The Nethinim brought back some Levites,
but they did not come back with very many.

Ezra 8:15
And I gathered them together to the river than runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

[17] And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.

Ezra 8:18
And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;

Again, so that we understand the conversation that is about to take place in John between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees, we need to know that during the 400 year period from the time of Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, to the time of Christ, the "great synagogue" would come forth. And many of the ruling authorities of the temple, those religious leaders in charge, would not be of the seed of Abraham, i.e. true Israelites or Levitical Priests, but would be the wicked sons of Cain, who are called "Kenites" (pronounced Cain-ites) in the Bible. They will plot and bring about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for they are murderers just like their father, the very first murderer.

We will now see the kenites try to convince Jesus that they are of the "seed" of Abraham, BY BIRTH! But remember, we know they are not and so did Jesus! They are liars and are of the synagogue of Satan (Rev. 2:9, 3:9). We pick up the conversation in John chapter 8:

John 8:31
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

[32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

[33] They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

[34] Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

[35] And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

[36] If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

Note: If you check out the Greek word for "know" in this verse you will find "it denotes mediate knowledge, e.g. from hearsay (see "A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament", E. W. Bullinger, pg. 435.)"

[38] I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

[39] They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

[40] But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

[41]Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

[42] Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

[43] Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

[44] 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.

Be forewarned that most preachers and ministers and commentaries will try to "spiritualize away" this 44th verse in John 8, and say Christ wasn't talking about "sperma", i.e. seed and offspring. But let me ask you, is there not a group of people who run around TODAY claiming that they are "God's chosen people" by descent?

Those Christians who belong to the church of Smyrna know they are not!

Rev. 2:8
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

[9] I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Rev. 3:7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

[8] I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

[9] Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Stay with us through our next study! We are about to bring prophecy and history together to document the planting of the Fig Tree!