Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you 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?
- BSB But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”
- NKJV Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”
- NASB Jesus replied to them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus asks for which of His good works from the Father they intend to stone Him. He exposes the injustice of condemning Him for doing good.
Overview
By pointing to His many good works, Jesus highlights the absurdity of their murderous intent. His miracles came from the Father and benefited the people. The question puts the burden back on His accusers to justify their hostility.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 1 Sam 19:4–6Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Don’t let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you;
- 1 Jn 3:12unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
- Matt 11:5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
- John 5:36But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.
- John 5:19–20Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.
- John 10:37If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me.
- 2 Chr 24:20–22The Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you disobey Yahweh’s commandments, so that you can’t prosper? Because you have forsaken Yahweh, he has also forsaken you.’”
- Acts 10:38even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
- Ps 109:4–5In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer.
- Acts 2:22“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know,
- Eccl 4:4Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
- Ps 35:12They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.
- John 10:25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 10:32 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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