Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
When they accused Jesus of having a demon and being mad, it wasn't just a general insult; they were drawing on a common belief that demonic possession caused insanity. What’s easily missed is that they saw these as distinct, yet related, conditions – possession as the cause and madness as the symptom, both leading them to dismiss him entirely.
Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus' powerful words about His sheep and His relationship with the Father have caused a deep split among the Jewish listeners. While some are beginning to believe or are at least intrigued, many others reject Him outright, accusing Him of demonic possession and madness as a reason to dismiss everything He says.
When Jesus spoke words of profound spiritual truth, some people didn't just disagree; they resorted to serious accusations. What did calling Jesus 'demon-possessed' really mean to them?
In John 10:20, the crowd hurled the insult "He has a demon, and is insane." This wasn't just a casual jab; it was a deeply charged accusation rooted in their understanding of spiritual and mental affliction.
A Two-Pronged Attack
Jesus' words often didn't bring agreement; they fractured the crowd. Why does encountering truth sometimes lead to such strong reactions?
John 10:19 states, "There was a division therefore again among the Jews because of these sayings." This verse is crucial because it reveals the immediate impact of Jesus' discourse.
Truth as a Divider
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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.
daimonizomenou · Greek Participle (Passive)
A spiritual being, often fallen and malevolent, opposed to God and His kingdom, capable of influencing or inhabiting human beings to cause physical or spiritual torment.
daimonion · Greek Noun
An entity in opposition to God, representing the kingdom of darkness, often portrayed as possessing power that opposes divine order and healing.
The crowd's accusations of Jesus being demon-possessed and mad reveal a deep-seated resistance to his message, fueled by a historical context of religious and political tension surrounding the Temple and Messianic expectations.
c. 200 BC - 160 BC
Maccabean Revolt
The Maccabean Revolt against Seleucid rule led to the rededication of the Second Temple. This event is commemorated by the Feast of Dedication.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Teachings
Jesus engages in public ministry, teaching, and performing miracles, which elicits varied reactions from the Jewish population and religious leaders.
Winter, c. AD 30-33— this verse
Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem
Jesus is in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication. He walks in Solomon's Porch in the Temple, where he is confronted by a crowd.
Winter, c. AD 30-33
Confrontation at the Temple
The Jewish leaders challenge Jesus, demanding he openly declare if he is the Christ. Jesus responds by referring to his works and his relationship with the Father, leading to division among the crowd.
This passage echoes the same accusation of demon possession leveled against Jesus by the Jews, highlighting a recurring theme of disbelief and misinterpretation of His message.
John 8:48Here, the Jews accuse Jesus of being a Samaritan and having a demon, demonstrating their consistent effort to discredit Him by attributing His words and actions to evil influence.
1 Corinthians 1:18This verse speaks to how the message of the cross, which is 'foolishness' to those perishing, parallels how Jesus's 'madness' was perceived by His detractors, showing that divine truth is often rejected by the world.
Acts 26:24King Agrippa's reaction to Paul's testimony, calling him 'mad' and 'out of your mind,' shows a similar dismissal of divine truth as mere delusion, mirroring the response to Jesus in John 10:20.
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.
When they accused Jesus of having a demon and being mad, it wasn't just a general insult; they were drawing on a common belief that demonic possession caused insanity. What’s easily missed is that they saw these as distinct, yet related, conditions – possession as the cause and madness as the symptom, both leading them to dismiss him entirely.
Jesus' powerful words about His sheep and His relationship with the Father have caused a deep split among the Jewish listeners. While some are beginning to believe or are at least intrigued, many others reject Him outright, accusing Him of demonic possession and madness as a reason to dismiss everything He says.
Jesus' powerful words about His sheep and His relationship with the Father have caused a deep split among the Jewish listeners. While some are beginning to believe or are at least intrigued, many others reject Him outright, accusing Him of demonic possession and madness as a reason to dismiss everything He says.
"Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”" — When they accused Jesus of having a demon and being mad, it wasn't just a general insult; they were drawing on a common belief that demonic possession caused insanity. What’s easily missed is that th…
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Last reviewed October 2026