Since the Jews could not refute Jesus" challenge they resorted to verbal abuse (cf. John 7:52). Perhaps they called Him a Samaritan because He had questioned their ties to Abraham. This may have been a Samaritan attack against the Jews as well. [1] Perhaps they also said this because He took a lax view of the tenets of Judaism as they understood them. This is the only record of this charge in the Gospels. However, there are several other instances of the Jews" claiming that Jesus was demon possessed (cf. John 7:20; John 8:52; John 10:20). Perhaps these superficial believers concluded that only a demon-possessed heretic would accuse them as Jesus did. [2] Jesus had claimed that their father was the devil, and now they accused Him of being the devil"s agent. This charge came after Jesus" repeated statements that He had come from God, and it illustrates the unbelief of these "believing" Jews ( John 8:31). [source][source][source]
Context Summary
John 8:48-59 - The Eternal Christ
It is absolutely true that the Christian disciple does see death as the king of terrors or as a grim monster. Jesus has robbed death of its sting; He has destroyed Him that had the power of death. The moment of death is the moment of birth into a wider and happier existence. We are set free from this body of mortality and become possessed of the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. The grave is the vestibule of Paradise. We know that the iron gate opens into the city of God. Absent from the body, we are present with the Lord. The moment of transition is so desirable that it is only comparable to the falling asleep of the tired laborer.
The Father glorified His Son by the attestation given at the Baptism and the Transfiguration, by the Resurrection from the grave, by the Exaltation to His right hand. Yet these are but stages in the glorification of our High Priest. The full outburst of His glory is yet future. We shall behold the glory with which the Father has rewarded His obedience unto death; nay, we are to share it with Him. See John 17:22; John 17:24. Notice the I AM of John 8:58. Compare Exodus 3:14. [source]
Chapter Summary: John 8
1Jesus delivers the woman taken in adultery 12He declares himself the light of the world, and justifies his doctrine; 31promises freedom to those who believe; 33answers the Jews who boasted of Abraham; 48answers their reviling, by showing his authority and dignity; 59and slips away from those who would stone him
Greek Commentary for John 8:48
Thou art a Samaritan and hast a demon [Σαμαρειτης ει συ και δαιμονιον εχεις] On the spur of the moment in their rage and fury they can think of no meaner things to say. They know, of course, that Jesus was not a Samaritan, but he had acted like a Samaritan in challenging their peculiar spiritual privileges (John 4:9,John 4:39). The charge of having a demon was an old one by the Pharisees (Matthew 12:24) and it is repeated later (John 10:20). [source]
Say we not well [] Indicating a current reproach. Well ( καλῶς ) is literally, finely, beautifully. Sometimes ironical, as Mark 7:6. [source]
Thou art a Samaritan [Σαμαρείτης εἶ σὺ] Literally, a Samaritan art thou: the σὺ , thou, terminating the sentence with a bitter emphasis: thou who professest such reverence for God and His law, art only a Samaritan, hostile to the true law and kingdom of God. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 8:48
John 8:52Now [] Looking back to John 8:48. If we were too hasty then in saying that you have a demon, your words now fully justify us. They understood Him to be speaking of natural death. [source]
John 10:20He has a demon and is mad [δαιμονιον εχει και μαινεται] As some had already said (John 7:20; John 8:48 with the addition of “Samaritan”). So long before in Mark 3:21. An easy way of discounting Jesus. [source]
John 8:52Now we know [νυν εγνωκαμεν] Perfect active indicative of γινωσκω ginōskō state of completion, “Now since such talk we have come to certain knowledge that thou hast a demon” (John 8:48). Is dead Second aorist active indicative of αποτνησκω apothnēskō “Abraham died.” And thou sayest Adversative use of και kai “and yet.” Emphatic position of συ su (thou). Same condition quoted as in John 8:51. He shall never taste of death Same emphatic negative with subjunctive as in John 8:51, but γευσηται geusētai (first aorist middle subjunctive of γευω geuō with genitive case τανατου thanatou (death). Another Hebraism for dying like τεωρησηι theōrēsēi (see) in John 8:51. Used in Hebrews 2:9 of the death of Jesus and in Synoptics (Matthew 16:28; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27). It occurs in the Talmud, but not in the O.T. The Pharisees thus did not misquote Jesus, though they misunderstood him. [source]
Greek Commentary for John 8:48
On the spur of the moment in their rage and fury they can think of no meaner things to say. They know, of course, that Jesus was not a Samaritan, but he had acted like a Samaritan in challenging their peculiar spiritual privileges (John 4:9, John 4:39). The charge of having a demon was an old one by the Pharisees (Matthew 12:24) and it is repeated later (John 10:20). [source]
Indicating a current reproach. Well ( καλῶς ) is literally, finely, beautifully. Sometimes ironical, as Mark 7:6. [source]
Literally, a Samaritan art thou: the σὺ , thou, terminating the sentence with a bitter emphasis: thou who professest such reverence for God and His law, art only a Samaritan, hostile to the true law and kingdom of God. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 8:48
Looking back to John 8:48. If we were too hasty then in saying that you have a demon, your words now fully justify us. They understood Him to be speaking of natural death. [source]
Aptly, truly. Compare John 8:48; Matthew 15:7; Luke 20:39. [source]
As some had already said (John 7:20; John 8:48 with the addition of “Samaritan”). So long before in Mark 3:21. An easy way of discounting Jesus. [source]
Perfect active indicative of γινωσκω ginōskō state of completion, “Now since such talk we have come to certain knowledge that thou hast a demon” (John 8:48). Is dead Second aorist active indicative of αποτνησκω apothnēskō “Abraham died.” And thou sayest Adversative use of και kai “and yet.” Emphatic position of συ su (thou). Same condition quoted as in John 8:51. He shall never taste of death Same emphatic negative with subjunctive as in John 8:51, but γευσηται geusētai (first aorist middle subjunctive of γευω geuō with genitive case τανατου thanatou (death). Another Hebraism for dying like τεωρησηι theōrēsēi (see) in John 8:51. Used in Hebrews 2:9 of the death of Jesus and in Synoptics (Matthew 16:28; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27). It occurs in the Talmud, but not in the O.T. The Pharisees thus did not misquote Jesus, though they misunderstood him. [source]