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.
In a heated debate with religious leaders, Jesus makes this shocking claim about spiritual parenthood. He's saying that everyone ultimately follows either God's way of truth or the devil's way of lies — there's no neutral ground. The "father of lies" phrase reveals that deception is Satan's first language, his native tongue, and everything he says ultimately leads to destruction. Jesus isn't calling these men devil-worshippers, but pointing out that their actions align with deception rather than truth.
Father of truth, I'm tired of the mental gymnastics required to maintain my comfortable lies. Give me the courage to speak truth even when it costs me, and the wisdom to recognize when I'm just defending my ego. Make me fluent in Your language of life. Amen.
Nobody thinks they're following lies. We all tell ourselves we're on the side of truth — the political party that sees clearly, the parenting philosophy that really works, the relationship that's "meant to be." But Jesus suggests a sobering test: does this path lead to more truth-telling, more life-giving connection, more freedom for others? Or does it require increasingly elaborate justifications, little compromises that snowball into character erosion? You've probably felt it — that queasy feeling when you realize you're defending something you don't quite believe, or when your version of events starts shifting to protect your image. That's the native language Jesus is talking about. The good news? You can change fathers. You can switch from the household where deception is the mother tongue to the one where truth feels like coming home.
What makes Jesus' words here so harsh, and why might he use such strong language?
Where in your life have you caught yourself speaking or living in "the father of lies'" native tongue?
How can you tell the difference between truth that hurts and lies that feel good?
What does it look like to be someone whose words consistently give life rather than destroy?
What's one area where you need to switch from defending yourself to telling the truth?
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 12:9
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1 Peter 5:8
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:3
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1 John 3:10
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
1 John 3:12
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Genesis 3:15
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Revelation 20:7
You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. 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 what it natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths.
AMP
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.
ESV
'You are of [your] father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [nature], for he is a liar and the father of lies.
NASB
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. 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.
NIV
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.
NKJV
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.
NLT
You're from your father, the Devil, and all you want to do is please him. He was a killer from the very start. He couldn't stand the truth because there wasn't a shred of truth in him. When the Liar speaks, he makes it up out of his lying nature and fills the world with lies.
MSG