Through his own suffering, Abraham was enabled to behold the Saviour's mission of sacrifice. But Israel would not understand that which was so unwelcome to their proud hearts. Christ's words concerning Abraham conveyed to His hearers no deep significance. The Pharisees saw in them only fresh ground for caviling. They retorted with a sneer, as if they would prove Jesus to be a madman, "Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?"

Gennem sin egen lidelse blev det muligt for Abraham at se Frelserens offergang. Men Israel ville ikke forstå det, som var så uvelkomment for deres stolte hjerter. Kristi ord med hensyn til Abraham bibragte ikke hans tilhørere nogen dybere forståelse. Farisæerne så i dem kun en ny anledning til at kritisere. Deres svar var en snerren, som om de ville bevise, at Jesus var vanvittig: Du er ikke halvtreds år endnu, og du har set Abraham!