John 8:39–47:
True Fatherhood and Rejection of the Truth

Correct Interpretation of John 8:39–47

After affirming that being descendants of Abraham does not guarantee true freedom or a right relationship with God (John 8:31–38), Jesus now takes the discussion further. His hearers insist that Abraham is their father and finally claim that God Himself is their Father. Jesus responds by showing that true sonship is recognized by likeness to the father: Abraham received God’s word, while they want to kill the One who tells them the truth; and if God were truly their Father, they would love the Son whom He sent.

(v. 39)
«They answered and said to Him, “Our father is Abraham!” Jesus says to them: “If you were children of Abraham, you would do the works of Abraham;»

His hearers insist that Abraham is their father.

Jesus had already acknowledged that they were physical descendants of Abraham (John 8:37), but now He distinguishes between being his descendants and truly being his children in the sense of reflecting the way he responded to God.

“Doing the works of Abraham” does not simply mean performing good deeds. Abraham received God’s word, believed what God revealed to him, and responded to Him obediently.

If they were truly Abraham’s children in that sense, their response to the One sent by God would resemble Abraham’s response.

(v. 40)
«but now you are wanting to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. This sort of thing Abraham did not do!»

Jesus presents the evidence that contradicts their claim.

He has told them the truth that He heard from God, but they respond by wanting to kill Him.

“This sort of thing Abraham did not do!”

Abraham responded to God’s revelation; they, by contrast, want to destroy the One who has come speaking to them from God.

Therefore, their conduct demonstrates that although they are physical descendants of Abraham, they are not acting as his true children.

(v. 41)
«You do the works of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”»

Jesus insists that their works reveal a different fatherhood from the one they claim.

They respond by raising their claim even higher: they no longer merely say that Abraham is their father, but that God Himself is their one Father.

The expression “We were not born of fornication” may express their claim to belong legitimately to God’s people and not to be connected with an unfaithful relationship toward Him. Some have also seen here a possible insinuation against Jesus’ birth, but John does not state that explicitly.

What is decisive is the claim that follows: “we have one Father—God”.

Jesus will immediately put that claim to the test.

(v. 42)
«So Jesus said to them: “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came forth from God and I am here. Further, I have not come on my own, but He sent me.»

Jesus establishes the decisive test of their claim.

If God were truly their Father, they would love Jesus, because Jesus came forth from God and was sent by Him.

It is not possible to claim a true relationship with the Father while rejecting the Son whom He sent.

Therefore, their attitude toward Jesus reveals the falseness of their claim: they say they belong to God, yet they reject precisely the One who came forth from God.

(v. 43)
«Why don’t you understand what I say?—because you are not able to really hear my word.»

Jesus explains that their lack of understanding is not merely intellectual.

They physically hear His words, but they are not able to really hear His word.

The problem lies in their disposition toward Jesus and in the belonging that their works reveal. Their rejection of the truth prevents them from truly receiving what He says.

The next verse will reveal the root of that inability more clearly.

(v. 44)
«You are of your father the devil, and it is the desires of your father that you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks the lie he speaks from his own things, because he is a liar and the father of lying.»

Jesus finally identifies the “father” to whom He had referred in the preceding verses.

His adversaries show their likeness to the devil because they want to do the desires of their father.

Jesus first describes him as “a murderer from the beginning”. From the beginning of human history, the devil’s work was connected with death, and the Scriptures quickly show how sin also resulted in murder.

He then presents him as completely opposed to the truth: “there is no truth in him”, and he is “the father of lying”.

The reference especially recalls the serpent’s deception in Genesis 3:4–5, where the lie led mankind toward sin and death.

The contrast therefore becomes clearer. His hearers want to kill Jesus and reject the truth He speaks; through those very actions they reveal likeness to the one who is a murderer and a liar.

(v. 45)
«But since I speak the truth you do not believe me.»

Jesus points to the depth of their opposition.

They do not reject Him because they have discovered falsehood in His words, but precisely because the truth He speaks conflicts with what they want to receive.

This confirms the contrast of the preceding verse: Jesus speaks the truth that comes from the Father, while they show an affinity with lying.

(v. 46)
«Which of you convicts me of sin? So if I speak the truth, why do you not believe me?»

Jesus issues an extraordinary challenge: He invites His adversaries to convict Him of sin.

None of them can present an accusation that invalidates His integrity.

That makes the next question even more penetrating: if they cannot convict Him of sin and Jesus speaks the truth, why do they not believe Him?

The answer is not found in any falsehood in Jesus, but in the condition of those who refuse to receive His words.

(v. 47)
«The one who is of God hears God’s words; that is why you do not hear, because you are not of God.”»

Jesus concludes by revealing the root of the entire discussion.

The one who “is of God” hears the words that come from God.

His adversaries, by contrast, do not hear Jesus’ words. And since Jesus speaks what He has received from the Father, their rejection demonstrates that they are not of God, despite claiming that God is their Father.

Thus Jesus completely overturns their own claim from verse 41. They say: “we have one Father—God”; Jesus responds by showing that their attitude toward God’s words demonstrates exactly the opposite.

Implications

• True sonship is manifested by likeness to the father: works reveal to whom a person truly belongs.
• Being a descendant of Abraham does not guarantee being a true child of Abraham: the response to God’s revelation is decisive.
• The Father cannot be loved while the Son is rejected: the one who truly belongs to God receives Jesus, whom God sent.
• The devil is characterized by murder and lying: those who reject the truth and seek to destroy Jesus reveal likeness to him.
• The response to Jesus’ words reveals a person’s relationship with God: the one who is of God hears the words that come from Him.

Applications

• Do not rest in an inherited religious identity: belonging to a tradition does not replace a true response to God.
• Receive Jesus as the One who came forth from the Father: you cannot claim to love God while rejecting His Son.
• Love the truth even when it confronts your ideas or desires: resisting it progressively hardens the heart.
• Examine what your works reveal: conduct shows what truly governs your life.
• Hear God’s words with a willingness to obey them: receiving Christ’s word gives evidence of a true relationship with God.

Summary

In John 8:39–47, Jesus’ adversaries first claim that Abraham is their father and then that God Himself is their Father. Jesus shows that their actions contradict both claims. Abraham responded to God’s revelation, while they want to kill the One who tells them the truth He heard from God. And if God were truly their Father, they would love Jesus, because He came forth from God and was sent by Him. Finally, Jesus identifies the fatherhood that their works actually reflect: they want to kill and reject the truth, thus revealing likeness to the devil, whom Jesus describes as a murderer and the father of lying. The argument concludes by showing that the one who is of God hears God’s words; therefore, their rejection of Jesus’ words reveals that, despite their religious claims, they are not of God.

Prayer

Our Father, we thank You because through Jesus Christ You have spoken the truth and clearly shown us who You are.

Keep us from trusting only in our history, our traditions, or what we claim about ourselves.

Give us a heart that loves Your Son, receives His word, and responds obediently to the truth that comes from You.

Deliver us from lying and from everything that would lead us to resist Your truth. Make our words and works demonstrate that we truly belong to You.

We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.