In your law - Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15. Compare Matthew 18:16. This related to cases in which the life of an individual was involved. Jesus says that if, in such a case, the testimony of two men were sufficient to establish a fact, his own testimony and that of his Father ought to be esteemed ample evidence in the case of religious doctrine.

Two men - If two men could confirm a case, the evidence of Jesus and of God ought not to be deemed insufficient.

Is true - In Deuteronomy, "established." This means the same thing. It is confirmed; is worthy of belief.

It is also written in your law,.... The law of Moses, which was given unto them, and they boasted of; the passage referred to is in Deuteronomy 19:15; see also Deuteronomy 17:6; where though what follows is not to be found in so many words, yet the sense is there expressed:

that the testimony of two men is true: concerning which the Jewish writers say (y),

"they used not to determine any judiciary matter by the mouth of one witness, neither pecuniary causes, nor causes of life and death, as it is said, Deuteronomy 17:6. It is asked (z) in their oral law, if the testimony of two men stand, why does the Scripture particularly mention three? (for no other reason) but to compare or equal three with two, that as three convict two of a falsehood, two may also convict three.''

On which one of their commentators (a) has this observation, taking notice of Deuteronomy 19:18, which speaks of a single witness;

"Mar (a doctor) says, wherever it is said a "witness", it is to be understood of two, unless the Scripture particularly specifies one.''

In the case of a wife suspected of adultery, and in the business of striking off the neck of the heifer in case of murder, they admitted of one witness (b).

(y) Maimon. Hilchot Eduth. c. 5. sect. 1.((z) Misn. Maccot. c. 1. sect. 7. (a) Bartenora in ib. (b) Maimon. Hilchot Eduth, ib. sect. 2.

In your law (ἐν τῷ νόμῳ τῷ ὑμετέρῳ)

Literally, in the law, that which is yours. Yours has an emphatic force: of which you claim a monopoly. See John 7:49.

It is written (γέγραπται)

The perfect tense: it has been written, and stands written. The common form of citation elsewhere, but used by John of the Old Testament scriptures only here. His usual form is γεγραμμένον ἐστίν, the participle with the finite verb, literally, it is having been written.

The witness of two men

See Deuteronomy 19:15.

The Father - beareth witness of me

Thus there are two witnesses, and the letter of the law is fulfilled.

It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

8:17 It is also written in your law. See De 19:15. Observe Jesus says not our, but your law.

8:17 Deut 19:15.

8:17-20 If we knew Christ better, we should know the Father better. Those become vain in their imaginations concerning God, who will not learn of Christ. Those who know not his glory and grace, know not the Father that sent him. The time of our departure out of the world, depends upon God. Our enemies cannot hasten it any sooner, nor can our friends delay it any longer, than the time appointed of the Father. Every true believer can look up and say with pleasure, My times are in thy hand, and better there than in my own. To all God's purposes there is a time.