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Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:42

Jesus said unto them, if God were your Father ,.... By adoption; and this was discovered by the grace of regeneration; or in other words, if they had been born of God, ye would love me ; for in regeneration love to Christ is always implanted: it is a fruit of the Spirit, which always comes along with the superabounding grace of God in conversion; whoever are begotten again, according to abundant mercy, love an unseen Jesus; and where there is no love to Christ, there can be no... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:42

If God were your Father, ye would love me - I came from God, and it would be absurd to suppose that you would persecute me if you were under the influence of God. The children of the same father should not murder each other. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:42

Verse 42 42.If God were your Father, you would love me. Christ’s argument is this: “Whoever is a child of God will acknowledge his first-born Son; but you hate me, and therefore you have no reason to boast, that you are God’s children.” We ought carefully to observe this passage, that there is no piety and no fear of God where Christ is rejected. Hypocritical religion, indeed, presumptuously shelters itself under the name of God; but how can they agree with the Father who disagree with his only... 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 8:41-47

True spiritual paternity. Notice— I. THEIR MISTAKEN SPIRITUAL PATERNITY . "We have one Father, even God." This in a sense is true. 1 . They failed to recognize his connection with God. 2 . They failed to understand his message. Although 3 . They failed to believe him and his message. Although: 4 . These sad failures flatly contradict their pretended relationship to God. ( John 8:42-47 .) II. THEIR TRUE SPIRITUAL PATERNITY . "Ye are of your... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:42

But Jesus will not allow them to claim the full privilege of sons of God. Said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would be loving me, not seeking to slay me. Seeing that you do not love me, God is not your Father in the sense in which you are boasting such relation to him. The reason is: For I came forth out ( ἐκ ) of God. This expression only occurs in one other passage ( John 16:28 ), and there the texts vary between ἐκ ἀπὸ , and παρά . It points to the momentous and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 8:42

If God were your Father - If you had the spirit of God, or love to him, or were worthy to be called his children.Ye would love me - Jesus was “the brightness of the Father’s glory and the express image of his person,” Hebrews 1:3. “Everyone that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him,” 1 John 5:1. From this we see:1.That all who truly love God, love his Son Jesus Christ.2.That men that pretend that they love God, and reject his Son, have no evidence that they are the... read more

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