“Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? And the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?”
The full verse · John 8:53 · KJV
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Asked by
Jews: the Jews disputing with Jesus in the temple, who had just said, "Now we know that thou hast a devil" (John 8:52)
The Scene
In the temple, Jesus has promised, "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death," and the Jews reply that Abraham and the prophets are dead (John 8:51-52).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionThey heard Jesus' promise as a claim to power over death that not even Abraham had. Abraham died; the prophets died. So who did Jesus think He was? The first question sets Him beside the greatest name they knew. The second demands that He say who He claims to be. Barnes paraphrases it, "who dost thou pretend to be?" and adds, "It would have been scarcely possible to ask a question implying more contempt and scorn." Gill hears in it the sneer: "who art a poor carpenter's son, a Galilean, a Nazarene, and yet makest thyself greater than Abraham."
The Response
What Scripture recordsJesus first refused to glorify Himself: "If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God" (John 8:54). Then He answered the comparison with Abraham: "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad" (John 8:56). When they objected again, He said, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). Then "took they up stones to cast at him," but Jesus "went out of the temple" (John 8:59).
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsAbraham was the one the Jews called "our father" throughout this dispute (John 8:33, 39, 53), so comparing anyone to him was a serious matter. Notice how they restated Jesus' promise. He said a man would "never see death"; they repeated it as "never taste of death" (John 8:51-52), as if He meant bodily death.
Jesus' final answer, "I am," caused them to reach for stones (John 8:59). Barnes says it seems they understood Him as blaspheming, and the Law punished blasphemy by stoning (Leviticus 24:16).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThe Jews meant this as a scornful question, but it is the right question to ask about Jesus. The honest answer is yes: He is greater than Abraham. Matthew Henry puts it this way: "Before Abraham was, I AM. This speaks Abraham a creature, and our Lord the Creator; well, therefore, might he make himself greater than Abraham."
Yet Jesus would not make the claim by glorifying Himself. "It is my Father that honoureth me" (John 8:54). He let the Father's witness, and Abraham's own joy (John 8:56), answer the question "whom makest thou thyself?"
Look Closer
Why did the Jews bring up Abraham and the prophets?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, You are greater than Abraham; where have I made You smaller in my thinking, and how do You want me to see You?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- The Jews measured Jesus by the heroes they already honored. What measures do you use that can keep you from seeing Him as He really is?
- Share a moment when you saw Jesus as greater than you had thought before.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
"Whom makest thou thyself?" is a question every reader of the Gospels has to face. Jesus answers it not by boasting but by pointing to the Father who honors Him and to Abraham who rejoiced to see His day (John 8:54, 56). You can bring the same question to Him honestly and let His own words answer it.
Jesus' example also speaks to how we seek honor. He would not glorify Himself, even when He had every right to. If He left His honor with the Father, you can too.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?”
“Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?”
“We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?”
“Who art thou?”