What does John 10:31 mean?

Explanation

The verse "Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him" (John 10:31) is an account found in the Gospel of John, where a group of Jewish leaders or people are described as wanting to stone Jesus.

This reaction was in response to what Jesus had been saying to them, which they considered blasphemous.

In the preceding passages, Jesus had been speaking of His unity with the Father, implying His divine nature, a claim that the Jewish authorities saw as a mere man making himself out to be God, a grave sin according to the Law of Moses that warranted stoning.

The word "again" indicates that this was not the first time Jesus faced the threat of being stoned. It reflects the ongoing tension between Jesus and the Jewish leaders and their increasing hostility toward Him as He revealed more about His identity and mission.

Historical Context

John 10:31 occurs during the Festival of Dedication, or Hanukkah, in Jerusalem. This festival commemorated the rededication of the Second Temple in the 2nd century BC after its desecration by the Syrian Greeks.

It was a time of heightened nationalistic and religious sentiment among the Jews. Jesus was in Solomon's Colonnade, a part of the Temple complex, when he encountered this hostile reaction.

Stoning was a traditional form of capital punishment in ancient Judaism, prescribed by the Mosaic Law for particular offenses, including blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16).

The legal proceedings for such a punishment required a trial, but in the heat of the moment, Jesus' listeners seem prepared to act immediately on their interpretation of His words.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives focus on various aspects of this verse:

• Traditional Christian Theology: This camp views the reaction of the Jews as a confirmation of Jesus’ divinity claim, emphasizing that Jesus was not stoned at this point because His hour had not yet come, echoing the theme of divine protection and the fulfillment of Jesus' mission in due time.
• Jewish Theology: While not accepting the New Testament as scriptural, Jewish theologians would view any claim to divinity as blasphemous, and thus the response of the Jews in this context can be seen as upholding the strict monotheism of Judaism.
• Liberal Theology: Some theologians suggest that this passage must be understood metaphorically, considering the historical and cultural context, and that the account reflects the evolving understanding of Jesus' followers regarding His identity rather than a literal event.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied in several ways:

• Standing firm in one's beliefs: It shows Jesus standing firm despite knowing He faced opposition that could lead to His death.
• Understanding and tolerance: It can encourage individuals to seek a deeper understanding before reacting to beliefs different from their own.
• Compassion in confrontation: Although His life was threatened, Jesus responded not with violence but attempted to reason with His accusers.

Cross-References

• Leviticus 24:16: "And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death."
• John 8:59: “Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”
• John 11:8: “His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?”

Language Study

The original Greek text for "took up stones" is "ἦραν λίθους” (ēran lithous), where "ἦραν" can mean "lifted up" or "picked up," and "λίθους" means "stones." Thus the phrase indicates they physically picked up stones with the intent to use them.

The historical context implies these were likely large enough to cause serious harm or death.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Stoning as a form of capital punishment is not unique to ancient Judaism.

It was also found in other cultures.

For example, in ancient Greek mythology, Orestes was pursued by the Furies for the murder of his mother and faced stoning.

Comparing religious interpretations, Islamic texts also prescribe stoning (Rajm) for certain offenses, reflecting a harsh shared heritage of penal practice in the Abrahamic faiths.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically, the psychological phenomena of mob mentality and group polarization might explain the readiness of the Jews to stone Jesus without a trial. These phenomena show that individuals in groups can make more extreme decisions and act more impulsively than when alone.

Additionally, stress and emotion can influence cognitive processing and decision-making, leading to rash actions such as those described in this verse.

Commentaries

Many biblical scholars and theologians have commented on this verse:

• Matthew Henry Commentary: Suggests that the Jews' reaction is one of anger and hardened unbelief in response to the clear and divine truths presented by Jesus.
• Barnes' Notes on the Bible: Notes the lack of legal procedure in the Jews' response and reflects on the light this incident sheds on human nature's resistance to the truth.
• Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: Emphasizes the miraculous escape of Jesus from this scenario, explaining it as part of the divine plan to preserve His life until the crucifixion.