Homilies on the Gospel of John

“I know that you are Abraham's seed but you seek to kill Me.”

Gently and by little does He expel them from that relationship, teaching them not to be high-minded because of it. For as freedom and bondage depend on men's actions, so also does relationship. He said not directly, “You are not the seed of Abraham, you the murderers of the righteous”; but for a while He even goes along with them, and says, “I know that you are Abraham's seed.” Yet this is not the matter in question, and during the remainder of this speech He uses greater vehemence. For we may for the most part observe, that when He is about to work any great thing, after He has wrought it, He uses greater boldness of speech, as though the testimony from His works shut men's mouths. “But ye seek to kill Me.” “What of that,” says some one, “if they sought to do so justly.” But this was not so either; wherefore also He puts the reason;

“Because My word has no place in you.”

“How then was it,” says some one, “that they believed on Him?” As I before said, they changed again. On which account He touched them sharply. “If you boast the relationship of Abraham ye ought also to show forth his life.” And He said not, “You do not contain my words,” but, “My word has no place in you,” thus declaring the sublimity of His doctrines. Yet not for this ought they to have slain, but rather to have honored and waited on Him so as to learn. “But what,” says some one, “if you speak these things of yourself?” On this account He added,