Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 8:43

"Why do ye not understand my speech? [Even] because ye cannot hear my word." — John 8:43 (ASV)

The people might have been confused as to why they did not love Jesus if he was indeed sent from the Father. Jesus spoke to that point with a rhetorical question: “Why don’t you know what I am saying?” Then he went on to give the reason: their family association was wrong; they belonged to their father, the devil. And because of this family tie, they were inclined to carry out their father’s desire, just as Jesus carried out his Father’s desire. The devil seeks to deprive life and distort truth. The Jews were merely demonstrating the truth of the adage, “Like father, like son.’