Whom do the Jews claim as their father?
“Our father is Abraham” (John 8:39).
After saying, “I know that you are Abraham's
descendants” (John 8:37), why does Jesus then say, “If you were
Abraham's children” (John 8:39)?
He is differentiating their biological and spiritual pedigrees. They may
be Abraham's biological descendants but their actions, including trying
to “kill” Jesus, who
“has spoken to you the
truth” (John 8:40), disqualify them from claiming spiritual
lineage to Abraham.
From what did Jesus speak to them?
From what He has directly “seen with” (John 8:38)
and “heard from” (John 8:40) God the Father.
Why do the Jews say, “We were not born of
fornication; we have one father: God” (John 8:41)?
They are talking about spiritual fornication. The Jews took great pride
in being the descendants of Abraham. When Jesus refuted that as above,
the Jews, without accepting Jesus' refutation, are bringing up their
other claim to fame, which is that unlike the polytheistic pagan nations
that worship idols around them, they - the Jews - are monotheists who
worship the one true God: “we have one father: God”
(John 8:41) - a claim that Jesus also immediately refutes.
Whom do people love if God the Father is their
father?
Jesus: “If God were your father, you would love Me”
(John 8:42).
What are the opening words of The Lord's Prayer?
“Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9).
Are you in love with Jesus?