John 8:31–42

The Children of Abraham

³¹Jesus spoke to the Jews who had believed him. “If you obey my teaching,” he said, “you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth. And the truth will set you free.”

³³They answered him, “We are Abraham’s children. We have never been slaves of anyone. So how can you say that we will be set free?”

³⁴Jesus replied, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Everyone who sins is a slave of sin. ³⁵A slave has no lasting place in the family. But a son belongs to the family forever. ³⁶So if the Son of Man sets you free, you will really be free.

³⁷“I know you are Abraham’s children. But you are ready to kill me. You have no room for my word. ³⁸I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. You do what you have heard from your father.”

³⁹“Abraham is our father,” they answered.

Jesus said, “Are you really Abraham’s children? If you are, you will do the things Abraham did. ⁴⁰But you have decided to kill me. I am a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do the things you want to do. ⁴¹You are doing the things your own father does.”

“We are not children of people who weren’t married to each other,” they objected. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

The Children of the Devil

⁴²Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me. I came from God, and now I am here. I have not come on my own. He sent me.