John 8:37-39 (WEL) “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill me because my word finds no room in you. 38 “I speak that which I have seen with my Father, and so you do that which you have seen with your father.” 39 They answered and said to him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the actions of Abraham.
V37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill me because my word finds no room in you.
Jesus is not ignorant; instead, He reveals their evil hearts. He speaks the truth; they do not want the truth or be exposed, resulting in their desire to kill Jesus.
Principle: Many people, when they have a problem with someone, want to kill them as Cain did to Abel in Genesis 4:5-10.
No room in you carries the idea of “we do not want these words!” They do not want to believe; they refuse to believe. They want the prophet of Micah 2:11 instead.
Compare:
Habakkuk 1:5 (EHV) Look at the nations and pay attention! Be completely dumbfounded, because I will do something in your lifetime that you will not believe, even though you are warned ahead of time.
Also see: Acts 28:24, Nehemiah 9:30, Romans 8:3, and Hebrews 4:2.
V38 “I speak that which I have seen with my Father, and so you do that which you have seen with your father.”
Jesus, as a 100% human male, needed education from his guardian, Joseph, and much more from God His Father. Compare Luke 2:46-50.
These unbelieving Jews had a different father—the father of lies, even satan as we learn from the following verses. Compare Matthew 3:7 and 1 John 3:8-10.
Principle: A person becomes like the god they serve.
V39 They answered and said to him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the actions of Abraham.
Abraham is their physical father, that is, the beginner of the nation of Israel from whom all Israelites descended from Abraham through Isaac, Jacob, and the 12 sons of Jacob.
Abraham is not their spiritual father, however, because Abraham believed God (Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:1-5), while these Jews refuse to believe.
Principle: What we say means little; what we do means much. Our actions reveal our true beliefs.
We learn:
- Some people refuse to believe.
- Jesus, the man, needed to be taught.
- Physically related will not guarantee salvation from God’s wrath.
Questions:
- Have you met those who refuse to believe? If so, what did you do?
- Do you believe that physical descent guarantees salvation? (Some theologies do believe that those who are elect and have children, the children are also elect—guaranteed).