Jesus cuts to the chase, revealing that the Jews' misunderstanding isn't a lack of intellect, but a deep-seated spiritual opposition rooted in their "father," the devil. This isn't just about a general dislike for truth, but an inherent, active nature that mirrors the devil's own history of murder and deception.
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has been engaging in a heated debate with Jewish leaders who refuse to accept his claims and identity. They accuse him of being a Samaritan and demon-possessed, dismissing his teachings and lineage. In this sharp exchange, Jesus counters their accusations by revealing their true spiritual heritage, explaining that their rejection of truth and their murderous intent stem from their connection to the devil, not to Abraham.
Jesus doesn't hold back here, calling some people 'children of the devil.' What does that really mean? Is it about bloodline or something else entirely?
Jesus confronts the religious leaders who are opposing Him. He declares they are 'of their father the devil' and do his 'desires.' This isn't about a biological or ethnic lineage. As Calvin points out, it's about a spiritual and moral connection. Just as believers are children of God because they are led by His Spirit and Christ lives in them, these individuals are children of the devil because they are influenced, blinded, and driven by his evil intentions.
This connection is revealed in their actions and attitudes. They are characterized by the devil's fundamental traits: murder and lies. Their hostility towards Jesus, their rejection of His truth, and their deceptive intentions reveal their true spiritual parentage. They are acting out the desires of their spiritual father.
The verse calls the devil a 'murderer from the beginning.' How does this ancient act connect to the present conflict Jesus has with these leaders?
The devil's nature is fundamentally destructive. Jesus states, 'He was a murderer from the beginning.' This points back to the fall of humanity, as commentaries suggest. When the devil deceived Eve, he brought sin and death into the world, effectively murdering the human race by plunging them into spiritual death and separation from God. This original act of deception led to the first murder, Cain killing Abel, further cementing the devil's association with violence and death.
The leaders opposing Jesus are not just disagreeing with Him; they are actively seeking to kill Him (John 8:40). Jesus points out this murderous intent as a direct reflection of their father's nature. Their rejection of truth and embrace of falsehood is the spiritual parallel to the devil's original act of bringing death through lies.
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Jesus calls the devil a 'liar and the father of lies.' Why is this so central to his identity and his opposition to truth?
Truth is not merely something the devil avoids; it is fundamentally alien to him. 'He does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.' As the commentators explain, truth is not his native environment; it's a foreign sphere. Instead, falsehood is his element, his natural habitat. 'When he lies, he speaks out of his own character.' His lies aren't accidental; they are expressions of his very being.
This makes him the 'father of lies' – the originator and sustainer of all falsehood. The religious leaders' inability to hear and accept Jesus' words, despite His speaking the truth, demonstrates their kinship with the devil. Their rejection of divine truth and their adherence to their own traditions or interpretations reveal that they, like their father, have no truth in them. This highlights the critical importance of guarding our hearts and minds against deception and actively pursuing God's truth.
Understand the original words
diabolos · Greek Noun
The adversary of God and humanity. He is depicted as the ultimate tempter, accuser, and deceiver who seeks to lead humanity away from obedience to God.
epithumia · Greek Noun
A strong desire, craving, or intent. In a moral sense, it refers to the inner inclinations of the heart that drive a person’s actions.
anthrōpoktonos · Greek Noun
One who destroys life or kills. It is associated with the devil, signifying his original and ongoing hatred for God’s creation.
alētheia · Greek Noun
The reality of God’s nature, will, and message. It stands in direct opposition to falsehood and is essential for living in alignment with God.
pseustēs · Greek Noun
One who intentionally distorts reality and speaks falsely. It is the antithesis of the character of God, who is the source of all truth.
This verse arises from Jesus' direct confrontation with Jewish leaders who are rejecting His claims and seeking to harm Him. The historical context highlights their active opposition and Jesus' understanding of their spiritual allegiance, not to God or Abraham, but to the devil, the originator of murder and lies.
c. 2000 BC
The Fall of Man
According to Genesis, the serpent (identified as Satan) tempted Adam and Eve into sin, bringing death and separation from God into the world. This event is seen as the origin of sin and Satan's role as a 'murderer from the beginning' by causing spiritual death.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Ministry and Conflict
Jesus' public ministry involved teaching, healing, and confronting the religious authorities. His claims and actions were increasingly seen as a threat by the Jewish leaders.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Jesus Confronts Jewish Leaders
Jesus engages in intense debates with the Jewish leaders, particularly in Jerusalem, challenging their understanding of God, their heritage, and their actions. This specific discourse occurs during one such confrontation.
c. 33 AD
Betrayal and Crucifixion
The Jewish leaders, influenced by their opposition to Jesus and possibly Satanic prompting, conspire to have Him arrested and crucified, fulfilling the 'murderous' intent described.
This passage describes the serpent's first lie to Eve, directly mirroring the description of the devil as a liar and the father of lies in John 8:44.
1 John 3:8John explicitly states that 'the one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning,' echoing the idea of inherited nature and actions from the devil presented in John 8:44.
Matthew 4:1This verse describes Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness, demonstrating his deceptive nature and his role as an adversary, which aligns with the characterization of the devil in John 8:44.
This passage from the Apocrypha directly links the devil's envy to the entrance of death into the world, reinforcing the idea of the devil as a 'murderer from the beginning' as stated in John 8:44.
Paul warns that 'Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light,' highlighting his deceptive nature and ability to appear as something he is not, which is consistent with being the father of lies.
barnesJohn 8:44: "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 are of your father the devil - That is, you have the temper, disposition, or spirit of the devil. You are influenced by him, you imitate him, and ought therefore to be called his children. See also 1 John 3:8-10 ; Acts 13…
calvinJohn 8:43-45: "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word."
Why do you not understand my language, that you cannot hear my word? 44. You are of your father the devil, and you wish to execute the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and he did not remain in the truth, because there is no truth in him. 45. And because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.
Why do you not understand my language? In this passage, he reproaches the Jew…
Jesus cuts to the chase, revealing that the Jews' misunderstanding isn't a lack of intellect, but a deep-seated spiritual opposition rooted in their "father," the devil. This isn't just about a general dislike for truth, but an inherent, active nature that mirrors the devil's own history of murder and deception.
Jesus has been engaging in a heated debate with Jewish leaders who refuse to accept his claims and identity. They accuse him of being a Samaritan and demon-possessed, dismissing his teachings and lineage. In this sharp exchange, Jesus counters their accusations by revealing their true spiritual heritage, explaining that their rejection of truth and their murderous intent stem from their connection to the devil, not to Abraham.
Jesus has been engaging in a heated debate with Jewish leaders who refuse to accept his claims and identity. They accuse him of being a Samaritan and demon-possessed, dismissing his teachings and lineage. In this sharp exchange, Jesus counters their accusations by revealing their true spiritual heritage, explaining that their rejection of truth and their murderous intent stem from their connection to the devil, not to Abraham.
"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for…" — Jesus cuts to the chase, revealing that the Jews' misunderstanding isn't a lack of intellect, but a deep-seated spiritual opposition rooted in their "father," the devil. This isn't just about a gener…
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Last reviewed October 2026
