John 10:20
Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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John 10:20
Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
What's easily missed is that the crowd distinguished between "having a demon" and "being mad," seeing the former as the cause of the latter. This reveals a deeper suspicion: they didn't just think Jesus was crazy; they believed he was influenced by an evil spirit, making him a wicked deceiver. Their question, "why listen to him?" wasn't about understanding his words, but about avoiding his supposed demonic influence.
Jesus has just finished speaking about his relationship with his sheep, and his words have caused a deep division among the crowd listening. While some are considering his message, many are reacting with outright hostility, dismissing him as demon-possessed and insane, and questioning why anyone would listen to such a person. This reaction is part of a larger conflict, where Jesus is directly challenging their understanding of belonging and salvation, leading to skepticism and accusations rather than acceptance.
Have you ever felt like people dismissed your sincere beliefs or words as crazy? That's exactly what Jesus faced.
When Jesus spoke, offering life and truth, many of his listeners didn't hear divine wisdom. Instead, they labeled him.
More Than Just an Insult
The accusation "He has a demon, and is insane" reveals a common belief among some Jews at the time: madness was often attributed to demonic possession. They didn't just think Jesus was a bit off; they believed an evil spirit was controlling him, twisting his words and actions.
This wasn't a neutral observation. It was a deliberate attempt to discredit Jesus entirely. By associating him with the demonic, they aimed to shut down any serious consideration of his message. It was a way to say, "Don't listen to him; he's not just wrong, he's dangerous and influenced by evil."
The Danger of Dismissal
This rejection highlights how easily people can twist reality to avoid confronting difficult truths. When Jesus' message challenged their traditions and their self-perception, the easiest path was to demonize the messenger.
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Jesus' words caused a stir. Some heard divine truth, while others heard madness. Where do you fall?
The immediate aftermath of Jesus' statements wasn't agreement, but division. This verse is a snapshot of a larger conflict unfolding.
A Chasm Opens
Some heard Jesus and were deeply troubled, even angry. Their response was to lash out with insults like "demon-possessed" and "insane." This was their way of maintaining the status quo and refusing to engage with the possibility that Jesus might be who he claimed to be.
The Call to Listen
However, the question "why listen to him?" also implies that some were listening, or at least being tempted to listen. The fact that Jesus' message was divisive means it had a powerful effect. It forces people to take a side. The commentary notes that it's a "case full of danger, when even hearing is refused." To refuse to listen is to shut oneself off from potential life-changing truth.
Ultimately, this division reveals the power of Jesus' words. They were not neutral; they demanded a response, creating a clear line between those who would seek truth and those who would cling to their own understanding.
Understand the original words
daimonion · Greek Noun
A malevolent spiritual entity that opposes God and seeks to corrupt or afflict humans. Attributing Jesus’ words to a demon is a rejection of His divine origin and a denial of His mission.
mainomai · Greek Verb
A state of mental disturbance or irrationality. Calling Jesus 'insane' highlights the profound misunderstanding and hostility of those who rejected His messianic testimony.
The accusations of demon possession and madness leveled against Jesus reflect a deep-seated theological and political tension. Some Jews saw any deviation from religious norms, especially during significant festivals like the Feast of Dedication, as potentially demonic, while others recognized the divine power in His works, creating a stark division.
c. 175-164 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes' Persecution
The Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes attempted to Hellenize the Jews, persecuting those who resisted and desecrating the Jerusalem Temple. This event led to the Maccabean Revolt.
164 BC
Rededication of the Temple
Judas Maccabeus and his followers recaptured Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple, instituting the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) to commemorate the event.
Late 1st century BC - Early 1st century AD
Roman Rule in Judea
The Roman Republic, and later Empire, exerted increasing influence and control over Judea, appointing client kings and governors, leading to political and religious tensions.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry in Judea and Galilee
During this period, Jesus preached, healed, and performed miracles, gathering followers but also encountering significant opposition from religious authorities.
Winter, c. AD 29-30— this verse
Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem
Jesus is in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication, where he engages in a discourse with the Jewish leaders in Solomon's Porch of the Temple. This leads to direct confrontation and accusation.
This passage shows a similar accusation leveled against Jesus, demonstrating a recurring pattern of the crowd's disbelief and slander.
John 8:48This verse details the Jews' accusations against Jesus, calling Him a Samaritan and demon-possessed, highlighting their hostile rejection of His message.
1 Corinthians 1:18This passage speaks to the 'foolishness' of the cross to the world, which parallels how Jesus's words were perceived as madness by those who didn't understand His divine mission.
Acts 14:11-12Here, Paul and Barnabas are mistaken for gods, then later stoned and accused of being weak, showing how people wildly misinterpret and react to divine messengers.
clarkeJohn 10:20: "And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?"
He hath a devil, and is mad - So, then, a demoniac and a madman were not exactly the same in the apprehension of the Jews; no more than the effect is the same with the cause which produces it. Some will have it that, when the Jews told our Lord that he had a demon, they meant no more than that he was deranged; but here these matters are evidently distinguished. They believed him to be possessed by a demon, who de…
bengelJohn 10:20: "And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?"
John 10:20 . Πολλοί , many ) They were wont to take in the worst light His most lofty and sweetest discourses.[283][283] τὶ αὐτοῦ ἀκούετε , why hear ye Him? ) It is a case full of danger, when even hearing is refused.—V. g.
What's easily missed is that the crowd distinguished between "having a demon" and "being mad," seeing the former as the cause of the latter. This reveals a deeper suspicion: they didn't just think Jesus was crazy; they believed he was influenced by an evil spirit, making him a wicked deceiver. Their question, "why listen to him?" wasn't about understanding his words, but about avoiding his supposed demonic influence.
Jesus has just finished speaking about his relationship with his sheep, and his words have caused a deep division among the crowd listening. While some are considering his message, many are reacting with outright hostility, dismissing him as demon-possessed and insane, and questioning why anyone would listen to such a person. This reaction is part of a larger conflict, where Jesus is directly challenging their understanding of belonging and salvation, leading to skepticism and accusations rather than acceptance.
Jesus has just finished speaking about his relationship with his sheep, and his words have caused a deep division among the crowd listening. While some are considering his message, many are reacting with outright hostility, dismissing him as demon-possessed and insane, and questioning why anyone would listen to such a person. This reaction is part of a larger conflict, where Jesus is directly challenging their understanding of belonging and salvation, leading to skepticism and accusations rather than acceptance.
"Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?”" — What's easily missed is that the crowd distinguished between "having a demon" and "being mad," seeing the former as the cause of the latter. This reveals a deeper suspicion: they didn't just think…
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