Keraia
Matthew 3

Matthew 3:9

The Mission of John the Baptist · Matthew 3:1–12
Read Matthew 3

Translations

Modern
And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Traditional
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Literal
And do not think to say in yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as father.’ For I say to you that out of these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.
Latin
Et ne velitis dicere intra vos: Patrem habemus Abraham. Dico enim vobis quoniam potens est Deus de lapidibus istis suscitare filios Abrahæ.

Original

Greek
English
And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

Notes

Matthew 3:9

  • Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’: Some people had wrong assumptions. They thought that being descendants of Abraham meant they were free from God's judgment.

  • A key theme in Matthew is that God will create new children of Abraham. He will include non-Jews (Gentiles) in God's people. He will remove Jews who reject the Messiah (see 8:11–12; 21:43; 22:1–14; 28:16–20; Romans 4:9–25; Galatians 3:6–14, 29).

Events

Parallels

Isaiah 40:1–5 Mark 1:1–8 Luke 3:1–20 John 1:19–28

People

Abraham: Patriarch, chosen by God to father His people

Glossary

Baptism of Jesus Gospel of Matthew John the Baptist Prophecy Sadducees

Topics

Abraham: How Regarded by his Descendants Baptism: As Administered by John Christian Minister: Faithful: John the Baptist Genealogy of No Spiritual Significance Gentiles: Prophecies of the Conversion of God: Power of Heredity: General Scriptures Concerning Hypocrites: Trusting in Privileges Judaism: The Religion of the Jews: To Make Room for the Gospel Pharisees: Hypocrisy of, Reproved by John Reproof: Faithfulness in John the Baptist, of the Jews Sadducees: Rebuked by John the Baptist Salvation: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Self-Delusion: Exhibited in Thinking that Privileges Entitle Us to Enter Heaven Self-Delusion: Exhibited in Thinking that Privileges Entitle Us to Heaven The Jews: Trusted to Their Privileges for Salvation