8:43 8:43

John 8:44

8:45 8:45

Bible Versions

Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Ye {G5210} are {G2075} of {G1537} your father {G3962} the devil {G1228}, and {G2532} the lusts {G1939} of your {G5216} father {G3962} ye will {G2309} do {G4160}. He {G1565} was {G2258} a murderer {G443} from {G575} the beginning {G746}, and {G2532} abode {G2476} not {G3756} in {G1722} the truth {G225}, because {G3754} there is {G2076} no {G3756} truth {G225} in {G1722} him {G846}. When {G3752} he speaketh {G2980} a lie {G5579}, he speaketh {G2980} of {G1537} his own {G2398}: for {G3754} he is {G2076} a liar {G5583}, and {G2532} the father {G3962} of it {G846}.
You belong to your father, Satan, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. From the start he was a murderer, and he has never stood by the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is speaking in character; because he is a liar — indeed, the inventor of the lie!
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.

Context

John 8 records one of the most intense confrontations between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders, particularly those who claimed to be children of Abraham but sought to kill Jesus. This verse is the culmination of Jesus' direct challenge to their spiritual heritage, revealing that their hostile actions and desires aligned not with God, but with the devil.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Lineage and Allegiance: Jesus asserts that true spiritual parentage is not merely biological (being a descendant of Abraham) but determined by one's actions, desires, and willingness to accept God's truth. Their murderous intent against Jesus revealed their true spiritual father.
  • The Devil's Intrinsic Nature: The verse vividly describes the devil as inherently evil. He is portrayed as a "murderer from the beginning," hinting at his role in humanity's fall and the introduction of death (see also 1 John 3:8), and fundamentally opposed to truth, being the "father of lies."
  • Truth vs. Deceit: A central conflict in John's Gospel is between divine truth, embodied by Jesus ("I am the way, the truth, and the life," John 14:6), and the devil's absolute falsehood. The devil's very essence is devoid of truth, making him the ultimate source of all deceit and falsehood.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Greek word for "lusts" (epithymias) refers to strong desires or cravings. Here, it emphasizes the malevolent desires that drive the actions of those aligned with the devil.
  • "Abode not in the truth" (ouk estē en tē alētheia) literally means "did not stand in the truth." It implies a deliberate departure from an original state of truth or an inherent inability to remain within its bounds. The devil never genuinely embraced or remained in truth.

Practical Application

  • Examine Spiritual Allegiance: This verse challenges believers to reflect on their own desires and actions. Do they align with Christ's truth and love, or are they swayed by deceit and destructive impulses? Our spiritual fruit reveals our true spiritual parentage (Matthew 7:16).
  • Discernment in a World of Lies: In a world saturated with misinformation and deceit, Jesus' words about the devil as the "father of lies" underscore the importance of seeking and clinging to divine truth. It reminds us to be vigilant against deception, understanding its ultimate source.
  • The Gravity of Unbelief: The harshness of Jesus' words highlights the severe consequences of rejecting God's truth and His Son. It reveals that persistent unbelief is not merely intellectual disagreement but a profound spiritual misalignment.

Conclusion

John 8:44 is a stark and powerful declaration by Jesus, unmasking the true spiritual identity of those who vehemently opposed Him. It reveals the devil's character as a murderer and the ultimate source of all lies, contrasting sharply with Jesus, who is the embodiment of truth. This verse serves as a profound reminder of the spiritual battle between light and darkness, truth and falsehood, and the critical importance of choosing our spiritual allegiance.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 13:10

    And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, [thou] child of the devil, [thou] enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

  • 1 John 3:12

    Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

  • 1 John 3:8

    He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

  • 1 John 3:10

    In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:3

    But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

  • Revelation 12:9

    And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

  • John 8:38

    I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
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