Jesus said the Jews could not understand his speech because they could not hear his word — his word had no place in them.
In John 8:43, Jesus plainly stated, "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word." Les Feldick explains that the Jewish leaders were relying on their descent from Abraham and insisted they had no sin problem, which left them blind to who Jesus was. Jesus also told them they had not known the Father, and their rejection of his words proved they were not of the same Father as him. Even Jesus' disciples experienced the same inability, because Luke 18:34 says "this saying was hid from them."
John 8:43 — This is the verse where Jesus directly answers the question — he says the Jews cannot understand because they cannot hear his word.
John 8:37 — Jesus tells the Jewish leaders that his word has no place in them, showing why his speech did not register.
In John chapter 8, Jesus confronts Jewish religious leaders who were claiming to be Abraham's seed. When they could not grasp his teaching, Jesus gave the reason plainly: "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word" (John 8:43). Their inability to comprehend his speech was rooted in their inability to receive his word. Jesus also told them, "I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you" (John 8:37). He then contrasted his own origin with theirs: "I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father" (John 8:38). Although they said God was their Father, Jesus told them, "Ye have not known him; but I know him" (John 8:55). Their response is recorded in verse 52: "Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets... whom makest thou thyself?" (John 8:52–53). Luke 18:34 shows the same blindness among the Twelve: after Jesus plainly predicted his death and resurrection, "they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them." And the prophecy quoted in Acts 28:26–27 describes Israel's condition: "Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross."
Les Feldick explains that when Jesus confronted the Jews with their sin, they could not see it because they were relying on their genealogy: "Hey, we're the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We don't have a sin problem" (Clip 0). Jesus knew they were Abraham's physical seed, yet they were seeking to kill him "because my word has no place in you" — a heavy accusation against people who thought they were righteous (Clip 0). Les points out that Jesus was "slapping them in the face" when he said, "I speak that which I have seen with my Father, and you do that which you have seen with your Father" — showing that they were not of the same Father as Jesus (Clip 0). They should have known who Jesus was, but they did not; they thought they knew Jehovah, yet Jesus told them, "You have not known him. But I know him" — and that if he denied it, he would be "a liar like you" (Clip 4). Les also uses Luke 18 to show that this inability to understand was not unique to the Pharisees — even the Twelve "understood none of these things" when Jesus plainly predicted his death and resurrection, because "this saying was hid from them" (Clip 7). And he connects the Jews' rejection to Isaiah's prophecy spoken through Paul in Acts 28: "hearing you shall hear, and you shall not understand... For the heart of this people is wax gross" (Clip 6).
Les Feldick says the Jews were relying on their genealogy — "Hey, we're the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We don't have a sin problem." When Jesus confronted them with their sin, they could not see it because of that false confidence. Jesus acknowledged they were Abraham's seed, but told them they sought to kill him because his word had no place in them (John 8:37).
The Jews tried to corner Jesus and prove he was an imposter and a blasphemer (Clip 3). When Jesus said that whoever keeps his saying will never see death, they answered, "Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets... Art thou greater than our father Abraham... whom makest thou thyself?" (John 8:52–53). When Jesus said Abraham rejoiced to see his day, they replied with sarcasm: "Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?" (John 8:57).
Les Feldick points to Luke 18:31–34, where Jesus spoke plainly about being delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, scourged, killed, and raised the third day. Yet the Twelve "understood none of these things," and the verse explains why: "this saying was hid from them." Les notes it was not a language problem or the first time Jesus had spoken — the understanding was hidden from them (Clip 7).
Les Feldick cites the Holy Spirit's words through Isaiah, later quoted in Acts 28: "Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross." This prophesied condition explains why Israel — including the Jewish leaders in Rome Paul addressed — could hear Jesus' and Paul's words yet not understand them (Clip 6).
False Confidence in Abraham
Les explains that the Jews could not see their sin because they leaned on being children of Abraham, and Jesus said his word had no place in them.
The Jews Accuse Jesus of a Demon
Les shows the Jews' reaction to Jesus' claims about eternal life — they accused him of having a devil and demanded "whom makest thou thyself?"
Jesus on God's Territory
Les notes that when Jesus spoke of keeping his saying and never seeing death, the Jews knew this was God's territory, which fueled their unbelief.
The Jews Try to Corner Jesus
Les describes the ongoing attempts of the Jews to prove Jesus was an imposter and a blasphemer, which is why his words did not register with them.
They Should Have Known Him
Les emphasizes that the Jews should have known who Jesus was, but they did not know the Father either — and Jesus called their claim to know God a lie.
Abraham Rejoiced to See Jesus' Day
Les shows the sarcastic unbelief of the Jews when Jesus said Abraham rejoiced to see his day, revealing their complete failure to understand.
Isaiah's Prophecy of Hardened Hearts
Les connects Israel's inability to understand to the Isaiah prophecy quoted in Acts 28: hearing they hear but do not understand, because their heart was waxed gross.
The Disciples' Understanding Was Hid
Les uses Luke 18 to show that even the Twelve could not understand Jesus' plain words about his death because the saying was hid from them.
John 8:37: I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Jesus directly tells the Jews that his word had no place in them, which is why his speech did not register.
John 8:38: I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Jesus contrasts his own Father with the father of the Jews, showing they were not of the same Father.
John 8:43: Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
This is Jesus' direct answer to the question — their inability to understand was because they could not hear his word.
John 8:51: Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Jesus' claim about eternal life was the statement the Jews rejected as blasphemy.
John 8:52: Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
The Jews' reply shows they could not understand Jesus' words; they accused him of having a devil.
John 8:54: Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
Jesus points to the Father whom the Jews claimed as their God, even while they rejected him.
John 8:55: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
Jesus says plainly that the Jews had not known the Father, though they claimed to know him.
John 8:56: Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Abraham's faith in Jesus' day contrasts with the unbelief of the Jews who rejected him.
John 8:57: Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
The Jews' sarcastic answer reveals they had no idea who Jesus was.
Luke 18:34: And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
Even the disciples could not understand Jesus' plain prediction because the saying was hid from them.
Acts 28:26–27: Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Isaiah's prophecy cited by Paul describes Israel's hardened heart as the reason they hear but do not understand.
Jesus answered his own question: "even because ye cannot hear my word" (John 8:43). His message did not register with them because his word had no place in them — they were unwilling to receive it (John 8:37).
Les Feldick explains that they relied on their genealogy — "we're the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We don't have a sin problem" — so when Jesus confronted their sin, they were blind to it.
No. Luke 18:34 says they "understood none of these things" even though Jesus spoke plainly, because "this saying was hid from them."
The prophecy quoted in Acts 28:26–27 describes it: their heart was waxed gross, their ears dull of hearing, and their eyes closed — so hearing they did not understand.
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