John 8:23

“And he said unto them, etc.] Upon this wicked remark of theirs, and query on his words: ye are from beneath: not only of the earth, earthy, and so spoke of the earth, and as carnal men; but even of hell, they were the children of the devil; they breathed his Spirit, spoke his language, and did his lusts, as in (<430844>John 8:44). I am from above; not with respect to his human body, which he did not bring with him from heaven, that was formed below, in the Virgin’s womb; otherwise he would not have been the seed of the woman, the son of Abraham, David, and Mary: but either with regard to his divine nature and person, he was of God, the Son of God, the only begotten of the Father, who then…”

“Ye are from beneath; I am from above--contrasting Himself, not as in Joh 3:31, simply with earthborn messengers of God, but with men sprung from and breathing an opposite element from His, which rendered it impossible that He and they should have any present fellowship, or dwell eternally together. (Again see on Joh 7:33; also see on Joh 8:44).”

“Ye are from beneath - The expression from bequeath, here, is opposed to the phrase from above. It means, You are of the earth, or are influenced by earthly, sensual, and corrupt passions. You are governed by the lowest and vilest views and feelings, such as are opposed to heaven, and such as have their origin in earth or in hell. I am from above - From heaven. My views are heavenly, and my words should have been so interpreted. Ye are of this world - You think and act like the corrupt men of this world. I am not of this world - My views are above these earthly and corrupt notions. The meaning of the verse is: “Your reference to self-murder shows that you are earthly and corrupt in your…”

“Ye are - Again he passes over their interruption, and proves what he advanced, Joh 8:21. Of them that are beneath - From the earth. I am of them that are above - Here he directly shows whence he came, even from heaven, and whither he goes. John 8:24”

“8:23 Jesus’ listeners were from below; they could not comprehend Jesus’ meaning because he was from above (3:31; see study note on 3:3).”

“Ye are from: Joh 1:14, Joh 3:13, Joh 3:31; Psa 17:4; Rom 8:7, Rom 8:8; Co1 15:47, Co1 15:48; Phi 3:19-21; Jam 3:15-17; Jo1 2:15, Jo1 2:16 ye are of: Joh 15:18, Joh 15:19, Joh 17:14, Joh 17:16; Jam 4:4; Jo1 2:15, Jo1 2:16, Jo1 4:5, Jo1 4:6, Jo1 5:19, Jo1 5:20 John 8:24”