What is the definition of John 10:33? ๐ ๐
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Explanation:
Okay, letโs break down this difficult passage from John 10:33. Itโs a really complex verse with layers of meaning, and it's often misunderstood. Hereโs my explanation in simple terms:
The Basic Idea:
The verse is essentially saying that the Jews are angry because the person speaking โ Jesus โ is claiming to be God. Theyโre not condemning him for ๐any๐ wrongdoing, but specifically for ๐blasphemy๐ (speaking against God).
Let's unpack it piece by piece:
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"The Jews answered him, saying..."
: This means the Jewish people were reacting to Jesusโ statement. They were likely upset and challenging him.
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"...saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."
This is where it gets tricky. Let's break down the parts:
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"For a good work we stone thee not..."
: This suggests they werenโt trying to ๐actually๐ harm him. They were reacting out of anger and frustration.
๐
"...but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."
This is the core of the problem. The Jews are accusing Jesus of:
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Blasphemy:
This means speaking or doing something that violates Godโs laws or teachings. It's like saying something that disrespects God.
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Claiming to be God:
This is the crucial part. Jesus says he ๐is๐ God โ a very bold claim! This is what theyโre angry about because it challenges their understanding of God's nature and power.
So, what does this verse ๐really๐ mean?
It speaks to the tension between:
๐
Jesusโ divinity:
He was a divine being, a way into Godโs relationship with humanity.
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Jewish beliefs about God:
They had a very specific understanding of God โ a personal, relational being who is both powerful and loving.
Important Note:
This passage is often interpreted as a challenge to Jewish religious law and tradition. It highlights the difficulty of reconciling Jesus' claims of divinity with their existing worldview.
In short, this verse isnโt about ๐what๐ Jesus did wrong. It's about his assertion that he is God โ which was seen as dangerous and disruptive to their faith.
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Do you want me to:
๐ Explain a specific part of the verse in more detail?
๐ Discuss the historical context of this passage?
๐ Compare it to other Bible stories about challenging religious beliefs?