149. A Word to the People: Concerning Bondage to Sin and Kinship With the Devil Through It. Jn. 8:33–50

They answered him: We are the seed of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’? Jesus answered them: Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. Now a slave does not remain in the house forever; a son remains forever. So if the Son frees you, you will be free indeed. I know that you are the seed of Abraham. Yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.

They answered and said to him: Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them: If you were children of Abraham, you would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has spoken the truth to you, which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your father.

They said to him: We were not born of immorality; we have one Father – God. Jesus said to them: If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and I am here; for I have not come of myself, but he sent me. Why do you not understand my speech? It is because you cannot hear my word. Your father is the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me. Which of you convicts me of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.

The Jews answered and said to him: Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon? Jesus answered: I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. However, I am not seeking my own glory; there is one who seeks it and judges.