³³ They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”^(A)

Jesus and Abraham

³⁹ They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, you would do^[a] what Abraham did,^(A)

²⁶ “Brothers and sisters,^[a] you descendants of Abraham’s family and others who fear God, to us^[b] the message of this salvation has been sent.

The Example of Abraham

4 What then are we to say was gained by^[a] Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh?

¹¹ He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith^[a] while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the ancestor of all who believe^[b] without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them,^(A)

¹⁶ For this reason the promise depends on faith, in order that it may rest on grace, so that it may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (who is the father of all of us,^(A)