Albert Barnes Commentary John 8:43

"Why do ye not understand my speech? [Even] because ye cannot hear my word." — John 8:43 (ASV)

Why do you not [understand]? My meaning is clear, if you were disposed to understand me.

Even because you cannot hear my word. The word "hear" in this place is to be understood in the sense of bear or tolerate, as in John 6:60. His doctrine was offensive to them. They hated it, and therefore they perverted his meaning, and were resolved not to understand him. Their pride, vanity, and wickedness opposed it.

The reason why sinners do not understand the Bible and its doctrines is because they cannot bear them. They hate them, and their hatred produces a lack of candor, a disposition to quibble and to pervert the truth, and an obstinate purpose that it shall not be applied to their case. Therefore they embrace every form of false doctrine, and choose error rather than truth, and darkness rather than light. A disposition to believe God is one of the best helps for understanding the Bible.