John 8:35-45

35 A slave does not belong to a family permanently, but a son belongs there forever.

36 If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free.

37 I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are trying to kill me, because you will not accept my teaching.

38 I talk about what my Father has shown me, but you do what your father has told you."

39 They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." "If you really were Abraham's children," Jesus replied, "you would do the same things that he did.

40 All I have ever done is to tell you the truth I heard from God, yet you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like this!

41 You are doing what your father did." "God himself is the only Father we have," they answered, "and we are his true children."

42 Jesus said to them, "If God really were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own authority, but he sent me.

43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message.

44 You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father's desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies. ¹

45 But I tell the truth, and that is why you do not believe me.

Cross References

• 1. +28.44Wisdom 1.13; 2.24.

Footnotes

• [a]. If you really were . . . you would do; [some manuscripts have] If you are . . . do.