Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 8:51

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death." — John 8:51 (ASV)

With a solemn affirmation, Jesus declared that anyone who receives his message will not experience death. This is a negative version of the positive principle declared later by Jesus . It summarizes his mission, for he came “to destroy the devil’s work” and to undo the penalty for sin that was pronounced in Eden (Genesis 2:17). A fuller statement of this principle appears in Jesus’ promise to Martha .