John Calvin Commentary John 8:26

"I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you: howbeit he that sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these speak I unto the world." — John 8:26 (ASV)

I have many things to say and judge of you. Perceiving that He is in the position of one who sings to the deaf, He pursues His discourse no further, but only declares that God will defend that doctrine, which they despise, because He is its Author. “If I wished to accuse you,” He says, “your malice and wickedness supply Me with ample materials; but I leave you for the present. But My Father, who committed to Me the office of a teacher, will not fail to fulfill His promise; for He will always vindicate His word against the wicked and sacrilegious contempt of men.” This saying of Christ has the same meaning as that of Paul,

If we deny him, he remaineth faithful, he cannot deny himself,
(2 Timothy 2:13).

In short, He threatens the judgment of God against unbelievers who refuse to believe His word; and He does so on this ground, that God must inevitably defend His truth. Now this is the true firmness of faith, when we believe that God alone is sufficient to establish the authority of His doctrine, even if the world rejects it. All who, relying on this doctrine, serve Christ faithfully, may fearlessly accuse the whole world of falsehood.

And I speak to the world those things which I have heard from him. He says that He utters nothing which He has not received from the Father; and this is the only confirmation of a doctrine, when the minister shows that what he speaks has proceeded from the Father.

Now we know that Christ sustained, at that time, the office of a minister; and, therefore, we need not wonder if He demands that men listen to Him, because He brings to them the commandments of God. Besides, by His example He lays down a general law for the whole Church, that no man ought to be heard unless he speaks from the mouth of God.

But while He lays low the wicked arrogance of those men who take upon themselves to speak without the word of God, faithful teachers, who know well the nature of their calling, are fortified and armed by Him with unshaken firmness, so that, under the guidance of God, they may boldly bid defiance to all mortals.