Yes — the Jews in Jesus' time opposed Him because they trusted their Abrahamic lineage rather than exercising faith in His word.
Jesus acknowledged that they were Abraham's seed, but they sought to kill Him because His word had no place in them. As Les Feldick teaches, their genealogy could not remove the old Adamic nature, and Paul shows that not every child of Abraham is a child of the promise.
John 8:37 — Jesus directly tells His Jewish opponents that while they are Abraham's seed, His word has no place in them because they are seeking to kill Him.
Romans 9:7 — Paul confirms that physical descent from Abraham does not make all his descendants children of promise.
In John 8, Jesus confronts the Jews' assumption: 'I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.' He also says, 'Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.' Their response is unbelief: 'Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?' In Romans 9, Paul clarifies that 'they are not all children' merely because they are the seed of Abraham: 'but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.' He then distinguishes between children of the flesh and children of the promise. In Romans 3, Paul asks what advantage the Jew had and answers that the oracles of God were committed to them, yet that privilege did not make them righteous; there is no difference between Jew and Gentile before God.
Les Feldick teaches that Israel became puffed up and arrogant about being children of the covenant, the prophets, and the promises, thinking they had it made. Paul's argument is that they were not going to enter the promises simply because they had the right genealogy; they still had to enter by faith. Les points out that the birthright was the spiritual side of the family position, and that it carried the promised Messiah through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Esau forfeited it because of his lack of faith, and Jacob received it. He also shows from Romans 3 that Israel had every advantage—the oracles of God, the priesthood, worship, and the law—yet it accomplished practically nothing, because the old Adamic nature is just as evident in a son of Abraham as in a Gentile. When Jesus said 'Abraham saw my day,' the Jewish leaders were aghast and unbelieving; despite their physical descent, they refused to believe His identity. Les concludes that a physical child of Abraham is not automatically a child of God; only those who are of faith are truly children of Abraham.
Les explains that Israel became puffed up and arrogant about being children of the covenant, prophets, and promises, thinking they had it made. But Paul's argument is that they would not enter the promises simply because they were in the right genealogy; they still had to enter by faith. Les also highlights how the birthright was the spiritual side of the family position, and Esau lost it through lack of faith, showing that natural priority was not enough.
Jesus told the Jewish leaders, 'Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day,' and they answered, 'Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?' Les points out that they were aghast and unbelieving that Jesus, only thirty-something, could claim to have known Abraham. This unbelief was the heart of their opposition; they were Abraham's physical descendants, yet they refused to accept Jesus's word.
Les asks with Paul, 'What advantage then hath the Jew?' They were given the Word of God, the priesthood, worship, the civil law, and the whole system of law, but it accomplished practically nothing. Les concludes that this proved the old Adamic nature was just as evident in a son of Abraham as in a Gentile. Physical descent and religious privileges did not make them righteous before God or able to recognize their sin.
Why Did God Hate Esau? Romans 9:13 and Sovereignty Explained
He poured out His mercy there at the cross of Calvary. Remember I mentioned one of the programs some time ago? I had a gentleman from Tennessee, I'll never forget it, called one Sunday afternoon and he said, Les, he said, is the sinner's prayer appropriate today? Well, that's kind of a loaded question, but I caught it quick enough to say, no, that's not appropriate, because what's the sinner's pra…
Genealogy Does Not Enter the Promises
Les teaches that Israel's arrogance about being children of the covenant was misplaced; Paul corrects them by showing that the promises are entered by faith, not by genealogy.
Faith Makes One Abraham's Child
Les shows that believers have a spiritual connection to Abraham because it is those of faith who are his children, not merely his physical descendants.
Unbelief in the Face of Jesus's Claim
Les highlights the Jewish leaders' reaction when Jesus said Abraham saw His day; they were aghast and refused to believe that Jesus could have known Abraham.
The Birthright Explained: Why God Chose Jacob Over Esau
Now the first thing someone's going to say is, well how do you call the offspring of Abraham Gentiles, and he's a Jew? Well this is interesting. You want to remember that Abraham was of that one race of people coming out of Adam, but when God put the finger on Abraham in Ur of the Chaldees, and gave to him the covenant, he is brought out of that mainstream of humanity, and is now going to be the f…
The Spiritual Birthright Required Faith
Les explains that the birthright carried the Messiah's line and that Esau lost it through lack of faith, while Jacob received it, proving physical priority did not settle who was the child of promise.
The Jew's Advantages Did Not Save
Les teaches that Israel had every religious advantage but it accomplished practically nothing because the old Adamic nature was just as present in Abraham's son as in a Gentile.
Children of the Flesh vs. Children of Promise
Les points to Ishmael as the picture of fleshly effort, showing that being born into Abraham's household physically did not make one a child of God by promise.
John 8:37: I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
This verse shows that the problem was not their ancestry but their refusal to let Jesus's word take root.
John 8:56: Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Jesus claims Abraham foresaw His coming, which provoked the Jews' opposition.
John 8:57: Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
The leaders' response shows they could not accept Jesus's identity, despite being Abraham's descendants.
Romans 9:7: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Paul qualifies Abraham's physical seed; not all are children of promise.
Romans 9:8: That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Fleshly descent like Ishmael's does not make one a child of God.
Galatians 3:7: Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Paul identifies true Abrahamic children by faith, not genealogy.
Yes. Jesus Himself said, 'I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.' Their problem was not their family line but their rejection of Jesus's word.
No. Romans 9:8 says the children of the flesh are not the children of God; the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Les Feldick emphasizes that entering the promises requires faith, not genealogy.
Jesus said Abraham rejoiced to see His day, and the leaders responded in unbelief, saying He was not yet fifty years old and had not seen Abraham. Les points out that their reaction showed they were aghast at Jesus's claim.
Watch the Teaching: Why Did God Hate Esau? Romans 9:13 and Sovereignty Explained