Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 8:53

"Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died: whom makest thou thyself?" — John 8:53 (ASV)

A better translation of this question would be, “You are not greater than our father Abraham, are you?” A negative answer is assumed. While Jesus’ opponents frequently charged him with making himself divine (5:18; 10:33; 19:7), Jesus himself seldom asserted his deity, but preferred to live and act in such a way that others would observe his divine nature and confess it spontaneously (cf. Matthew 16:13–17).