Jn 8:31-42
31Jesus... said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. 36So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free. 37I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. 38I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.”
39They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing 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 did not do this. 41You are doing the works of your father!” [So] they said to him, “We are not illegitimate. We have one Father, God.” 42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”
ABRAHAM’S CHILDREN: The Jews have always insisted on the purity of their descent from Abraham. On this rests their claim that they are God’s chosen ones, inheritors of God’s promises and blessings (Gn 22:17-18). Jesus reminds the Jews that a sense of responsibility accompanies this status. Jesus glorifies and gives testimony to his Father from whom he traces his origin and mission (Jn 5:19-30). The Jews, in their actions, must also show themselves worthy of Abraham, their father. In the face of divine messages which at times seemed hard to believe, Abraham manifested not violent reactions but a lowly spirit and humble mind (Gn 12:4; 15:1-6). The true children of Abraham then are not only the Israelites who come from his flesh and blood. Everyone who accepts God’s promises and words in faith is a child of Abraham (Rom 4:16-25).