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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_10:31-39
31The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 32Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?" 33The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God." 34Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'? 35If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? 37If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father." 39Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.
Joh_10:31 This verse relates to Jesus' statement in Joh_10:30. Jesus answers their charges in a very unusual rabbinical argument. It basically is a word play on Elohim, which is the OT term for God (cf. Genesis 1), but in form is plural and often was used of both angels and human leaders (judges). See hyperlink at Joh_6:20.
Joh_10:32 The good (kalos) shepherd does good (kalos) works from the Father.
Joh_10:33 "for blasphemy" Jesus knew that they correctly understood His claim of oneness with the Father.
Joh_10:34 "in your Law" Jesus quotes from the Psalms but calls it "the Law" (i.e., Torah means "teachings," cf. Joh_12:34; Joh_15:25; Rom_3:9-19). The term Law usually referred to the writings of Moses (Torah), Genesis-Deuteronomy. This shows the wider use of the term to cover the whole OT.
▣ "you are gods" Jesus used a quote from Psa_82:6. It used elohim to refer to human judges (see Elohim in Special Topic at Joh_6:20). These judges (though wicked) are called "sons of the Most High." These Jews were attacking Jesus because although He was a man He claimed to be: (1) the Son of God and (2) one with God. Yet other men (cf. Exo_4:16; Exo_7:1; Exo_22:8-9; Psa_82:6; Psa_138:1) were called "gods."
Jesus' rabbinical argument seems to follow this line: the Scriptures are true, men are called elohim, therefore, why do you call Me a blasphemer for asserting that I am the Son of God? The term Elohim is plural in Hebrew but translated singular and used a singular verb when referring to the OT Deity. See hyperlink at Joh_6:20. This may be a typical Johannine word play: (1) a term that has two connotations and (2) a Greek question that expects a "yes" answer.
Joh_10:35 "(and the Scripture cannot be broken)" John often comments on Jesus' dialogues. It is uncertain whether this is a statement of Jesus or John. However, since both are equally inspired, it does not matter. The thrust of the quote is the trustworthiness of Scripture. Jesus and the Apostles viewed the OT and their interpretations of it as the very words of God (cf. Mat_5:17-19; 1Co_2:9-13; 1Th_2:13; 2Ti_3:16; 1Pe_1:23-25; 2Pe_1:20-21; 2Pe_3:15-16).
Bishop H. C. G. Moule in The Life of Bishop Moule says,
"He [Christ] absolutely trusted the Bible, and, though there are in it things inexplicable and intricate that have puzzled me so much, I am going, not in a blind sense, but reverently to trust the Book because of Him" (p. 138).
Joh_10:36 In this verse Jesus claims that the Father chose (or "consecrated" or "sanctified") Him and sent Him (as Messiah). He surely then has the right to be called "son of God." As the judges of Israel represented God (cf. Psa_82:6), He represents the Father in word and deed. See Special Topic: Send (Apostellô) at Joh_5:24.
Joh_10:37 This is exactly what Joh_10:19-21 are saying. Jesus' miracles reflected the activity of God.
Joh_10:37-38 "If. . .if" These are first class conditional sentences. Jesus did the works of the Father. If so, then they should believe in Him, being confident that He and the Father are one (cf. Joh_10:30; Joh_10:38). See Special Topic: Abiding in 1Jn_2:10.
Joh_10:39 This is one of several times that Jesus eluded those who tried to hurt Him (cf. Luk_4:29-30; Joh_8:59). It is uncertain whether these escapes were due to (1) a miraculous event or (2) Jesus' physical likeness to everyone else, which allowed Him to melt into the crowd.