truth of God's Word, you will not be deceived into turning to the fake father, but if you are not sealed with the truth of God's Word you will take the mark of the beast, and you will have no defense against it.

If you don't know that the first Messiah to come is the Antichrist, then you will be taken by the false father, the fake. What Jesus is saying here is that there is two fathers here also, and these Jews can only understand and believe what their earthly fathers have instructed them to believe.

John 8:39 "They answered and said unto Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus saith unto them, "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham."

Many of these claiming to be Jews were not of the lineage of Abraham, but were the Kenites. Sure they listened to their earthly father Cain who was the first murderer. These Kenites played a dominating role in the plotting and murdering of Jesus. When those Jews believe on Christ, they are no longer children of the devil for they immediately become children of God, and joint heirs with Christ.

Were they doing the work of Abraham? Did they keep the laws that Abraham wrote down? Of course not, they twisted the law to meet their earthly sinful traditions, and lied and plotted to murder anyone that interfered with those traditions. Jesus told them that if you were Abraham's children, then you would be doing the works of Abraham.

John 8:40 "But now ye seek to kill Me, a Man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham."

This is probably the simplest lesson the Christ ever taught, that if you cannot see the fruit of Christ in a person, by their words and their works, then they are not of Christ. If you cannot see the fruits of Abraham [the law] in the works of one claiming to be of Abraham, friend, they are not of Abraham. Their works were seeking to murder Jesus, and that is not a fruit of Abraham.

If you do not know whether a certain church or religious group is of Christ, then test its fruit. Does it teach the Word of God, or does it teach the traditions of men. Does it teach chapter by chapter, and verse by verse, leaving nothing out, or does it make the Scriptures conform to their ideology. Are they out to hit the heart, or the pocket book. If they are catering to emotions, it is time to look out.

Here in this next set of verses, Jesus is talking directly to the Kenites.

John 8:41 "Ye do the deeds of your father." Then said they to Him, "We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God."

When Jesus said that these Kenites did the work of their father, they knew exactly that Jesus was drawing attention to both Cain, and Satan. The deeds of both were murder, and Jesus has already called their attention to the fact that He knew they were plotting to murder Him.

John 8:42 "Jesus said unto them, "If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God: neither came I of My self, but He sent Me."

The Scriptures foretold of Jesus coming, and it was not the word of Jesus alone. In Daniel 9:24-26 it even states the year that the Messiah would be "cut off" [crucified]. To the day on palm Sunday, and to the details of the crucifixion. This is where the trouble comes, because the Kenites did know that the Messiah would come, and they were expecting Him. Daniel identified to the year when Messiah would show, and that is why these Kenites were laying in wait.

Daniel 9:24; "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy People and upon thy holy city [Jerusalem], to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."

God was telling Daniel that "there will be seventy weeks of years until Messiah comes" to the "time of the end" of this earth age; to usher in the Millennium age. This is 490 years.

Daniel 9:25; "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: The street shall be built again, and the wall, even the troublous times."

Put a pencil to the numbers. 7 weeks, plus 60 weeks [threescore], plus 2 weeks, and friend you have sixty nine [69] weeks of years. That equals 490 years.

We must make adjustments for the difference in the Jewish calendar year of 360 days, to the Gregorian calendar of 365 days, and adding the extra days for the leap year. The time you start counting is when Nehemiah returned to rebuild the streets and walls of Jerusalem in the known date of 444 B.C., which is an historical date in History. Then you add the remainder of 25 days, between the two calendars, and compensate for the fact of 2 missing years because there is not year 0 in any calendar, and you are at have palm Sunday, the only day that Jesus was ever claimed by the Jewish people at large to be the Messiah.

Daniel 9:26; "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined."

When Messiah is cut off, there is a gap in the 490 years, for the last seven years do not begin until the time of the end, and friend were are fast approaching that date. The "prince" that shall come to destroy the city and the sanctuary with a flood, is Satan the Antichrist, and he comes in with his flood is with lies, wonders and deceptions. That final period is seven years, as given by other prophets also.

However, Daniel was well known by all the religious leaders, and that is why they were very active in their plotting to kill Jesus. They knew that Jesus came on that palm Sunday, right on schedule, right to the day, and Jesus entered Jerusalem, riding on the ass, and the people crying out to Him.

Matthew 21:9 "Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." This is the fulfillment of Daniels prophecy and these Kenites scribes and Pharisees knew it.

Now getting back to John 8:42, these Kenites knew Jesus, but for the peoples sake, they put on this play acting. They always were good and acting and covering over who they really were. These Kenites controlled the temple, and they were out to crucify the very one that would ultimately destroy their father Satan. Jesus is saying, if you believe God and know the scriptures like you say you do, you would know I'm telling the truth; there is something wrong with you.

John 8:43 "Why do ye not understand My speech? even because ye cannot hear My word."

There are many people today that just cannot understand the simplicity that is taught in Christ, and that is because they are of the prince of this world, and their eyes are spiritually blinded. They are quick to accept the traditions of men that have been in their family and churches for many years, even when it goes against what God's Word teaches.

Jesus is now going to identify exactly who these Kenites are.

John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him, When he spaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

Do you know who the devil is? The devil is Satan, and he goes by many names. In Revelation 12:9; "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world;" In the Garden of Eden Satan was called the "old serpent, and the tree of good and evil"

Jesus is telling these Kenites that there father is the devil, who is also called Satan, the dragon, or any of his other names that Satan has because of the roles he has played. Jesus is telling these Kenites that the lust, and murder in your heart is inborn from your father Satan, and you are driven in your spirit to do murder because Satan is your father.

This is why Jesus could not be speaking to the brethren of the house of Judah, for their lineage is not of Satan, this is what the plan of God is all about. Keeping the pure lineage that the coming Messiah would be born from. That is why Noah was saved from the flood, as we are told in Genesis 6:9 "THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF NOAH; Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations,..." In the Hebrew text the word for "perfect" is "tamim", which means "without blemish, as to breed or pedigree". Noah's blood line was pure.

Jesus is making it simple, now who was the murderer from the beginning? Most small children could answer that, it was Cain. Genesis 4:8; "And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, And slew him." Cain was a murderer from, or in the beginning.

Jesus is telling it just as it is, The "Kenites" are the children [offspring by lineage] of the devil, through Cain. Jesus identified both Satan, and Cain as being their father. So why is it any secret that they would try to murder Christ, they are just like their fathers Cain and Satan.

I Chronicles 2:55; "And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez [Jerusalem]; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.

The lineage of Rechab is not of Israel, and those men standing before Jesus here are the offspring of the Rechab not Jacob or Judah. The duties of the scribes and the priests had been taken over in Babylon, some five centuries prior to Christ birth.

This then gets into what happened in the Garden of Eden between Eve and Satan. For what came out of that sexual relationship union was a child, and not apple seeds and apples. The leaves were fig leaves, and not apple tree leaves, and Eve covered her private parts, and not a mask to cover her mouth. As Paul said, Satan wholly seduced Eve in the garden, and from that union came Cain.

Genesis 3:15 "And I [God] will put enmity between thee [Satan] and the woman [Eve]. and between thy seed [the Kenites] and her Seed [Jesus Christ]; It [Christ] shall bruise thy [Satan's] head, and thou [Satan] shalt bruise His [Christ's] heel."

Most learned "men of God" acknowledge that Genesis 3:15 is talking about the death of Jesus Christ, when He was nailed to the cross for our sins. The recognize that "seed" is referring to the children of the woman "Eve", yet somehow they just want to spiritualize everything else that happened in the Garden of Eden between Eve and the two men [Satan and Adam]. The "seed" in the Hebrew is called "Zirmah", and in the Greek it is "sperma". In the English we call it "sperm", and Strong's Hebrew Dictionary # 2233; "Posterity, carnally, child, fruitful". Friend, it simply can not be any clearer. The seed of Satan's "posterity" are the Kenites through Cain, while Adam's posterity is in Christ who is of the pure bloodline through Seth.

In Strong's Hebrew dictionary, numbered to the King James Bible; # 7014, and the word is "Kenite": "Qayan, Kah'-yin; The name of the first child, of an oriental tribe:-Cain, Kenite." Now lets take the name "Kenites" [the family], # 7017, "Qeyniy, kay-nee', a Kenite or member of the tribe of Kajin:-Kenite."

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah detail how the duties of the Levitical priests had been taken over by these Kenites [Nethinims-foreigners] from top to bottom, and their plot existed then to kill Nemehiah. It was not sucessful, for Nemehiah finally figured out who was setting the trap for Him.

When Jesus was warning our Generation of what to look out for in the end times, He compelled us to "learn the parable of the fig tree", so we would not be deceived in the later days [Matthew 24:32]. Friend, the roots of the parable are in the Garden of Eden, and they deal with the sexual affair between Eve and Satan, and out of it came a son named Cain. Cain's offspring have tried to attach themselves to the lineage of Adam, and Abraham all through the years. When you understand who these people of Hamath are, and that they are not of Abraham, Jacob, Judah or any part of Israel, then you are starting to understand the "parable of the fig tree".

If this disturbs you to much, then put this study down, for you are not intended to understand, and just go back to Buddha, Ishtar, or where ever you were that makes you feel good or gives you an emotional high. However if you desire to study deeper into this, Matthew 13 gives several parables relating to the parable of the fig tree, or [tares] and then from verses 36 to 43 Jesus explains the parables to His disciples. This is the key to understanding much of the Scriptures.

Jesus disciples came to him in private and asked Jesus to explain the parables to them, for they just didn't understand them. Lets start here with Matthew 13:35; "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, saying, "I will open my mouth in parable; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world." These parables reveal things that are secrets that have been kept from the very foundation of the world. The explaining of the parables starts in verse 36. It is explaining the meaning of each part of His parables, that will apply to all of the parables here.

Matthew 13:36: "Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto Him, saying, "Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field."

Jesus declared that to us; remember that truth is what sets you free.

Matthew 13:37; "He answered and said unto them, "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man:"

This is not a parable, but Jesus is explaining one to the disciples. The Holy Spirit of God breathed the soul or life into these bodies created by God.

Matthew 13:38; "The field is the world; and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;"

Jesus is talking about this world age of the flesh. Don't spiritualize this away. We are talking about people here, the children of God's kingdom, and the children of the wicked one [Satan]. The tares are the Kenites, the children of the wicked one.

Matthew 13:39; "The enemy that soweth them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels."

When you check out what the devil soweth in Strong's Greek dictionary, it is "sperma"; the devil who is Satan deposited male sperma into mother Eve. If this is hard to take and understand that an angel, which Satan is, had sperm; go back in Genesis 6 where many angels violated God's orders and these angels [sons of God] "came to earth to take the daughters of men to be their wives." From those marriages came some form of life that the translators called "children" [Nephilim]. How do you think that those women became pregnant if the sperm was not there?

The first two sons of Eve, Cain and Abel were twins, but not of the same father. Genesis 4:2 "And she again bare his brother Abel,..." "Again" in the Hebrew text is "yacaph", in the Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, # 3254; "(to continue to do a thing)". If Eve just gave birth to Cain, and she continues on giving birth, then she is having twins. Jesus told it rightly in John 8:44 where the lust and murder in the hearts of these Kenites came from.

Matthew 13:40 "As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world."

Matthew 13:41 "The son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things the offend, and them which do iniquity:"

Matthew 13:42 "And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

Matthew 13:43 "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

Friend, this chapter of John is not the only place in God's Word that Christ taught us of these Kenites, and made it this simple. So as we discussed above, Cain was the offspring of Satan, not Adam, and Cain's offspring are called "Kenites", and we are warned to be aware of them throughout the word of God.

Are we to destroy them? Definitely not, but they are part of all the Parables, especially dealing with the end times. Truth will set you free, and we are to become wiser then the serpent, and his people. Then you will not have the problems that you would otherwise have, because you have power over them. The spiritual battle is real, and we have the victory. The Kenites are part of God's overall plan, leave them alone.

John 8:45 "And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not."

Jesus had been rough on them, telling these men that their father was the devil, and sometimes the truth hurts.

John 8:46 "Which of you convinceth Me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?"

Jesus is asking these Kenites, for which of my acts do you want to murder me for. Jesus had fed thousands including many Kenites. He had raised people from the dead. He had healed many, and forgiven many of their sins; now Jesus asks "which one of these caused you to plot against Me?" Only the devil and his children, the Kenites could have wished Jesus life be taken.

John 8:47 "He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God."

There are two fathers, alright; God is the one, and the other is the devil. Are you starting to figure out which one the Kenites are from?

John 8:48 "Then answered the Jews, and said unto Him, "Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?"

These Kenites are mad at what Jesus has just said, and they are telling Jesus that He is Samaritan, which is to say that you are a foreigner, and don't know what your are saying. The Samaritans were outsiders when it came to the things of God, and the Jews looked on them in disgrace. To top it off, they told Jesus that He had a devil in Him. They knew what Jesus was saying, and that their hidden ways and secrets had just been revealed in public by Jesus, and they did not like that.

John 8:49 "Jesus answered, "I have not a devil; but I honour My Father, and ye do dishonour Me."

John 8:50 "And I seek not Mine own glory: there is One That seeketh and judgeth."

John 8:51 "Veily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death."

John 8:52 "Then said the Jews unto Him, "Now we know that Thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and Thou sayest, "If a man keep My saying, he shall never taste of death."

Don't blame the tribe of Judah for this, for it was the offspring of the first murderer that is claiming that Jesus has a devil. Here you can see that this tribe of Kenites do not understand the Word of God, for God Himself states in Matthew 22:32 that He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living.

In Ecclesiastes 12:7 God says that when the flesh body does dies it go back to the dust of the earth, and the soul returns immediately to the Father that gave it.

So we see that these Kenites are so tied to their traditions that they don't even know that we serve a living God.

John 8:53 "Art Thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead whom makest Thou Thyself?"

If Abraham and the prophets are all dead, then whom do you claim to be?

John 8:54 "Jesus answered, If I honour Myself, My honour is nothing: it is My Father That honoureth Me; of Whom ye say, that He is your God:"

Jesus is saying to these Kenites that I honor My Father, and you claim to be honoring Him, but you are not.

John 8:55 "Yet ye have not known Him; but I know Him: and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know Him, and keep His saying."

It doesn't make someone happy to call them a liar to their face in public, but Jesus isn't out to win friends here.

John 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad."

The reference to "father Abraham" is given, because Abraham is the father of all nations, for that is what his name means.

John 8:57 "Then said the Jews unto him, "Thou are not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?"

John 8:58 "Jesus said unto them, "Verily verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."

"I am" is the sacred name of God. Genesis 14 tells us that Abraham went to battle to save his nephew Lot, and when Abraham returned from battle he met Melchizedek the king of Salem in the plain, and Abraham brought forth bread and wine and Melchizedek blessed Abraham. Melchizedek is the priest of the Most High God, and He is identified as the great "I Am". It was from this meeting that Melchizedek, the great "I Am", blessed Abraham and gave him the name change from "Abram". Melchizedek was Christ, and that is why Paul would say that Christ was a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. "Melchizedek" in the Hebrew is "King of the Just" There is only one King of the Just and that is Christ.

John 8:59 "Then took they up stones to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through, going through the midst of them, and so passed by."

The Kenites could not see the promised Messiah when He stood before them, and when Jesus told them that they were of their father the devil, they went mad with hatred. Even though these Kenites plotted to murder Christ, and with all the hatred in their hearts, if they had come to believe on Jesus at any time, His love for them is so great that Christ's shed blood would even cover their sins. Friend, there is no sin that you cannot repent of, except the one that can only be committed by the elect of God during the time of the great tribulation. That time has not come yet when the elect are delivered up before the Antichrist to allow the Holy Spirit of God to speak through you.

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