Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 8:38

"I speak the things which I have seen with [my] Father: and ye also do the things which ye heard from [your] father." — John 8:38 (ASV)

The contrast between the attitude of Abraham and that of his self-styled descendants was proof that they were falsely claiming him as their spiritual ancestor. They were murderous in intent and impervious to revelation. Jesus had brought a message from the Father, and, unlike Abraham, they would not receive it (cf. Lk 3:8). Jesus’ contrast of what he had “seen” and what they had “heard” reinforces the concept of authority implicit in his repeated claim to have been “sent” by the Father (8:29). He spoke from firsthand knowledge; they were acting on misinformation. They had been misled by Satan himself.