---

I. WHO IS THE DEVIL? With regard to that remarkable being termed elsewhere "Satan," "the tempter," "the old serpent," "the destroyer," our information, though limited, is distinct. He is a being of the angelic order, formed, like all intelligent beings, in a state of moral integrity, who, at a period anterior to the fall, in consequence of violating the Divine law, in a manner of which we are not particularly informed, was (along with a number of other spirits who, in consequence of being seduced by him, were partakers in his guilt) cast out of heaven, placed in a state of degradation and punishment, and reserved to deeper shame and fiercer pains, at the Judgment. Through his malignity and falsehood man, who was innocent, holy, and happy and immortal, became guilty, depraved, miserable and liable to death. Over the minds of the unregenerate he exercises a powerful, though not irresistible, influence, and hence is termed "the prince," "the god of this world," etc., who leads men captive at his will. He exerts himself, by his numerous agents, in counterworking the Divine plan for the salvation of men, throwing obstacles of various kinds in the way of their conversion, and spreading his snares for, and aiming his fiery darts at, those who have thrown off his yoke. Error, sin, and misery, in all their forms, are ultimately his works; and his leading object is to uphold and extend the empire of evil in the universe of God.

II. WHAT IS MEANT BY HIS BEING THE JEWS' FATHER. The term is figurative. That being is, in a moral point of view, my father, under whose influence my character has been formed, and whose sentiments and feelings and conduct are the model after which mine are fashioned. These Jews instead of having a spiritual character formed under divine influence, had one formed under a diabolical influence; and instead of being formed in God's likeness, or in the likeness of Abraham his friend, they resembled the grand enemy of God and man.

III. WHAT IS IT TO BE OF THE DEVIL? "Of" expresses a relation of property. To be "of the world," is to be the world's own. "The world loves its own " — those who are "of it." To be "of God," or "God's," is to belong to God, to be God's property and possession. To be "of Christ," or "Christ's," is to belong to Him. To be "of the devil," or "the devil's," is to belong to him, to be, as it were, his property. All created beings are, and must be, in the most important sense, God's property. The devil himself is God's, subject to His control, and will be made to serve His purpose. But in another sense, the Jews, and all who possess the same character, are the property of the wicked one,"" they practically renounce their dependence on God; they deny His proprietorship, and they practically surrender themselves to the wicked one, yielding themselves his slaves. It is as if our Lord had said, "Ye say that ye are God's peculiar people, but ye are really the devil's self-sold slaves."

IV. WHAT ARE THE LUSTS OF THE DEVIL? "Lust" signifies not merely desire, properly so called, but the object of desire. "The lust of the eye" is a general name for those things which, contemplated by the eye, excite desire — what is splendid or beautiful. "The lusts of the devil" are to be understood in this way, not of his individual desires or longings — for how could the Jews do these? — but of the things which are the object of his desires — such as the establishment and permanence of error, vice, and misery among men — whatever is calculated to gratify his impious malignant mind, a mind of which, as Milton powerfully expresses it, "evil is the good." To do the things which the devil desires is to oppose truth and to increase sin and misery. These things the Jews did — habitually did.

V. WHAT IS IT TO WILL THOSE LUSTS? The term "will" is not here the mere sign of futurition — it denotes disposition, determination, choice. "Ye will do the evil things which your infernal father wishes for." It is a phrase of the same kind as: "If any man will be My disciple" (John 7:17). The Jews were not merely occasionally by strong temptation induced to do what is in accordance with the devil's desires, but their desires were so habitually consentaneous with his, that in seeking to gratify themselves they produced the result which he desired. They were cheerful servants — voluntary slaves.

(J. Brown, D. D.)

---

---

KJV: I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

WEB: I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father."