They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
33. We are Abraham’s seed. It is uncertain if the Evangelist here introduces the same persons who formerly spoke, “Ceux-la mesmes parlans, qui parloyent auparavant.” or others. My opinion is, that they replied to Christ in a confused manner, as usually happens in a promiscuous crowd; and that this reply was made rather by despisers than by those who believed.
Christ turns from the hardened Pharisees to address those few weak believers with comfort, because He gathers lambs in His arms and will not cast off faith in its infancy. The rule He sets down is settled: He owns none for His true disciples but those who continue in His Word, though many profess themselves His disciples only in show and name.
AI summary
Commenting on John 8:31-37
If the Son therefore shall make you free,.... Alluding to the custom of adoption by the sons or brethren in the family, which obtained in Greece, called "the adoption of brethren", as Grotius, and others have observed; or rather to a custom among the Romans, of a son's making free after his Father's death, such as were born slaves in his house.