John 10:32

Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

Jesus {G2424} answered {G611} them {G846}, Many {G4183} good {G2570} works {G2041} have I shewed {G1166} you {G5213} from {G1537} my {G3450} Father {G3962}; for {G1223} which {G4169} of those {G846} works {G2041} do ye stone {G3034} me {G3165}?

Yeshua answered them, “You have seen me do many good deeds that reflect the Father’s power; for which one of these deeds are you stoning me?”

But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”

Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from the Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

Commentary

John 10:32 captures a pivotal moment of confrontation between Jesus and the Jewish leaders, where Jesus challenges their intent to stone Him by appealing to the undeniable evidence of His divine ministry.

Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' profound declaration in John 10:30, "I and my Father are one," a statement they interpreted as blasphemy, making Himself equal with God. In response, they picked up stones to execute Him, as stoning was the prescribed punishment for blasphemy under Mosaic Law. Jesus, however, did not flee but directly confronted their violent intent, turning their accusation back on their own actions. He had consistently demonstrated His identity through numerous acts of power, healing, and teaching, all of which He attributed to His Father.

Key Themes

  • The Authority of Jesus' Works: Jesus points to His "many good works" (miracles, healings, compassionate acts, profound teachings) as irrefutable evidence of His divine commission and unity with the Father. These works were not merely moral acts but demonstrations of God's power and presence through Him.
  • Evidence vs. Blindness: The verse highlights the spiritual blindness of His accusers. Despite overwhelming proof of His benevolent and divine power, they chose to interpret His words as blasphemy and His actions as worthy of death. This illustrates a hardened heart that refuses to acknowledge truth, even when plainly demonstrated.
  • Jesus' Defense of His Divinity: By challenging them to identify which "good work" justified their stoning, Jesus subtly reaffirms that His actions align perfectly with God's character, thereby validating His claims of unity with the Father. His works were a testimony to His true identity, as He stated elsewhere, "believe me for the very works' sake."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "good works" translates from the Greek erga kala (ἔργα καλὰ). The word kala means "good" not just in a moral sense, but also "beautiful," "noble," "excellent," or "fitting." These were works that were inherently good, beneficial, and clearly demonstrated divine power and purpose. Jesus' works were not hidden but "shewed" (ἔδειξα - edeixa), meaning they were openly displayed and undeniable, serving as public attestations of His origin and authority.

Practical Application

John 10:32 reminds us that true faith is often supported by demonstrable evidence. Jesus consistently backed His claims with actions that glorified God and benefited humanity. For us, this verse encourages:

  • Examining the Evidence: We are called to critically examine Jesus' life, teachings, and miracles, recognizing them as compelling proof of His divine identity and mission.
  • The Power of Deeds: Our actions, like Jesus' works, can be a powerful testimony to our faith. As believers, our "good works" (motivated by God's grace) should reflect the character of Christ and draw others to Him, rather than provoke condemnation.
  • The Danger of Prejudice: The religious leaders' pre-conceived notions and prejudices prevented them from seeing the truth of Jesus' works. This serves as a warning against allowing bias to hinder our reception of truth, whether spiritual or otherwise.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 5:36

    But I have greater witness than [that] of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

  • 2 Chronicles 24:20

    And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.

  • 2 Chronicles 24:22

    Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon [it], and require [it].

  • John 10:37

    If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:4

    ¶ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Matthew 11:5

    The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

  • John 5:19

    Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
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