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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - John 8:39 - 8:47
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_8:39-47
39They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham. 40But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. 41You are doing the deeds of your father." They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." 42Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. 43Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. 46Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God."
Joh_8:39 "Abraham is our father" Jesus affirmed their physical descent from Abraham, but pointed out that they had family characteristics of Satan (cf. Joh_8:38; Joh_8:44). A personal faith relationship, not racial identity, made the Jews right with God (cf. Deu_6:5; Deu_6:13; Rom_2:28-29; Rom_9:6).
▣ "If" This is a first class conditional sentence in form (in the protasis - PRESENT ACTIVE INDICATIVE with ei), but it could be functioning as a second class conditional (cf. Joh_8:19; Joh_8:42). The Greek manuscript variants attempted to remove this mixed conditional form by changing the first verb to an imperfect. If so it would read, "If you were Abraham's children, which you are not, then you would be doing what Abraham did, but you are not." UBS4 gives the mixed conditional form a "B" rating (almost certain).
Joh_8:40 "a man" Jesus not only understood Himself as a representative of YHWH, equal in divine essence with YHWH, but also as a true human being. This assertion refuted the Gnostic false teachers' assertion of the eternal dualism between spirit and physical things (cf. 1Jn_1:1-4; 1Jn_4:1-4).
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Joh_8:41
NASB, NKJV "'We were not born of fornication'"
NRSV "'We are not illegitimate children'"
TEV "'We are true children'"
NJB "'We were not born illegitimate'"
This may be connected with the accusation of Joh_8:48 ("you are a Samaritan"). It seems that the Jews were asserting that Jesus was an illegitimate son, not a full blooded Jew. Later rabbinical sources would say Jesus was fathered by a Roman soldier.
▣ "we have one Father, even God" This statement reflects the strict monotheism of the OT (cf. Deu_4:35; Deu_4:39; Deu_6:4-5) expressed in paternal terms (cf. Deu_32:6; Isa_1:2; Isa_63:16; Isa_64:8). Here was the dilemma: these Jewish leaders affirmed the oneness of God (cf. Deu_6:4-5) and that obedience to the Mosaic Law brought a right relationship with God (cf. Deu_6:1-3; Deu_6:17; Deu_6:24-25). Jesus came claiming to be one with God! Jesus claimed that right standing with God was based not on performance of law, but on personal faith in Him. Their confusion and reluctance is understandable, but here is where the insight of the Spirit and the mighty works of Jesus bring faith!
Joh_8:42 "If" This is a second class conditional sentence called "contrary to fact." "If God were your Father which He is not, you would love me, which you do not" (cf. Joh_8:47).
Joh_8:43 "because you cannot hear My word" This refers to spiritual receptivity and understanding. They had no spiritual ears (cf. Isa_6:9-10; Mat_11:15; Mat_13:9; Mat_13:15-16; Mat_13:43; Mar_4:9; Mar_4:23; Mar_7:16; Mar_8:18; Luk_8:8; Luk_14:35; Act_7:51; Act_28:26-27).
Joh_8:44 "You are of your father, the devil" What a startling statement to the religious leaders of His day (cf. Joh_8:47). This concept of shared family characteristics is expressed in a Hebrew idiom, "sons of. . ." (cf. Mat_13:38; Act_13:10; 1Jn_3:8; 1Jn_3:10).
For "devil" see Special Topic at Joh_12:31.
▣ a "murderer from the beginning" This is not meant to imply the eternality of evil (i.e., dualism as in Zoroastrianism), but it reflects the concept of the spiritual temptation of Adam and Eve by the agency of a lying spirit indwelling a serpent (cf. Genesis 3). Notice the purposeful contrast between God who is True, Truth and the devil!
Joh_8:46 "Which of you convicts Me of sin" In context this refers to false testimony. Satan lies, but Jesus speaks the truth. Jesus invites these Jewish leaders to refute His statements or teachings, prove Him to be false! In this context this statement does not seem to relate to Jesus' sinlessness as a theological doctrine.
In John "sin" is more a principle of evil in a fallen world in rebellion against God than a specific act of sin. Sin is everything Jesus is not! The ultimate "sin" is unbelief (cf. Joh_16:9).