Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 8:48

"The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?" — John 8:48 (ASV)

The hardened opposition to Jesus’ claims appears in an accusation apparently leveled at him frequently that he was “a Samaritan and demon-possessed.” The Samaritans held many beliefs in common with the Jews, for they also relied on the Pentateuch as the supreme authority for their faith. They differed, however, in their interpretation and were much more lax in their attitude toward other religious influences. Since Jesus did not agree with all the traditional interpretations of the Law, the Jews may have classed him with the Samaritans as a heretic. According to John, demon-possession was attributed to Jesus on three occasions (7:20; 8:52; 10:20). In this context it is the equivalent of calling a man crazy.