John 8:39 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 8:38-47

Here Christ and the Jews are still at issue; he sets himself to convince and convert them, while they still set themselves to contradict and oppose him. I. He here traces the difference between his sentiments and theirs to a different rise and origin (John 8:38): I speak that which I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have seen with your father. Here are two fathers spoken of, according to the two families into which the sons of men are divided?God and the devil, and without... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 8:37-41

8:37-41a "I know that you are the descendants of Abraham, but you are trying to find a way to kill me, because there is no room in you for my word. I speak what I have seen in the presence of the Father. So you must do what you have heard from the Father." "Our father is Abraham," they answered. "If," answered Jesus, "you are the children of Abraham, act as Abraham acted. But, as it is, you are trying to find a way to kill me, a man who has spoken the truth to you, truth which I heard from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:39

They answered and said unto him ,.... On account of his making mention of a father, whose works they did, and whom they imitated: Abraham is our father ; meaning their only one, nor had they any other: Jesus saith unto them, if ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham ; for who should children imitate but their parents? Abraham was a merciful, charitable, and hospitable man, as well as a man of strict justice and integrity; he feared God, believed in him, and was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:39

If ye were Abraham's children - Griesbach reads εϚε , ye are, instead of ητε , ye were, on the authority of BDL, Vulgate, four copies of the Itala; Origen and Augustin. Ye would do the works of Abraham - As the son has the nature of his father in him, and naturally imitates him, so, if ye were the children of Abraham, ye would imitate him in his faith, obedience, and uprightness; but this ye do not, for ye seek to kill me - ye are watching for an opportunity to destroy me, merely... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:39

Verse 39 39.Abraham is our father. This altercation shows plainly enough how haughtily and fiercely they despised all Christ’s reproofs. What they continually claim and vaunt of is, that they are Abraham’s children; by which they do not simply mean that they are the lineal descendants of Abraham, but that they are a holy race, the heritage of God, and the children of God. And yet they rely on nothing but the confidence of the flesh. But carnal descent, without faith, is nothing more than a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:31-59

describe a further conversation, not with the same audience. The words record a vivid conflict between the Lord and the Jews who believed him, who accepted the Messianic claims, but persisted in interpreting them, not by his word, but by their own ideas of the theocratic kingdom, by their privileges as children of Abraham, by their national animosity to their nearest neighbours the Samaritans, by their inability to press behind the veil of his humanity to his Divine nature. Their faith was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:33-46

(5) The offer of spiritual freedom to the seed of Abraham provoked bitter hostility and misapprehension. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:37-47

The spiritual parentage of the faithless Jews. Jesus does not deny their legitimate descent from Abraham. Truth must be conceded to an adversary. I. THEIR MORAL PARENTAGE CANNOT BE TRACED TO ABRAHAM . "But ye seek to kill me, because my Word makes no progress in you." 1 . Our Lord concedes that his Word had somehow made an entrance, but national prejudices hindered its thorough acceptance in heart as well as mind. 2 . The explanation of the resistance given... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:39

They answered and said. If the second interpretation be accepted, then, irritated by the suggestion that "the Father" whose properties and claims he saw and revealed to them was different from "the father" whose nature and ways they "heard" and practised, and counting, moreover, on the concession of the fact that they were Abraham's "seed," they cried, Our father is Abraham; we are spiritually, ethically, related to him, and if we are doing that which we have heard from our father, then we... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 8:39

Abraham is our father - We are descended from Abraham. Of this the Jews boasted much, as being descended from such an illustrious man. See the notes at Matthew 3:9. As Jesus did not expressly say who he meant John 8:38 when he said they did the works of their father, they obstinately persisted in pretending not to understand him, as if they had said, “We acknowledge no other father but Abraham, and to charge us with being the offspring of another is slander and calumny.”If ye were Abraham’s... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 8:38-47

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 8:37-41

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:39

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:39

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:39

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:31-59

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:33-46

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:37-47

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:39

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 8:39

Group of Brands