John 8:33-43

33 They answered him, We are Abraham's seed, and have never been under bondage to any one; how sayest thou, Ye shall become free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say to you, Every one that practises sin is the bondman of sin.

35 Now the bondman abides not in the house for ever: the son abides for ever.

36 If therefore the Son shall set you free, ye shall be really free.

37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word has no entrance in you.

38 I speak what I have seen with my Father, and ye then do what ye have seen with your father.

39 They answered and said to him, Abraham is our father. Jesus says to them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham;

40 but now ye seek to kill me, a man who has spoken the truth to you, which I have heard from God: this did not Abraham.

41 Ye do the works of your father. They said [therefore] to him, We are not born of fornication; we have one father, God.

42 Jesus said to them, If God were your father ye would have loved me, for I came forth from God and am come [from him]; for neither am I come of myself, but *he* has sent me.

43 Why do ye not know my speech? Because ye cannot hear my word.

Footnotes

• [a]. poieo; usually 'practise' (see ch. 5.29), but it hardly suits here or in vers. 39,40; still it refers to habitually or characteristically doing, not a mere act.