John 8:38 - The Children of the Devil
I speak of what I have seen in the presence of the Father
This phrase emphasizes Jesus' divine authority and intimate relationship with God the Father. In the Gospel of John, Jesus frequently refers to His unique connection with the Father, highlighting His role as the Son of God (John 1:14, 18). The phrase "in the presence of the Father" suggests a direct and personal experience, underscoring the authenticity and truth of His teachings. This aligns with the concept of Jesus as the Logos, the Word made flesh, who reveals the Father to humanity (John 1:1-3). The imagery of seeing and speaking indicates a prophetic role, similar to Old Testament prophets who conveyed God's messages, but with greater authority as Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17).
and you do what you have heard from your father.
Here, Jesus contrasts His divine origin and authority with the spiritual state of His audience. The "you" refers to the Jewish leaders and those opposing Him, who claim Abraham as their father (John 8:39). However, Jesus challenges their claim by pointing out their actions, which do not align with Abraham's faith and obedience. The phrase "your father" is later clarified as referring to the devil (John 8:44), indicating a spiritual lineage based on actions and beliefs rather than mere ancestry. This highlights the theme of spiritual paternity and the importance of aligning one's actions with God's will, as true children of God are those who follow His teachings (Romans 8:14-17). The contrast between Jesus' divine mission and the audience's earthly focus underscores the broader Johannine theme of light versus darkness (John 1:5).
Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing the Jewish leaders and contrasting His divine origin and authority with their earthly understanding.
2. The Father
Refers to God the Father, with whom Jesus has a unique and intimate relationship, having seen and known Him directly.
3. The Jewish Leaders
The audience Jesus is addressing, who are often in conflict with Him throughout the Gospel of John.
4. The Concept of Fatherhood
Jesus contrasts His Father, God, with the "father" of the Jewish leaders, implying a spiritual lineage and influence.
5. The Setting
This conversation takes place in Jerusalem, likely in the temple courts, during one of Jesus' public teachings.
Teaching Points
Divine Authority and Witness
Jesus speaks with authority because He has seen and knows the Father. As believers, we are called to trust in His divine witness and teachings.
Spiritual Parentage
Our actions and beliefs reflect our spiritual lineage. We must examine whether our lives align with the teachings of God or the influences of the world.
The Importance of Discernment
Just as Jesus discerned the true nature of His audience's spiritual father, we must discern the influences in our lives and choose to follow God.
Living in the Presence of God
Jesus lived in constant awareness of the Father's presence. We are encouraged to cultivate a life that seeks and acknowledges God's presence daily.
Contrast of Truth and Deception
Jesus contrasts His truth with the deception of the Jewish leaders' "father." We must be vigilant in seeking truth and avoiding deception in our spiritual journey.
(38) I speak that which I have seen with my Father.--Some of the older MSS. read "the" for "My," but without change of sense. For the thought, comp. John 8:28, where we have the same connection between doing and speaking. He is the Word, and His work is to speak what He had seen in His eternal existence with the Father.
And ye do that which ye have seen with your father.--For "seen," the better reading is probably heard. Here, as in the previous clause, some MSS. omit the possessive pronoun with "father," but it is rightly inserted to express the meaning. The clauses are in direct opposition to each other, and this is shown by the emphatic personal pronouns--"I, on My part . . . My Father." "You, on your part . . . your father." The tenses of the verbs, too, are to be distinguished--"That which I have seen" (during My whole existence in eternity). "That which ye heard" (when ye became servants of sin). The cases of the substantives are also different--"I have seen with my Father" (signifying existence with. Comp. John 1:1). "Ye heard from your father" (what he directed).
Again, there is a word in the original which it is hard to represent in English, and which our version altogether omits. It is not simply "and ye do," but "and ye therefore, or accordingly, do." It is the same principle of union between Father and Son which directs His work, which is to reveal God, and their work, of which the seeking to kill Him is an instance.
Verse 38. - I speak the things which I have seen with the (my) Father: and do you therefore the things which ye heard from the (your) father; or, and you therefore do the things which ye heard from your father. We need not, with Meyer, limit the Lord's vision of the Divine things which he saw with the Father to his premundane Personality. He describes himself in constant communion with the Father. The Father is with him. He knows the mind and will and good pleasure of the Father. His is the perfectly pure heart, which is as an eye forevermore beholding the Father. That the Only Begotten sees and knows what no other sees, is constantly taught in this Gospel (see John 3:32; John 6:46). In Christ, moreover, the disciple may verily see the Father (John 14:7, 9; 1 John 2:23). The probable textual reading given above would draw a species of contrast between Christ's "seeing" (παρὰ τῷ) with the Father, and the Jews' "hearing" (παρὰ τοῦ) from the Father, as though such communication were less intimate than "seeing." This must not be pressed (see ver. 40). If the ποιεῖτε be imperative, the language would be an appeal to the Jews to act out that which, from prophets and teachers and interpreters of the Divine will, they had heard. Moulton treats the clause as one more, one last, exhortation. The word of Christ had not advanced within them - it remained as a barren formula; let them give it free course now. Their opposition had not as yet been malignant or hopeless; one more chance is given them. The more ordinary interpretation is to make the ποιεῖτε indicative. If it be so, and still more if the ὑμῶν (omitted by B, L, P) be genuine, "the father" to whom reference is made as theirs, is in contrast with the Father of Christ, and, without pointedly saying so, Jesus implies that it is another father altogether. In ver. 44 Christ does indeed declare that the father with whom they are in ethical relation and sympathy is not God, but the devil - the very opposite of the God of Abraham, the very antithesis of the Father of infinite love. At this point he simply suggests, "Therefore the things which ye heard from your father ye do," ye habitually do, ye are now doing in your hatred and murderous sentiments towards myself. Surely this implies a severity which is hardly compatible with an address to Jews who believed him. The interpretation of the following verse is governed by that of this. Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
I speak
λαλῶ (lalō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.
of what
ἃ (ha)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.
I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.
have seen
ἑώρακα (heōraka)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.
in the presence of
παρὰ (para)
Preposition
Strong's 3844: Gen: from; dat: beside, in the presence of; acc: alongside of.
the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
Father,
Πατρὶ (Patri)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.
and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.
you
ὑμεῖς (hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.
do
ποιεῖτε (poieite)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.
what
ἃ (ha)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.
you have heard
ἠκούσατε (ēkousate)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.
from
παρὰ (para)
Preposition
Strong's 3844: Gen: from; dat: beside, in the presence of; acc: alongside of.
[your]
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
father.”
πατρὸς (patros)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.
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