"Abraham is our father," they answered. "If you are indeed Abraham's children," said Jesus "do the deeds of Abraham.

This is why righteousness is of faith, that it may be a free gift; so that the promise stands firm to all Abraham's posterity; not to his children of his faith. For in the sight of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead, and calls into being that which is not, Abraham is the father of us all both Jews and Gentiles,

they are not all children of Abraham because they are Abraham's descendants. The promise was, In Isaac shall thy posterity be called.

"But in the course of time the beggar died; and he was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom.

"I know you are Abraham's descendants; but you are seeking to kill me, Because my teaching has no place in you.

"Brothers, sons of Abraham's race, and all among you who reverence God, to us has the word of this salvation been sent.

Is this blessing, then, for the circumcised alone? or for the uncircumcised also? Abraham's faith, I say, was imputed to him for righteousness.

And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'?? tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham.

Then bring forth fruit befitting your penitence, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." I tell you that God is able to raise up sons to Abraham out of these stones.

Now if the first-fruits of the dough Abraham and the Patriarchs are holy, so also is the whole mass their descendants. And if the root of a tree Abraham is holy, so also are the branches his descendants.

And the Scripture was fulfilled which said, And Abraham believed God, and this was imputed to him as righteousness, and he was called God's friend.

And the Scripture, anticipating God's justification of the Gentiles by faith, announced the gospel to Abraham beforehand in the words, In thee shall all the Gentiles be blessed.

For assuredly it is not angels, nay, it is the offspring of Abraham, whom he is ever taking by the hand.

For when God make the promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he swore by himself, saying.

And so by patiently waiting, Abraham obtained the promise.

It was this Melchizedek, King of Salem and Priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him;

and it was to him that Abraham apportioned a tithe of all the spoil. He was first, as his name signifies, King of righteousness, and then King of Salem, that is, King of Peace;

But observe how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the Patriarch, gave a tenth part of the spoils.

Now those of the sons of Levi who are appointed to the priesthood, are authorized by the Law to take tithes of the people, that is, of their brothers, and that too, although these are descended from Abraham.

But this man who had no Levitical genealogy actually took tithes of Abraham, and blessed him to whom the promises belong.

And even Levi, who is the receiver of tithes, so to speak, paid tithes through Abraham;

for Levi was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met Abraham.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test, was on the point of offering up Isaac; yes, he who had received the promise was about to offer up his only son,

Was not Abraham our ancestor justified by deeds, in that he offered up Isaac, his son, upon the altar?

thus, for example, Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are daughters of Sarah, if you do what is right, and permit nothing to make you afraid.

"I tell you that many will come from the east and from the west, and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham was the father of Isaac; Isaac was the father of Jacob; Jacob, of Judah and his brethren;

So the whole number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen; from David to the exile to Babylon is fourteen; and from the exile to Babylon to Christ is fourteen.

"I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."