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Jn.8:44 Is the devil literally the Father of ‘all Jews?’ The anti-semite movement camps on this one scripture (out of context) for their proof text that ‘all Jews’ are of the Devil, misusing John 8:44. According to Mr. Dustin Nemos (and others involved) people are not recognized as evil because of their sin nature but all the evil is attributed to a certain race, (which he has claims been exclusively demonized by Nephilim spirits). He’s thinks he has got it all figured out; challenging what God says. Lets look at this confrontation begins by Jesus going to the Temple, the place where the Pharisees are. As with anything written in Scripture, to have a correct understanding we must first grasp the context. John 8:13-14 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true." Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.” He begins by saying they are clueless who He is and who sent him. He then makes it plain in John 8:23-25 "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins for if you do not believe that I am (He), you will die in your sins." Then they said to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.” Jesus identifies himself using the eternal name of God that was given to Moses. That he is the only way to avoid dying in your sins. V.28-29 "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [He], and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” He further explains when he is crucified you will know who He is and that He is doing the fathers will. V.30-32 “As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Here we certain Jews present that he admonished as they begin to continue by learning of him. Jesus also says to the people who want to kill him,"I know that you are Abraham's descendants.”(John 8:37). So we have two groups among the Jews, those who believe what he is saying, and those who do not. The contention begins to escalate when they say to him “Abraham is our father" (John 8:39.) Jesus disputes those Jews who are challenging him to then “do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God.” He is making it clear if they were under God's leadership, they would love him as the other Jews who believed; as Abraham believed. He further states in V.42-46 “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word . You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.” Here is what those who take this portion out of context use to make all Jews guilty of unbelief, and wanted to kill him. In other words, they rejected what he said and they wanted to kill Jesus (as it says elsewhere in the gospels.) Jesus finishes his discourse by saying in V.4 7 “He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” John 8:56“ Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” And this he said after He said to them you are of your father the devil. Clearly, what they interpret as all of the Jews is not close to being correct, he is specifically separating the Pharisees who did not believe whom he is addressing that claim to be of Abraham. We know this because Jesus says to them they are Abraham’s descendants twice, speaking of their physical decent. John 8:39 “I know that you are Abraham's descendants.”V.56 “ Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day.” In John 8:44 “ You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.” Jesus did not include Isaac or Jacob because the focus was on them having faith, attributed to Abraham. He turned this into a spiritual lesson, not about their lineage which they were using, he acknowledges comes from Abraham. But this is not what he is addressing, he is referring to the faith of Abraham. Those who use this scripture as a weapon against all of the Jews in Jesus’ day and ours, it is they who are acting like the devil; just like the Pharisees. This is because they are not able to listen to his word . The devil falsely accuses and they are doing the desires of their father . Not standing in the truth, they speak lies because they do not understand His Word that is the truth and condemn the very people Jesus came to set free. As it is writtenin thisexchange, many (Jews)believed in Him. All one has to do is read the Bible elsewhere to see how many Jews of Jesus day believed on him. In fact, the Pharisees said among themselves, “the world has gone after Him!” (John 12:19) meaning their brethren. So it is not all Jews Jesus has said this of, but some Jews; certain ones that followed their own traditions and not Moses law. |
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