John 8:31-41
The Children of Abraham
31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
33They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"
34Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father."
39"Abraham is our father," they answered.
"If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham did. 40As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41You are doing the things your own father does."
"We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."
Jesus teaches us that if we hold to His teachings then we are His disciples...If we are His disciples and know His teachings then we will know the truth...If we know the truth, then the truth will set you free...Later in John 14:5, He tells us He is the way, the truth, and the life...He is the truth...Then later to emphasize these facts on truth, Jesus tells us when He is before Pilate, right before His death He talks again about truth...Jesus tells Pilate that "for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth...Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me"...Jesus wants us to think about the spiritual and our spiritual freedom...
When the Jews and descendants of Abraham heard Him talking about truth and being set free, they tell Him they are free...They are children of Abraham...Since they are descendants of Abraham, they are free and not slaves to anyone or anything...They do not understand, and have misunderstood Him...Jesus agrees that they are children of Abraham, but anyone who sins, is a slave to sin...Therefore, they are not free, like they said...Jesus said they are ready to kill Me...Jesus, as He does so often, wants us to think spiritually, and be focused on God...
Jesus tells them about Abraham...Jesus tells the Jews that Abraham rejoiced at seeing His day (John 8:56) therefor knows something about Abraham, as well as knowing something of God...He tells them, that Abraham would not be trying to kill Him... These opponents were looking for a political Messiah, for more miracles, for personal things and not the Spiritual One before them... So often we look for things of this world and not of the spiritual one, which Jesus over and over keeps pointing us to...
Jesus challenges both His followers and His opponents, that we are slaves to sin and temptation...Jesus is the unique Son of God and the Jewish listeners do not believe this fact, this truth...Therefore, they cannot be set free...They are hung up on being relatives of Abraham...The truth is all men are slaves of sin...Jesus is the answer of us being free and not a slave to sinning...His death saves us from sin and our belief in Him saves us...When we know this truth, and practice this truth, then this truth will set us free...He is this Truth...For this reason, He was sent into our world from the Father...He testifies to the Truth...Everyone on the side of this Truth, will be set free and listen to this Truth...