Jesus said the Jews were not true children of Abraham because, despite their physical lineage, they did not share Abraham's faith and rejected Jesus.
While acknowledging their physical descent, Jesus challenged their claim to be Abraham's true children. He told them that if they were Abraham's children, they would do 'the works of Abraham'—acts of faith and belief. Instead, they sought to kill Jesus, proving they did not have Abraham's faith and were doing the deeds of another father.
John 8:39-40 — Jesus directly states that if they were Abraham's children, they would do the works of Abraham, but instead they sought to kill Him.
John 8:56 — Jesus contrasts their unbelief with Abraham's faith, who rejoiced to see Jesus' day.
In John 8, Jesus confronts Jewish religious leaders who prided themselves on being descendants of Abraham. They claimed, 'Abraham is our father' (John 8:39). Jesus responds, 'If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham' (John 8:39-40). He further tells them, 'Ye do the deeds of your father' (John 8:41). The scripture reveals that physical descent from Abraham is not enough to make one a true child of Abraham in the spiritual sense. Abraham himself believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Jesus also said, 'Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad' (John 8:56). This indicates that Abraham had faith in the coming Messiah, a faith the Jews lacked because they rejected Jesus.
Les Feldick explains that the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus' day were 'proud of their lineage' and 'proud of their genealogy.' They boasted that they were descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, not of Esau or Ishmael, and this pride made them blind to their sin and their need for faith. Jesus confronted their self-righteousness by pointing out that they did not have the faith of Abraham. Abraham 'rejoiced to see my day and was glad,' but these Jews reacted with sarcasm and unbelief when Jesus claimed to know Abraham. Les emphasizes that true children of Abraham are those who share his faith, not merely his bloodline. This is echoed in Paul's teaching that 'they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham' (Galatians 3:7).
The Jewish religious leaders were proud of their ancestry, believing that being descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob made them special and righteous before God. They thought their genealogy meant they had no sin problem and that they were automatically heirs of God's promises.
When Jesus said, 'Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad,' the Jews responded with sarcasm and disbelief: 'Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?' They were aghast that Jesus, a young man, would claim to have known Abraham who lived 2,000 years earlier.
Les Feldick teaches that being a true child of Abraham is not about physical descent but about faith. He says that those who are 'of the faith way' are the children of Abraham. This is a spiritual connection to Abraham, not a physical one, and it applies to all believers who follow Abraham's example of believing God.
Jesus told the Jews, 'Ye do the deeds of your father.' They claimed Abraham as their father, but their actions—seeking to kill Jesus—showed that they were actually following a different father, one who was a murderer from the beginning (referring to the devil). Their rejection of Jesus exposed that they were not true children of Abraham, who would have believed and welcomed him.
Pride in Lineage
Les explains that the Jews' pride in their physical descent from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob blinded them to their sin and need for faith.
Abraham Rejoiced
Les highlights that Abraham saw Jesus' day and rejoiced, while the Jews scoffed at Jesus' claim to have known Abraham.
Jewish Sarcasm
Les points out the sarcasm in the Jews' response to Jesus, showing their unbelief and rejection of His divinity.
Claim to Deity
Les notes that the Jews understood Jesus was claiming to be the 'I AM' and this infuriated them.
Caustic Confrontation
Les stresses the caustic nature of Jesus' words to the religious leaders, contrasting their ignorance with His knowledge of the Father.
Children of Abraham by Faith
Les teaches that believers today are children of Abraham through faith, not by physical lineage.
Who Do You Make Yourself?
Les shows how the Jews challenged Jesus' authority, asking 'Whom makest thou thyself?' revealing their unbelief.
Genealogy Not Enough
Les explains that Israel's arrogance in relying on their genealogy was misplaced; they still needed to enter God's promises by faith.
John 8:39: They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Jesus directly challenges their claim to be Abraham's children by linking true sonship to doing Abraham's works.
John 8:40: But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Jesus contrasts their murderous intent with Abraham's faithful response to God's revelation.
John 8:56: Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Abraham's joy in seeing Jesus' day contrasts with the Jews' rejection, showing their lack of Abraham's faith.
John 8:58: Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Jesus claims pre-existence and deity, which the Jews could not accept, further proving they were not Abraham's true children.
According to Les Feldick, being a true child of Abraham is not about physical descent but about faith. Those who have the same faith as Abraham, believing in God and His promises, are considered true children of Abraham. Jesus told the Jews that if they were Abraham's children, they would do the works of Abraham, which included believing in Him.
The Jews of Jesus' day were proud of their genealogy as descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They believed this lineage guaranteed they were God's chosen people and that they had no sin problem. This pride made them blind to their own sin and their need for faith in Jesus.
Jesus said, 'Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.' This indicates that Abraham, by faith, saw the coming Messiah and rejoiced. Les Feldick explains that Abraham knew about the coming Son of God and rejoiced in that promise.
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