John Chapter 8, Verse 39
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39: απεκριθησαν και ειπον αυτω ο πατηρ ημων αβρααμ εστιν λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους ει τεκνα του αβρααμ ητε τα εργα του αβρααμ εποιειτε αν
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.
39: They answered and said to him: Abraham is our father. Jesus saith
them: If you be the children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham.
Abraham is our father. We are descended from Abraham. Of this the Jews boasted much, as being descended from such an illustrious man. See Barnes "Mt 3:9".
As Jesus did not expressly say who he meant (Jn 8:38) when he said they did the works of their father, they obstinately persisted in pretending not to understand him, as if they had said, "We acknowledge no other father but Abraham, and to charge us with being the offspring of another is slander and calumny."
If ye were Abraham's children. The words sons and children are often used to denote those who imitate another or who have his spirit. See Barnes "Mt 1:1".
Here it means, "if you were worthy to be called the children of Abraham, or if you had his spirit."
