Matthew 3:9

KJV

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} think {G1380} not {G3361} to say {G3004} within {G1722} yourselves {G1438}, We have {G2192} Abraham {G11} to our father {G3962}: for {G1063} I say {G3004} unto you {G5213}, that {G3754} God {G2316} is able {G1410} of {G1537} these {G5130} stones {G3037} to raise up {G1453} children {G5043} unto Abraham {G11}.

Complete Jewish Bible

And don't suppose you can comfort yourselves by saying, `Avraham is our father'! For I tell you that God can raise up for Avraham sons from these stones!

Berean Standard Bible

And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

American Standard Version

and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Matthew 3:9, John the Baptist delivers a profound and challenging rebuke to the self-assured religious leaders of his day, the Pharisees and Sadducees. He dismantles their false security derived from their physical lineage to Abraham, asserting God's absolute sovereignty and ability to raise up spiritual children from even the most unlikely sources, symbolized by "stones." This declaration underscores that true spiritual standing comes from genuine repentance and a transformed heart, not from ancestral privilege or outward religious affiliation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the broader narrative of John the Baptist's powerful and prophetic ministry, detailed in [Matthew 3](/matthew/3 "Matthew 3 - John the Baptist's Ministry and Baptism of Jesus"). John's primary message is a call to radical repentance, proclaiming, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" ([Matthew 3:2](/matthew/3-2 "Matthew 3:2 - John's Call to Repentance")). His ministry attracts a wide array of people, including the very religious elite—the Pharisees and Sadducees—who come to observe or perhaps even partake in his baptism. John, however, immediately confronts their hypocrisy and spiritual arrogance, addressing them as a "generation of vipers" ([Matthew 3:7](/matthew/3-7 "Matthew 3:7 - John's Rebuke to Pharisees and Sadducees")). Verse 9 serves as the climax of this direct confrontation, shattering their presumption of divine favor based solely on their physical descent from Abraham, thereby setting the stage for the coming Messiah who would establish a new covenant based on faith, not lineage.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** For the Jews of John's time, descent from Abraham was an immense source of national and religious pride, believed to guarantee their status as God's chosen people and secure their place in the covenant. They understood the Abrahamic covenant primarily through physical lineage, believing that their bloodline inherently granted them favor and protection from divine judgment. This belief system was particularly pronounced among the Pharisees, who meticulously observed the Law, and the Sadducees, who controlled the Temple. John's statement directly challenges this deeply ingrained cultural and theological understanding. The imagery of "stones" is particularly potent; stones were common, seemingly lifeless objects, often associated with barrenness or even the pagan Gentiles. To suggest that God could raise children from them was a shocking and scandalous assertion, directly undermining the exclusive claims of the Jewish religious establishment and hinting at a broader, more inclusive plan of salvation.

* **Key Themes:** John's pronouncement in Matthew 3:9 contributes significantly to several major themes within Matthew's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Repentance and Transformation over Pedigree**. John unequivocally asserts that true spiritual standing is not inherited but requires a genuine change of heart and life, evidenced by "fruits meet for repentance" ([Matthew 3:8](/matthew/3-8 "Matthew 3:8 - Bearing Fruit of Repentance")). Secondly, the verse powerfully emphasizes **God's Unbound Sovereignty and Creative Power**. The declaration that God "is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham" asserts His limitless ability to accomplish His purposes independently of human expectations, lineage, or natural limitations. This foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles into God's family, a theme later developed by Paul, who teaches that true children of Abraham are those who share his faith, not merely his bloodline ([Galatians 3:7](/galatians/3-7 "Galatians 3:7 - True Children of Abraham are of Faith"); [Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Heirs According to the Promise"); [Romans 9:6-8](/romans/9-6-8 "Romans 9:6-8 - Not All Israel is Israel")). Finally, it serves as a **Warning Against False Security**, cautioning against relying on external religious identity or heritage without genuine inner transformation and obedience to God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **think (Greek, _dokéō'_):** This word implies forming an opinion, supposing, or seeming. John is challenging their internal, settled assumptions and self-perceptions. It points to a deep-seated spiritual arrogance and a reliance on their own reasoning rather than God's truth. They "think" they are secure, but their thinking is flawed.
* **able (Greek, _dýnamai'_):** This term denotes inherent power, capability, or possibility. It emphasizes God's absolute and dynamic power to accomplish His will. John's use of this word underscores that God's plan of salvation is not constrained by human limitations or lineage, but by His divine initiative and strength.
* **raise up (Greek, _egeírō'_):** This verb means to waken, rouse, or cause to stand up. It is often used for raising from sleep, from a prone position, or even from death. Here, it conveys the idea of God bringing forth new life and a new spiritual lineage from something utterly lifeless and unexpected, highlighting His creative and life-giving power.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And think not to say within yourselves":** This opening phrase is a direct command from John, immediately challenging the internal, unspoken assumptions and self-justifications of the Pharisees and Sadducees. It targets their deeply ingrained beliefs about their spiritual status, suggesting that their reliance on lineage was not just a public declaration but a comforting, self-deceptive internal monologue.
* **"We have Abraham to [our] father":** This clause reveals the core of their spiritual presumption. They believed their physical descent from Abraham automatically guaranteed them a favored position with God, immunity from judgment, and a right to inherit the promises, regardless of their current spiritual condition or actions. This was their ultimate source of security.
* **"for I say unto you, that God is able":** John introduces a stark contrast, shifting from their human presumption to God's divine capability. The "for" (G1063, _gár_) introduces the reason for his command, emphasizing that his authority comes from God, not from human tradition. He asserts God's boundless power as the ultimate counter to their limited, human-centric view of salvation.
* **"of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.":** This is the shocking and climactic declaration. John points to the inanimate "stones" around them, perhaps literally the rocks of the desert, to illustrate God's capacity to create a new spiritual family for Abraham from the most unlikely and barren sources. This powerfully conveys that God is not dependent on human lineage and can bring forth spiritual heirs from anywhere, including the despised Gentiles, thereby redefining what it means to be a "child of Abraham."

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 3:9 is rich in literary devices that amplify John's message. The most prominent is **Hyperbole**, where John uses an exaggerated statement—God raising children from stones—not to deceive, but to emphasize God's limitless power and the utter futility of relying on physical lineage. This extreme example serves to shock his audience into recognizing the true nature of God's sovereignty. Closely related is **Symbolism**, where "stones" represent the spiritually dead, the barren, or even the Gentiles, who were considered outside the covenant. These "stones" are contrasted with "children of Abraham," who were traditionally understood as the physical descendants. John's statement transforms this symbol, suggesting that God can make spiritual heirs from unexpected, seemingly worthless sources. The entire verse also functions as a powerful **Rebuke**, directly confronting the religious leaders' spiritual arrogance and false security. Furthermore, there is a strong element of **Juxtaposition**, placing the Pharisees' and Sadducees' self-assured reliance on their ancestry in stark contrast with God's omnipotent ability to create a new lineage, highlighting the chasm between human presumption and divine reality.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 3:9 profoundly redefines the concept of belonging to God's covenant family, shifting the emphasis from physical descent to spiritual transformation. John's declaration challenges the prevailing Jewish understanding that Abrahamic lineage guaranteed salvation, asserting instead that God's covenant promises are fulfilled through His sovereign power to create a people for Himself, regardless of their natural origin. This foreshadows the New Covenant reality where spiritual identity is determined by faith and repentance, not by bloodline or ethnic heritage. It underscores God's impartiality and His ability to include all who respond to His call, laying the groundwork for the Gospel's universal reach to both Jew and Gentile. The verse ultimately affirms that God's plan for humanity is not limited by human traditions or expectations, but is rooted in His boundless power and grace to call a people for His name from every nation, tribe, and tongue.

* [John 8:39](/john/8-39 "John 8:39 - True Children of Abraham Do His Works")
* [Romans 4:16](/romans/4-16 "Romans 4:16 - Abraham, Father of All Believers")
* [Luke 19:40](/luke/19-40 "Luke 19:40 - If They Keep Silent, the Stones Will Cry Out")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 3:9 serves as a timeless challenge to examine the true basis of our spiritual assurance. In our modern context, it prompts us to ask whether we are relying on external factors—such as our family's religious background, church membership, denominational affiliation, or even our own good works—rather than a genuine, personal relationship with God marked by repentance and faith. John the Baptist's radical message reminds us that God values a transformed heart and life over any inherited status or outward credential. It calls us to humility, recognizing that our standing before God is not earned but is a gift of His sovereign grace. Furthermore, the verse powerfully reminds us of God's limitless power: if He can raise children from stones, He can certainly transform any life, redeem any situation, and use any individual, regardless of their past or perceived limitations, for His glorious purposes. This should inspire both awe at His power and confidence in His ability to work in and through us, as long as our hearts are truly yielded to Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What false securities might I be relying on instead of genuine faith and repentance in my walk with God?**
* **How does John's statement about God's power to "raise up children from stones" challenge my own understanding of God's capabilities and my expectations for His work in the world or in my life?**
* **In what practical ways can I demonstrate "fruits meet for repentance" in my daily life, moving beyond mere outward religious observance?**

### FAQ
**Why did John the Baptist single out the Pharisees and Sadducees with such a harsh rebuke?**

Answer: John singled out the Pharisees and Sadducees because, despite their outward religiosity and influential positions, they embodied a spiritual arrogance and false security rooted in their physical lineage to Abraham. They believed their ancestry automatically guaranteed them a favored status with God and immunity from divine judgment, making them resistant to John's call for genuine repentance. John's sharp words, including calling them a "generation of vipers" ([Matthew 3:7](/matthew/3-7 "Matthew 3:7 - John's Rebuke to Pharisees and Sadducees")), were meant to shatter this illusion and expose their spiritual hypocrisy, emphasizing that true righteousness comes from a transformed heart, not from inherited privilege or external religious observance.

**What is the significance of "stones" in John's statement?**

Answer: The "stones" in John's statement are highly symbolic. They represent inanimate, barren, and seemingly worthless objects, in stark contrast to the living, privileged descendants of Abraham. In the context of Jewish thought, "stones" could also implicitly refer to the Gentiles, who were considered outside the covenant and spiritually "dead" in comparison to Israel. By declaring that God could raise up children for Abraham from these very stones, John powerfully illustrates God's absolute sovereignty and creative power. It underscores that God is not limited by human lineage, natural processes, or social distinctions. He can bring forth spiritual life and establish a new spiritual family for Abraham from the most unexpected and unlikely sources, thereby foreshadowing the inclusion of Gentiles into God's covenant through faith.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 3:9 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the true "seed" of Abraham through whom all nations are blessed ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - The Seed is Christ")). John the Baptist's ministry was to prepare the way for Jesus, and his radical message about God raising children from stones directly anticipates the new spiritual lineage established by Christ. Through Jesus, the criteria for being a "child of Abraham" shifts entirely from physical descent to faith in Him. As [John 1:12-13](/john/1-12-13 "John 1:12-13 - Born of God, Not of Blood") declares, those who receive Christ are given the right to become "children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." This includes both Jews and Gentiles who place their faith in Jesus, fulfilling God's ancient promise to Abraham that he would be the "father of many nations" ([Romans 4:16](/romans/4-16 "Romans 4:16 - Abraham, Father of All Believers")). Jesus, by His atoning sacrifice, breaks down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile, making them "fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household" ([Ephesians 2:11-22](/ephesians/2-11-22 "Ephesians 2:11-22 - Gentiles Made Near by Christ's Blood")). Thus, the "stones" from which God can raise up children for Abraham become a powerful metaphor for the spiritually dead, the outcast, and the Gentile world, all of whom are made alive and brought into God's family through faith in the crucified and risen Christ.

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.

Cross-References

Luke 3:8

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Galatians 3:27

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Galatians 3:29

And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Romans 9:7

Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

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.

John 8:33

They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

Acts 13:26

Men [and] brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.