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Question: In John 8:44 Jesus calls the Pharisees the sons of the devil yet in John 8:56 He calls them the sons of Abraham while in John 8:39 He says “IF you where Abrahams children”. My question is was Jesus calling them the children of Abraham or satan?

Profile: Male, North America, 36–45, Christian

Answered by: Tim Munger, who has been a volunteer with us since June, 2009.

Answer: Thank you for writing to us at GotQuestions as we appreciate you entrusting us with your question. In John 8 you have asked about three instances that Jesus uses the following terms describing His opponents: ‘sons of the devil’ in verse 44; ‘the sons of Abraham’ in verse 56; and the phrase in verse 39, ‘IF you were Abraham’s children.’ Which are they, the children of Abraham or Satan? Here’s how I would like to sort these out. First, in describing the Pharisees as ‘sons of Abraham’, He is using their own term. They call themselves ‘sons of Abraham’ note verses 33,39, 53. This is a physical description of the Jewish people. For example, in Matthew 1:1 Jesus is called ‘the Son of Abraham.’ So this is a term describing the Jewish people, they are the sons of Abraham the nation God describes in Genesis 12:1-3. 

In John 8:44 this is a description of their spiritual condition, “you are of your father, the devil.” Claiming to be spiritual leaders and guides into truth, they were rejecting the truth of God that Jesus was giving, teaching. If they truly were God’s children they would love the truth and listen to the truth, and live the truth. As John would later write, “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6). All who are natural born human beings are in the kingdom and control of the Evil One (Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 1:21). That is why we need to be born again. Religion cannot change us, nor can morality, philosophy, or any good works. We need to be born again. Such was the case of the leaders in this encounter. One commentator aptly states their condition, “Salvation is a matter of life or death. People who live in their sins and reject the Savior must die in their sins. There is no alternative. We either receive salvation by grace or experience condemnation under God’s law. We either walk in the light and have eternal life, or walk in darkness and experience eternal death” (p.258; Wiersbe’s Commentary on the New Testament). 

The last statement you ask about, verse 39, is His statement to the Pharisees, “If you were Abraham’s children you would do the works of Abraham.” He uses their very own term, as they called themselves the children of Abraham. Abraham “believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Abraham was called ‘the friend of God.’ These who claimed to be his followers, indeed his family, were not acting like he did, walking in faith and fellowship with God. They were accusing and rejecting the words of the Son of God. Abraham did not do that!

So at its core the issue of the three statements you have asked about is that Jesus describes both their physical heritage, ‘sons of Abraham’. the Jewish people. In the phrase ‘your father the devil,’ He describes their spiritual condition. Under his control and doing his bidding. Ultimately, this shows their need of salvation, as the apostle Paul states in Romans 10:3, “For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” That was a problem in Jesus’ day, in Paul’s day, and in our own day. The absolute need each person has is to receive God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus and by doing so receive life, light, and liberty. 

Thank you for writing to us and we hope that you will write again. May the Lord bless you and give you His grace and peace abundantly.

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