Children of Abraham

³¹ Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teaching. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

³³ They responded, “We are Abraham’s children; we’ve never been anyone’s slaves. How can you say that we will be set free?”

³⁴ Jesus answered, “I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ A slave isn’t a permanent member of the household, but a son is. ³⁶ Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you really will be free. ³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s children, yet you want to kill me because you don’t welcome my teaching. ³⁸ I’m telling you what I’ve seen when I am with the Father, but you are doing what you’ve heard from your father.”

³⁹ They replied, “Our father is Abraham.”

Jesus responded, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do Abraham’s works. ⁴⁰ Instead, you want to kill me, though I am the one who has spoken the truth I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this. ⁴¹ You are doing your father’s works.”

They said, “Our ancestry isn’t in question! The only Father we have is God!”

⁴² Jesus replied, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God. Here I am. I haven’t come on my own. God sent me. ⁴³ Why don’t you understand what I’m saying? It’s because you can’t really hear my words. ⁴⁴ Your father is the devil. You are his children, and you want to do what your father wants. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has never stood for the truth, because there’s no truth in him. Whenever that liar speaks, he speaks according to his own nature, because he’s a liar and the father of liars. ⁴⁵ Because I speak the truth, you don’t believe me. ⁴⁶ Who among you can show I’m guilty of sin? Since I speak the truth, why don’t you believe me? ⁴⁷ God’s children listen to God’s words. You don’t listen to me because you aren’t God’s children.”