“I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.
- KJV Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
- NKJV Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
- NASB Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; on the contrary, I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
- NLT “No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor 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 denies having a demon and affirms that he honors the Father while they dishonor him. He answers slander with a calm appeal to his obedience.
Overview
Rather than retaliate, Jesus rebuts the charge and points to his consistent honoring of the Father. Their dishonoring of him is, by extension, dishonoring of the One who sent him. The verse shows Christ's composure under accusation and reinforces that how people treat the Son reflects their stance toward the Father.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 1 Pet 2:23When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
- John 13:31–32When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.
- Matt 3:15–17“Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.
- John 17:4I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.
- John 14:13And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
- Phil 2:6–11Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
- John 11:4When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
- Isa 49:3He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel, in whom I will display My glory.”
- John 8:29He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”
- Prov 26:4–5Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
- John 12:28Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
- Isa 42:21The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness, to magnify His law and make it glorious.
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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 8:49 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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