44 Bible Verses about pharisees

All this was said within hearing of the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, and they began to sneer at Jesus.

They sent their disciples, with the Herodians, to say to him: "Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and that you teach the way of God honestly, and are not afraid of any one; for you pay no regard to a man's position.

Meanwhile the people had gathered in thousands, so that they trod upon one another, when Jesus, addressing himself to his disciples, began by saying to them: "Be on your guard against the leaven--that is, the hypocrisy--of the Pharisees.

And, when you fast, do not put on gloomy looks, as hypocrites do who disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. That, I tell you, is their reward! But, when one of your fasts, let him anoint his head and wash his face, That he may not be seen by men to be fasting, but by his Father who dwells in secret; and his Father, who sees what is secret, will recompense him.

Listen to another parable. A man, who was an employer, once planted a vineyard, put a fence round it, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, and then let it out to tenants and went abroad. When the time for the vintage drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to receive his share of the produce. But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. read more.
A second time the owner sent some servants, a larger number than before, and the tenants treated them in the same way. As a last resource he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said. But the tenants, on seeing his son, said to each other 'Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and get his inheritance.' So they seized him, and threw him outside the vineyard, and killed him. Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" "Miserable wretches!" they exclaimed, "he will put them to a miserable death, and he will let out the vineyard to other tenants, who will pay him his share of the produce at the proper times." Then Jesus added: "Have you never read in the Scriptures?-- 'The very stone which the builders despised--Has now itself become the corner-stone; This corner-stone has come from the Lord, And is marvelous in our eyes.' And that, I tell you, is why the Kingdom of God will be taken from you, and given to a nation that does produce the fruit of the Kingdom. Yes, and he who falls on this stone will be dashed to pieces, while any one on whom it falls--it will scatter him as dust." After listening to these parables, the Chief Priests and the Pharisees saw that it was about them that he was speaking; Yet, although eager to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowds, who regarded him as a Prophet.

Therefore, when you do acts of charity, do not have a trumpet blown in front of you, as hypocrites do in the Synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. There, I tell you, is their reward! But, when you do acts of charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, So that your charity may be secret; and your Father, who sees what is in secret, will recompense you. read more.
And, when you pray, you are not to behave as hypocrites do. They like to pray standing in the Synagogues and at the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. There, I tell you, is their reward! But, when one of you prays, let him go into his own room, shut the door, and pray to his Father who dwells in secret; and his Father, who sees what is secret, will recompense him. When praying, do not repeat the same words over and over again, as is done by the Gentiles, who think that by using many words they will obtain a hearing. Do not imitate them; for God, your Father, knows what you need before you ask him.

Then some Pharisees and Teachers of the Law came to Jesus, and said: "How is it that your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? For they do not wash their hands when they eat food." His reply was: "How is it that you on your side break God's commandments out of respect for your own traditions? read more.
For God said--'Honor thy father and mother,' and 'Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death,' But you say 'Whenever any one says to his father or mother "Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is 'Given to God,'" He is in no way bound to honor his father.' In this way you have nullified the words of God on account of your traditions. Hypocrites! It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you-- 'This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me; But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.'"

At this point, some Teachers of the Law and Pharisees interposed. "Teacher," they said, " we want to see some sign from you." "It is a wicked and unfaithful generation," answered Jesus, "that is asking for a sign, and no sign shall be given it except the sign of the Prophet Jonah.

On this his disciples came up to him, and said: "Do you know that the Pharisees were shocked on hearing what you said?"

"Have any of our leading men believed in him, or any of the Pharisees?

"I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, but I was brought up in this city under the teaching of Gamaliel, and educated in accordance with the strict system of our ancestral Law. I was as zealous in God's service as any of you who are here to-day.

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a leading man among the Jews.

Some of the Pharisees' party, however, who had become believers in Christ, came forward and declared that they were bound to circumcise converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.

Then some Pharisees and Teachers of the Law came to Jesus, and said: "How is it that your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? For they do not wash their hands when they eat food." His reply was: "How is it that you on your side break God's commandments out of respect for your own traditions?

One day the Pharisees and some of the Teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus. They had noticed that some of his disciples ate their food with their hands 'defiled,' by which they meant unwashed. (For the Pharisees, and indeed all strict Jews, will not eat without first scrupulously washing their hands, holding in this to the traditions of their ancestors. read more.
When they come from market, they will not eat without first sprinkling themselves; and there are many other customs which they have inherited and hold to, such as the ceremonial washing of cups, and jugs, and copper pans). So the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law asked Jesus this question--"How is it that your disciples do not follow the traditions of our ancestors, but eat their food with defiled hands?" His answer was: "It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words--'This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me; But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.' You neglect God's commandments and hold to the traditions of men. Wisely do you set aside God's commandments," he exclaimed, "to keep your own traditions! For while Moses said 'Honor thy father and thy mother,' and 'Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death,' You say 'If a man says to his father or mother "Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is Korban"' (which means 'Given to God')-- Why, then you do not allow him to do anything further for his father or mother! In this way you nullify the words of God by your traditions, which you hand down; and you do many similar things." Then Jesus called the people to him again, and said: "Listen to me, all of you, and mark my words. There is nothing external to a man, which by going into him can 'defile' him; but the things that come out from a man are the things that defile him."

On one occasion, as Jesus was going, on a Sabbath into the house of one of the leading Pharisees to dine, they were watching him closely.

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dine with him, so Jesus went to his house and took his place at table.

As Jesus finished speaking, a Pharisee asked him to breakfast with him, and Jesus went in and took his place at table.

Then John's disciples came to Jesus, and asked: "Why do we and the Pharisees fast while your disciples do not?"

I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.'

Presently some Pharisees came up to him, and, to test him, said: "Has a man the right to divorce his wife for every cause?"

Then the Pharisees went away and conferred together as to how they might lay a snare for Jesus in the course of conversation. They sent their disciples, with the Herodians, to say to him: "Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and that you teach the way of God honestly, and are not afraid of any one; for you pay no regard to a man's position. Tell us, then, what you think. Are we right in paying taxes to the Emperor, or not?" read more.
Perceiving their malice, Jesus answered: "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin with which the tax is paid." And, when they had brought him a florin, He asked: "Whose head and title are these?" "The Emperor's," they answered: on which he said to them: "Then pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God what belongs to God." They wondered at his answer, and left him alone and went away.

Noticing that some of those present were Sadducees and others Pharisees, Paul called out in the Council: "Brothers, I am a Pharisee and a son of Pharisees. It is on the question of hope for the dead and of their resurrection that I am on my trial."

And they have always known--if they choose to give evidence- -that, in accordance with the very strictest form of our religion, I lived a true Pharisee.

When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples: "Why does your Teacher eat in the company of tax-gatherers and outcasts?" On hearing this, Jesus said: "It is not those who are in health that need a doctor, but those who are ill. Go and learn what this means--'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice'; for I did not come to call the religious, but the outcast."

For God said--'Honor thy father and mother,' and 'Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death,' But you say 'Whenever any one says to his father or mother "Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is 'Given to God,'" He is in no way bound to honor his father.' In this way you have nullified the words of God on account of your traditions. read more.
Hypocrites! It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you-- 'This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me; But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.'"

But, when the Pharisees saw this, they said: "Look! your disciples are doing what it is not allowable to do on a Sabbath!" "Have not you read," replied Jesus, "what David did, when he and his companions were hungry-- How he went into the House of God, and how they ate the consecrated bread, through it was not allowable for him or his companions to eat it, but only for the priests? read more.
And have not you read in the law that, on the Sabbath, the priest in the Temple break the Sabbath and yet are not guilty? Here, however, I tell you, there is something greater than the Temple! And had you learned the meaning of the words--'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned those who are not guilty. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."

When, however, John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment? Let your life, then, prove your repentance; And do not think that you can say among yourselves 'Abraham is our ancestor,' for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham! read more.
Already the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Noticing that some of those present were Sadducees and others Pharisees, Paul called out in the Council: "Brothers, I am a Pharisee and a son of Pharisees. It is on the question of hope for the dead and of their resurrection that I am on my trial."

(For Sadducees say there is no such thing as a resurrection, and that there is neither angel nor spirit, while Pharisees believe in both.)

But the Pharisees and the Students of the Law, having rejected John's baptism, frustrated God's purpose in regard to them.)

But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.'"

Some of the Pharisees' party, however, who had become believers in Christ, came forward and declared that they were bound to circumcise converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.

Yet, although eager to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowds, who regarded him as a Prophet.

On coming out, the Pharisees plotted against Jesus, to put him to death.

Upon this the Chief Priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the High Council, and said: "What are we to do, now that this man is giving so many signs?

So from that day they plotted to put Jesus to death.

The Chief Priests and the Pharisees had already issued orders that, if any one learned where Jesus was, he should give information, so that they might arrest him.

Presently some Pharisees came up to him, and, to test him, said: "Has a man the right to divorce his wife for every cause?"

Then one of them, a Student of the Law, to test him, asked this question--

Then the Pharisees went away and conferred together as to how they might lay a snare for Jesus in the course of conversation. They sent their disciples, with the Herodians, to say to him: "Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and that you teach the way of God honestly, and are not afraid of any one; for you pay no regard to a man's position.

All this was said within hearing of the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, and they began to sneer at Jesus.

After listening to these parables, the Chief Priests and the Pharisees saw that it was about them that he was speaking;

On this his disciples came up to him, and said: "Do you know that the Pharisees were shocked on hearing what you said?"

(For the Pharisees, and indeed all strict Jews, will not eat without first scrupulously washing their hands, holding in this to the traditions of their ancestors.

And how, in my devotion to Judaism, I surpassed many of my contemporaries among my own people in my intense earnestness in upholding the traditions of my ancestors.

So the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law asked Jesus this question--"How is it that your disciples do not follow the traditions of our ancestors, but eat their food with defiled hands?" His answer was: "It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words--'This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me; But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.' read more.
You neglect God's commandments and hold to the traditions of men.

When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself: "Had this man been 'The Prophet,' he would have known who, and what sort of woman, this is who is touching him, and that she is an outcast."

When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples: "Why does your Teacher eat in the company of tax-gatherers and outcasts?"

The tax-gatherers and the outcasts were all drawing near to Jesus to listen to him; But the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law found fault. "This man always welcomes outcasts, and takes meals with them!" they complained.

Presently Jesus said to them: "Take care and be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

How is it that you do not see that I was not speaking about bread? Be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that he had told them to be on their guard, not against the leaven of bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

But Gamaliel, a Pharisee, who was a Doctor of the Law and who was held in universal respect, rose in the Council, and directed that the men should be taken out of court for a little while.

So a great uproar ensued, and some of the Teaches of the Law belonging to the Pharisees' party stood up and hotly protested: "We find nothing whatever wrong in this man. Suppose a spirit did speak to him, or an angel--"

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a leading man among the Jews.

The Pharisee stood forward and began praying to himself in this way--'O God, I thank thee that I am not like other men-- thieves, rogues, adulterers--or even like this tax-gatherer.

I was circumcised when eight days old; I am an Israelite by race, and of the tribe of Benjamin; I am a Hebrew, and the child of Hebrews. As to the Law, I was a Pharisee; As to zeal, I was a persecutor of the Church; as to such righteousness as is due to Law, I proved myself blameless.

You blind guides, to strain out a gnat and to swallow a camel!

Fools that you are and blind! Which is the more important? The gold? Or the Temple which has given sacredness to the gold?

Here the Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and, to test Jesus, requested him to show them some sign from the heavens.

At this point, some Teachers of the Law and Pharisees interposed. "Teacher," they said, " we want to see some sign from you."

But the Pharisees said: "He drives out the demons by the help of the chief of the demons."

But the Pharisees heard of it and said: "He drives out demons only by the help of Baal-zebub the chief of the demons."

I was circumcised when eight days old; I am an Israelite by race, and of the tribe of Benjamin; I am a Hebrew, and the child of Hebrews. As to the Law, I was a Pharisee;

Some of the Pharisees' party, however, who had become believers in Christ, came forward and declared that they were bound to circumcise converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.

All this was said within hearing of the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, and they began to sneer at Jesus.

Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You destroy widow's houses, even while pretending to make long prayers; therefore you shall receive greater condemnation.

"John's disciples," they said to Jesus, "Often fast and say prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, while yours are eating and drinking!"

I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.'

Another time, speaking to people who were satisfied that they were religious, and who regarded every one else with scorn, Jesus told this parable--

"You," said Jesus, "are the men who justify themselves before the world, but God can read your hearts; and what is highly esteemed among men may be an abomination in the sight of God.

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dine with him, so Jesus went to his house and took his place at table.

As Jesus finished speaking, a Pharisee asked him to breakfast with him, and Jesus went in and took his place at table.

The Pharisees heard the people whispering about him in this way, and so the Chief Priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him;

When the officers returned to the Chief Priests and Pharisees, they were asked: "Why have you not brought him?"

When the Jews sent some Priests and Levites to John from Jerusalem, to ask--"Who are you?", his statement was this:

These men had been sent from the Pharisees;

"I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, but I was brought up in this city under the teaching of Gamaliel, and educated in accordance with the strict system of our ancestral Law. I was as zealous in God's service as any of you who are here to-day.

"John's disciples," they said to Jesus, "Often fast and say prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, while yours are eating and drinking!"

But alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You turn the key of the Kingdom of Heaven in men's faces. For you do not go in yourselves, nor yet allow those who try to go in to do so. Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You destroy widow's houses, even while pretending to make long prayers; therefore you shall receive greater condemnation. Alas for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You scour land and sea to make a single convert, and, when he is gained, you make him twice as deserving of the Pit as you are yourselves. read more.
Alas for you, you blind guides! You say 'if any answer by the Temple, his oath counts for nothing; but, if any one swears by the gold of the Temple, his oath is binding him'! Fools that you are and blind! Which is the more important? The gold? Or the Temple which has given sacredness to the gold? You say, too, 'If any one swears by the altar, his oath counts for nothing, but, if any one swears by the offering placed on it, his oath is binding on him'! Blind indeed! Which is the more important? The offering? or the altar which gives sacredness to the offering? Therefore a man, swearing by the altar, swears by it and by all that is on it, and a man, swearing by the Temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in it, while a man, swearing by Heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits upon it. Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You pay tithes on mint, fennel, and caraway seed, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law--justice, mercy, and good faith. These last you ought to have put into practice, without neglecting the first. You blind guides, to strain out a gnat and to swallow a camel! Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are filled with the results of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed look fair outside, while inside they are filled with dead men's bones and all kinds of filth. It is the same with you. Outwardly, and to others, you have the look of religious men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and sin. Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You build the tombs of the Prophets, and decorate the monuments of religious men, and say 'Had we been living in the days of our ancestors, we should have taken part in their murder of the Prophets! By doing this you are furnishing evidence against yourselves that you are true children of the men who murdered the Prophets. Fill up the measure of your ancestor's guilt. You serpents and brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to the Pit?

and to be greeted in the markets with respect, and to be called 'Rabbi' for everybody. But do not allow yourselves to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Father, the heavenly Father. And do not call any one Father, the heavenly Father. read more.
Nor must you allow yourselves to be called 'Leaders,' for you have only one Leader, the Christ.

Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You pay tithes on mint, fennel, and caraway seed, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law--justice, mercy, and good faith. These last you ought to have put into practice, without neglecting the first.

Alas for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You scour land and sea to make a single convert, and, when he is gained, you make him twice as deserving of the Pit as you are yourselves.

"It is a wicked and unfaithful generation," answered Jesus, "that is asking for a sign, and no sign shall be given it except the sign of the Prophet Jonah.

You serpents and brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to the Pit?

Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed look fair outside, while inside they are filled with dead men's bones and all kinds of filth.

and to be greeted in the markets with respect, and to be called 'Rabbi' for everybody.

and like to have the place of honor at dinner, and the best seats in the Synagogues,

While they make up heavy loads and pile them on other men's shoulder's they decline, themselves, to lift a finger to move them.

Indeed I tell you that, unless your religion is above that of the Teachers of the Law, and Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

All their actions are done to attract attention. They widen their phylacteries, and increase the size of their tassels,

When, however, John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment?

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest, And asked him to give him letters to the Jewish congregations at Damascus, authorizing him, if he found there any supporters of the Cause, whether men or women, to have them put in chains and brought to Jerusalem.

Now, when the Master heard that the Pharisees had been told that he was making and baptizing more disciples than John (Though it was not Jesus himself, but his disciples, who baptized), He left Judea, and set out again for Galilee.

Alas for you! You are like unsuspected graves, over which men walk unawares."

And they have always known--if they choose to give evidence- -that, in accordance with the very strictest form of our religion, I lived a true Pharisee.

"Have any of our leading men believed in him, or any of the Pharisees?

But the Pharisees and the Students of the Law, having rejected John's baptism, frustrated God's purpose in regard to them.)

(For Sadducees say there is no such thing as a resurrection, and that there is neither angel nor spirit, while Pharisees believe in both.)

Noticing that some of those present were Sadducees and others Pharisees, Paul called out in the Council: "Brothers, I am a Pharisee and a son of Pharisees. It is on the question of hope for the dead and of their resurrection that I am on my trial."

The Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely, to see if he would work cures on the Sabbath, so that they might find a charge to bring against him.

All this was said within hearing of the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, and they began to sneer at Jesus.

"Two men went up into the Temple Courts to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.

Here the Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and, to test Jesus, requested him to show them some sign from the heavens.

Presently some Pharisees came up to him, and, to test him, said: "Has a man the right to divorce his wife for every cause?"

But the Pharisees and the Students of the Law, having rejected John's baptism, frustrated God's purpose in regard to them.)

Noticing that some of those present were Sadducees and others Pharisees, Paul called out in the Council: "Brothers, I am a Pharisee and a son of Pharisees. It is on the question of hope for the dead and of their resurrection that I am on my trial."

No one sets light to a lamp, and then puts it in the cellar of under the corn-measure, but he puts it on the lamp-stand, so that any one who comes in may see the light. The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is unclouded, your whole body, also, is lit up; but, as soon as your eye is diseased, your body, also, is darkened. Take care, therefore, that the inner Light is not darkness. read more.
If, then, your whole body is lit up, and no corner of it darkened, the whole will be lit up, just as when a lamp gives you light by its brilliance." As Jesus finished speaking, a Pharisee asked him to breakfast with him, and Jesus went in and took his place at table. The Pharisee noticed, to his astonishment, that Jesus omitted the ceremonial washing before breakfast. But the Master said to him: "You Pharisees do, it is true, clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you yourselves are filled with greed and wickedness. Fools! did not the maker of the outside make the inside too? Only give away what is in them in charity, and at once you have the whole clean. But alas for you Pharisees! You pay tithes on mint, rue, and herbs of all kinds, and pass over justice and love to God. These last you ought to have put into practice without neglecting the first. Alas for you Pharisees! You delight to have the front seat in the Synagogues, and to be greeted in the markets with respect. Alas for you! You are like unsuspected graves, over which men walk unawares." Here one of the Students of the Law interrupted him by saying: "Teacher, when you say this, you are insulting us also." But Jesus went on: "Alas for you, too, you Students of the Law! You load men with loads that are too heavy to carry, but do not, yourselves, touch them with one of your fingers. Alas for you! You build the monuments of the Prophets whom your ancestors killed. You are actually witnesses to your ancestors' acts and show your approval of them, because, while they killed the Prophets, you build tombs for them. That is why the Wisdom of God said--"I will send to them Prophets and Apostles, Some of whom they will persecute and kill, in order that the 'blood' of all the prophets 'that has been spilt' since the creation of the world may be exacted from this generation-- From the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zechariah, who was slain between the altar and the House of God." Yes, I tell you, it will be exacted from this generation. Alas for you Students of the Law! You have taken away the key of the door of Knowledge. You have not gone in yourselves and you have hindered those who try to go in." When Jesus left the house, the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began to press him hard and question him closely upon many subjects, Laying traps for him, so as to seize upon anything that he might say.

"We are descendants of Abraham," was their answer, "and have never yet been in slavery to any one. What do you mean by saying 'you will be set free'?" "In truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "every one who sins is a slave to sin. And a slave does not remain in the home always; but a son remains always. read more.
If, then, the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed! I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you are seeking to put me to death, because my Message finds no place in your hearts. I tell you what I have myself seen in the presence of my Father; and you, in the same way, do what you have learned from your father." "Our father is Abraham," was their answer. "If you are Abraham's children," replied Jesus, "do what Abraham did. But, as it is, you are seeking to put me to death--a man who has told you the Truth as he heard it from God. Abraham did not act in that way. You are doing what your own father does." "We are not bastards," they said, "we have one Father--God himself." "If God were your Father," Jesus replied, "you would have loved me, for I came out from God, and now am here; and I have not come of myself, but he sent me as his Messenger. How is it that you do not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my Message. As for you, you are children of your Father the Devil, and you are determined to do what your father loves to do. He was a murderer from the first, and did not stand by the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he does what is natural to him; because he is a liar, and the father of lying. But, as for me, it is because I speak the truth to you that you do not believe me. Which of you can convict me of sin? Why then do not you believe me, if I am speaking truth? He who comes from God listens to God's teaching; the reason why you do not listen is because you do not come from God." "Are not we right, after all," replied the Jews, "in saying that you are a Samaritan, and are possessed by a demon?" "I am not possessed by a demon," Jesus answered, "but I am showing reverence for my Father; and yet you have no reverence for me. Not that I am seeking honor for myself; there is one who is seeking my honor, and he decides. In truth I tell you, if any one lays my Message to heart, he will never really die." "Now we are sure that you are possessed by a demon," the Jews replied. "Abraham died, and so did the Prophets; and yet you say 'If any one lays my Message to heart, he will never know death.' Are you greater than our ancestor Abraham, who died? And the Prophets died too. Whom do you make yourself out to be?" "If I do honor to myself," answered Jesus, "such honor counts for nothing. It is my Father who does me honor--and you say that he is your God; And yet you have not learned to know him; but I know him; and, if I were to say that I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him, and I lay his Message to heart. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; and he did see it, and was glad." "You are not fifty years old yet," the Jews exclaimed, "and have you seen Abraham?" "In truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "before Abraham existed I was." At this they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and left the Temple Courts.

"You are his disciple," they retorted scornfully; "but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses; but, as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." "Well," the man replied, "this is very strange; you do not know where he comes from, and yet he has given me my sight! read more.
We know that God never listens to bad men, but, when a man is god-fearing and does God's will, God listens to him. Since the world began, such a thing was never heard of as any one's giving sight to a person born blind. If this man had not been from God, he could not have done anything at all." "You," they retorted, "were born totally depraved; and are you trying to teach us?" So they expelled him.