John 8:33–59

³³“We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?”

³⁴Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵A slave does not remain in the house forever, but a son remains forever. ³⁶So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

³⁷I know you are Abraham’s descendants, but you are trying to kill Me because My word has no place within you. ³⁸I speak of what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

³⁹“Abraham is our father,” they replied.

“If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham. ⁴⁰But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. ⁴¹You are doing the works of your father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they declared. “Our only Father is God Himself.”

⁴²Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me.

⁴³Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. ⁴⁴You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!

⁴⁶Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me? ⁴⁷Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

⁴⁸The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”

⁴⁹“I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. ⁵⁰I do not seek My own glory. There is One who seeks it, and He is the Judge. ⁵¹Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.”

⁵²“Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death. ⁵³Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, as did the prophets. Who do You claim to be?”

⁵⁴Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory means nothing. The One who glorifies Me is My Father, of whom you say, ‘He is our^g God.’ ⁵⁵You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word. ⁵⁶Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.”

⁵⁷Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?”

⁵⁸“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!^h”

⁵⁹At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.ⁱ