John 8:44 Meaning of Father of Lies

John 8:44
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Explanation and Commentary of John 8:44

The Jews who opposed Jesus were devout in their practice of religion. On the surface, they were devoted to the Father. But Jesus points out the reality that if they were devoted to the Father in truth, they would recognize Jesus Christ as his Son. But they did not.

Jesus also points out that they are liars because they are lying about who Jesus is. They lie because they are liars. They are liars because God is not their Father, meaning neither is Abraham. Rather, satan, the father of lies, is their father. Like their father, the devil, they are murderers and liars. Satan opposed Jesus and so do his children.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of John 8:44

#1 “You belong to your father, the devil,”
If the devil is your father, then he owns you. If you are a slave to sin, you are a slave to satan, and he, not God is your father. The children of God recognize his voice (Jn 10:27) and will recognize his likeness in his Son.

#2 “and you want to carry out your father’s desires.”
Jesus was not saying that they would consciously admit to following satan, but that they are still lying to themselves and the people when they claim to be followers of God, or even Abraham. Satan so owned them that his desires were their desires. What he thinks, they think. What he does, they do. They are completely in their flesh and in unbelief, and so they are unresponsive to God.

#3 “He was a murderer from the beginning,”
Satan was behind the first murder of Abel by Cain. In some sense, satan murdered Adam and Eve by enticing them to invite death into creation by their rebellion. All murder is of hatred, and all hatred is of satan (1 Jn 3:11).

#4 “not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Because of Christ’s victory, first in the wilderness (Lk 4:1-11), and ultimately on the cross (Col 2:15), satan has no actual power or authority over believers. But he can lie, which he does with great skill and subtlety. The believer who is aware of this and is skilled in countering the lies with truth will be unaffected by satan and a thorn in his side.

Bible Study on John 8:44

Expert Overview of John Ch. 1-12

Biblical Translations of John 8:44

NIV
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

NLT
For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

ESV
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 does not stand in 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.

KJV
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

NKJV
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.