John 8:31 Abraham's Seed - For The Glory of Jesus

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Abraham’s Seed

The Jews who believed on Jesus told Jesus they were Abraham’s Seed. They had not been in bondage to anyone. How could they been set free?

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John 8:31-59

31. “The first step in the progress toward true discipleship is believe in Jesus Christ as Messiah and Son of God.” (MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. [Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005], 1385)

“Perseverance in obedience to Scripture (cf. Matthew 28:19-20) is the fruit or evidence of genuine faith (see Ephesians 2:10)” (MacArthur, 1385)

“The word abide [NKJV] means to abide habitually in Jesus’ words. A genuine believer holds fast, obeys, and practices Jesus’ teaching.” (MacArthur, 1385) (2 John 9; cf. Hebrews 3:14; Revelation 2:26)

“The believer who is committed to abide in Jesus and his word is in this Gospel to be designated as an authentic disciple (cf. 6:64-66; contrast 5:38.)” (Borchert, Gerald L., The New American Commentary Volume 25A, John 1-11. [Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002], 303)

32. “The truth is that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He is the Truth. First we come to Him as our Savior. Then as we go on with Him, we know by experience that we are free. We are free from the penalty of sin.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV: [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 419)

Abraham’s Seed

33. “Their claim that Abraham’s descendants had never been in bondage was certainly a false one that was refuted by the very record in the Old Testament Scriptures. The Jews had been enslaved by seven mighty nations, as recorded in the book of Judges.” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004], 322)

34. “The king of slavery that Jesus had in mind was not physical slavery, but slavery to sin (Romans 6:16-18). The idea of ‘commits sin’ means to practice sin habitually (1 John 3:4, 8-9). Spiritual bondage to sin and rebellion against God.” (MacArthur, 1386)

35. “Jesus explained that the difference between spiritual freedom and bondage is a matter of whether one is a son or a servant. The servant may live in the house, but he is not a part of the family, and he cannot be guaranteed a future.” (Wiersbe, 322)

36. “The genuine son in the context is Christ Himself, who set the slaves free from sin. “Those whom Jesus Christ liberates from the tyranny of sin and the bondage of legalism are really free (Romans 8:2; Galatians 5:1). (MacArthur, 1386)

37. “Jesus acknowledged that they may have been Abraham’s ‘seed’, but their desire to kill Jesus (cf. 5:18; 7:19,25) indicated that they had another father who was directing their lives.” (Borchert, 304)

38. “The Son makes us free indeed. We do not have to be the servant of sin. Many Christians accept defeat and failure as a normal Christian life. God never intended us to live like that. He intends us to live for Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (McGee, 419)

Abraham Is Our Father

39. “The construction of this phrase indicates that Jesus was denying that mere physical lineage was sufficient for salvation (see Philippians 3:4-9).” (MacArthur 1386)

“Abraham’s faith was demonstrated through his obedience to God (James 2:21-24) …Their conduct toward Jesus demonstrated that their real father was Satan (vv. 41,44).” (MacArthur, 1386)

40. “Jesus tells these men that if they were truly the children of Abraham, they would act like Abraham. Instead, they are trying to kill Him.” (McGee, 420)

41. “Satan is the originator of murder and of lying, and they are being his imitators, his children.” (McGee, 420)

Not born of fornication [KJV, NKJV] “The Jews may well have been referring to the controversy surrounding Jesus’ birth. The Jews knew the story about Mary’s betrothal and that Joseph was not Jesus’ real father; thus, they implied that Jesus’ birth was illegitimate (see Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38).” (MacArthur, 1386)

42. “The unbelief of the Jews toward Jesus demonstrated that God was not their Father spiritually. Jesus emphasized that the explicit criterion verifying that the claim to be a child of God is love for His son, Jesus. Since God is love, those who love His Son also demonstrate His nature (1 John 4:7-11; 5:1). (MacArthur, 1386)

43. “They could not possibly be disciples of the true God. If they were, they would love his Son who was now speaking to them. They had some inherent disability to hear and understand what he was saying.” [Max Anders and Kenneth O. Gangel (2012). HNTC Vol. 04: John. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

Father the Devil

44. “Satan is a liar and a murderer. He lied to our first parents (“Yea, hath God said? Genesis 3:1) and engineered their deaths.”

45. “They did not even show evidence of the basic rudiments of believing.” (Borchert, 306)

46-47. “Because the statement assumed that Jesus spoke the truth, the subsequent question can only be viewed as judgment on their refusal to believe. Thus, the conclusion was clear: their unwillingness to ‘hear’ (in the sense of ‘heed’) him was full proof that they were ‘not [children] of God.” (Borchert, 306)

48. “The reference to Jesus as a ‘Samaritan’ probably centers in the fact that the Samaritans, like Jesus, questioned the Jews’ exclusive right to be called Abraham’s children.” (MacArthur, 1387)

“For a Jew to be called a Samaritan was the grossest of insults, and then to be called a demon-possessed person only added further insult.” (Wiersbe, 323)

49. “Note that Jesus did not even dignify the racial slur with an answer…They were dishonoring Him, but He was honoring the Father.” (Wiersbe, 323) John 5:23

50. “He reminded them that the Father would be the judge of them since his entire mission was not self-serving.” (Borchert, 307)

51. “Heeding Jesus’ teaching and following Him results in eternal life (6:63, 68). Physical death cannot extinguish such life (see 5:24; 6:40, 47; 11:25,26).” (MacArthur, 1387)

Spiritual Insight

52. “The leaders lacked the spiritual insight to understand what He was saying. Abraham was dead, yet he was a godly man, and the faithful prophets were also dead. This kind of talk only convinced them the more that He had a demon (John 7:20)!” Wiersbe, 323)

53. “The religious leaders “saw only the earthly interpretation. Abraham died. The prophets died. Yet this strange Galilean promised a life with no death? Obviously, he must consider himself greater than Abraham and the prophets, an unthinkable arrogance which they diagnosed as demon possession.” [Max Anders and Kenneth O. Gangel (2012). HNTC Vol. 04: John. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

54. “By claiming to be the Lord of death, He was claiming to be God (John 5:21-29). This was not an honor He made for Himself; the Father gave it to Him.” (Wiersbe, 323)

Glory

55. “Jesus refused to seek his own glory or benefit (John 8:54) or become identified with the lies of the serpent of Genesis or of the Jews in front of him (8:55).” (Borchert, 308)

56. “How did Abraham ‘see’ our Lord’s day, that is, His life and ministry on earth? The same way he saw the future city: by faith (Hebrews 11:10, 13-16).” (Wiersbe 323)

57. You are not old enough!!

58. “The answer of Jesus to the Jews was an intriguing double amen (‘I tell you the truth’) announcement that focused both on time and status: “Before Abraham was, I am.’” (Borchert, 309)

59. “Jesus was divinely protected and simply walked away. His hour had not yet come.” (Wiersbe, 323)

“You must make a decision concerning Him. Either He is the Truth or He is a liar. Either He is God and Savior, or He is not. You must decide. Either you accept Him or you reject Him. Remember that your decision does not in any way change who He is. He is the great I AM, Jehovah, the eternal God. Your decision is to accept or deny this.” (McGee, 421)

What is your decision?

References

In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.

Borchert, Gerald L., The New American Commentary Volume 25A, John 1-11. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002
Max Anders and Kenneth O. Gangel (2012). HNTC Vol. 04: John. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004

Jesus Leaving Man Born Blind

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John 8:31 Abraham’s Seed

Abraham’s Seed

Abraham’s Seed

Abraham Is Our Father

Father the Devil

Spiritual Insight

Glory

References