John 8:44

The devil. Literally, “the slanderer” (see on Matt. 4:1).

Lusts. Gr. epithumiai , “desires,” whether good (Luke 22:15; Phil. 1:23), or, more often, evil (Rom. 1:24; 6:12; 7:7, 8; etc.). Related to qjithumia is the verb epithumeo , the word rendered “covet” in the tenth commandment as quoted by Paul in Rom. 7:7; 13:9. The “lusts of your father” are the evil desires that characterize him, or the desires he instills in those who do his bidding.

Ye will do. Literally, “you wish to do,” or “you wish to practice.”

From the beginning. This has often been considered an allusion to the first recorded murder, that of Abel (Gen. 4:1-8). But the spirit of murder goes back to the inception of sin. By his rebellion Lucifer brought the death sentence upon himself and upon the angels who joined him in his revolt (2 Peter 2:4). When he led our first parents into sin he brought death upon them and upon the entire human family (Rom. 5:12). Their desire to kill Jesus was evidence of the close affinity of the Jews with the archmurderer.

Abode not. A reference to the original fall of Lucifer (Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4; see on Isa. 14:12-14; Eze. 28:12-14).

In the truth. For a definition of truth see on v. 32.

No truth. That is, no truthfulness. Truth and Satan have nothing in common.

Of his own. Literally, “out of his own [things],” that is, out of the things of his essential nature. It is his nature to lie. Jesus, on the other hand, spoke not of Himself, but spoke the truth He had heard from His Father (v. 38).

He is a liar. His career of falsehood began in heaven, where he first misrepresented the character and purposes of God before the angels. By his insinuations and lies in the Garden of Eden he brought about the fall of our first parents (see on Gen. 3:4).

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 89b, Soncino ed., p. 596) contains the legend that before the sacrifice of Isaac, Satan attempted to instill doubts in the mind of Abraham concerning God, and that Abraham repulsed him with the words, ‘“It is the penalty of a liar, that should he even tell the truth, he is not listened to.’”

Father of it. According to the Greek this phrase may mean either the father of the liar or the father of the lie. Either correctly designates the great originator of falsehood. As a liar Satan was expelled from heaven and will never regain residence there. Neither will his children, for “without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Rev. 22:15).