Hey Andy, why does Jesus refer to Jews as “you people” in John 3:11? “I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.”
Hi, if you’ll look at the beginning of John 3, you’ll read, “There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus.” So here we learn that Jesus was talking TO Nicodemus.
You People vs You
Interestingly, the NLT and NRSV don’t even mention “you people” in 3:11, just “you”: “…and yet you won’t believe our testimony.“ However, I can see how “you people” would explain more, since Nicodemus came to talk with Jesus in order to understand.
Also, when you look at the Greek, it shows that the place which is translated as “you people” or “you” (NLT) is 2nd person plural (which is also footnoted in the NRSV). So “you people”, or “y’all” would render a better translation.
Now, in John 3:11, when Jesus said “you people” (or “you” in the plural) I can see how some would think He was pointing to the Jews as a whole, but that doesn’t make much sense when you look at the fact that Jesus was also a Jew, as were His disciples. So saying “you people” wouldn’t make much sense. Plus, just before that, Jesus said that He and His disciples (“we”) have only told (testified, proclaimed) what they know and have seen, and they haven’t said anything to Nicodemus in this conversation. So Jesus is clearly not talking just about Nicodemus.
Also, being that Jesus and those who have proclaimed what they know and have seen were also Jews, as well as the fact that it wasn’t the Hebrews of Jesus’ time who were rejecting Him and their testimonies, but the Pharisees, Saducees, Scribes/Teachers of the Law, and other Jewish religious leaders, to whom Nicodemus belonged and represented.
Giving A Testimony
Remember also that in the Hebrew Scriptures, it’s said that when giving a testimony, if 2 or more can testify what they saw, and their stories match, then those listening should consider their account as Truth. The Pharisees, Scribes, etc. were the best of the best in terms of those who knew the Law – they knew this rule, yet still continued to deny their testimonies.
So when Jesus said “you people”, He was referring to the Pharisees, Scribes, and Teachers of the Law, because though Jesus and His disciples were testifying about what they had seen and experienced, they (the Pharisees, Scribes, and Teachers of the Law) continued to refuse to believe them.
Please Leave a Reply