Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,^(A) you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”^(B)

³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants^(C) and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.^{(D) 35} Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.^{(E) 36} So if the Son sets you free,^(F) you will be free indeed. ³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me,^(G) because you have no room for my word. ³⁸ I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence,^(H) and you are doing what you have heard from your father.^[a]”^(I)

³⁹ “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,”^(J) said Jesus, “then you would^[b] do what Abraham did. ⁴⁰ As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me,^(K) a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.^(L) Abraham did not do such things. ⁴¹ You are doing the works of your own father.”^(M)

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”^(N)

⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,^(O) for I have come here from God.^(P) I have not come on my own;^(Q) God sent me.^{(R) 43} Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. ⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the devil,^(S) and you want to carry out your father’s desires.^(T) He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.^{(U) 45} Yet because I tell the truth,^(V) you do not believe me! ⁴⁶ Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? ⁴⁷ Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.^(W) The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Jesus’ Claims About Himself

⁴⁸ The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan^(X) and demon-possessed?”^(Y)

⁴⁹ “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰ I am not seeking glory for myself;^(Z) but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. ⁵¹ Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”^(AA)

⁵² At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!^(AB) Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. ⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham?^(AC) He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

⁵⁴ Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself,^(AD) my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.^{(AE) 55} Though you do not know him,^(AF) I know him.^(AG) If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.^{(AH) 56} Your father Abraham^(AI) rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it^(AJ) and was glad.”

⁵⁷ “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

⁵⁸ “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born,^(AK) I am!”^{(AL) 59} At this, they picked up stones to stone him,^(AM) but Jesus hid himself,^(AN) slipping away from the temple grounds.