John 8:42-47, You Are of Your Father the Devil

42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."

The fall of man, occasioned by the deception of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, is the reference Jesus makes about the devil having no truth in him and being a murderer. Adam and Eve’s sin lead to their deaths. Jesus lays the blame on Satan as the murderer in this case, the one who sought to destroy Adam and Eve’s relationship with God. Adam and Eve’s disobedience in following after Satan led to God banishing them from the Garden of Eden so that they had no access to the tree of life. Eventually they died as all people die. They were also removed from being in the presence of God. But now things have changed. God is personally present in Jesus in Jerusalem speaking to the people he chose, yet they, like Adam and Eve, do not hear and obey the words of God. Instead, they follow the devil.

Consider to whom you listen and how you listen. When are you hearing from God? When might you be deceived by Satan? Spend time in prayer asking God through his Holy Spirit to give you discernment that you may hear and obey the words of God.