This chapter began with Christ coming from the mount of Olives and going to the temple. This tells us that while this chapter can certainly be applied today, it is talking about the time AFTER He touches the mount of Olives, that is to say when He returns to earth. You maybe wondering why I keep emphasizing this point. I do this because I want you to see how Christ is going to deal with these different groups. He knows our hearts so there isn’t any tricking Him. He has dealt with the adulterous woman, which is an example of how He will deal with those who were supposed to remain faithful to Him. Now we are going to see how He deals with those who claim to be Jews but are not and do lie (Revelation 2:9, 3:9).
Jesus has just told them that, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Thus, we pick it up with their response.
John 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
This is interesting because Galatians 4:22 says, “For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.”
Those two sons were Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was born a servant, and the sons of Isaac, namely Israel were enslaved by Egypt. So if if they are not of Ishmael or Isaac who are they? Don’t worry Christ will identify them in a moment.
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (35) And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
As close as a servant or slave may be to the family, he is never a member of the family.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Naturally, Jesus is telling them that He, being the only begotten Son, can free them from their master, sin.
John 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Some people will say that Jesus is only paying them lip service here because all of Abraham’s seed were at one point in bondage, and these people claim to never have been in bondage to any man. This could be the case because certainly can trace how the nethinim crept into the priesthood, but I feel as if He is trying to show us it doesn’t matter who is your earthly father.
Let us turn to Galatians 3:26-29 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (29) And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Paul explains that if we are in Christ then we are part of the family, just as Jesus told us above, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
We can take the concept a bit further by reading this: 1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
And we can read this: Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
John 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Here is the crux of the matter because there are two fathers. See Malachi 4:6.
John 8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Abraham lived by faith. Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
You see Abraham recognized God when He came to visit. Having never seen Him before, Abraham knew who The King of kings and Lord of lords was. He gave tithes to Him when He appeared as Melchizedek in Genesis 14:18 (See Hebrew 7 and if you don’t understand this don’t worry) and he believed him when He came and told him he would have a son (Genesis 17).
John 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Don’t forget this first chapter of John: John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
Clearly they do not understand God, but as we just said, the darkness does not understand God. Many people today are in darkness. One doesn’t have to go far to find those that mistake the works and ways of Satan for those of God. My friends you are either on the vine or not. People always want to say, “Well the Jews this or Gentiles that,” but as we have seen in Galatians 3:38 as well as other places, to God that doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is if your branch is attached to the Vine.
John 15:4-6 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (6) If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
I want to stop here today because I don’t want this article to get too long, and when we pick this back up, I go want to go a little deeper into the two fathers, along with parable of the tares. Don’t miss it!
