And the servant abideth not in the house - Or, rather, Now the slave abided not in the family. As if Jesus had said: And now that I am speaking of a slave, I will add one thing more, viz. a slave has no right to any part of the inheritance in the family to which he belongs; but the son, the legitimate son, has a right. He can make any servant of the family free, though no slave can. He can divide or bestow the inheritance as he pleases. Our Lord seems here to refer to the sending away of Ishmael, mentioned, Genesis 21:10-14. Only those who are genuine children can inherit the estate. If sons, then heirs: heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ: Galatians 4:21-31; Romans 8:17; and see Bishop Pearce's Paraphrase.

the servant.

Genesis 21:10 Why she said to Abraham, Cast out this female slave and her son: for the son of this female slave shall not be heir with my son...

Ezekiel 46:17 But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty...

Matthew 21:41-43 They say to him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard to other farmers...

Galatians 4:30,31 Nevertheless what said the scripture? Cast out the female slave and her son...

but.

John 14:19,20 Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also...

Romans 8:15-17,29,30 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba...

Galatians 4:4-7 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law...

Colossians 3:3 For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Hebrews 3:5,6 And Moses truly was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after...

1 Peter 1:2-5 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit...

February 27 Evening
God . . . giveth . . . liberally, and upbraideth not.--JAS. 1:5. Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. The grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many . . . The free gift is of many offences unto justification. God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

On the Words of the Gospel, John viii. 31, "If Ye Abide in My Word, Then are Ye Truly My Disciples," Etc.
1. Ye know well, Beloved, that we all have One Master, and are fellow disciples under Him. Nor are we your masters, because we speak to you from this higher spot; but He is the Master of all, who dwelleth in us all. He just now spake to us all in the Gospel, and said to us, what I also am saying to you; but He saith it of us, as well of us as of you. "If ye shall continue in My word," not of course in my word who am now speaking to you; but in His who spake just now out of the Gospel. "If ye shall …
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Believing on Jesus, and Its Counterfeits
The Lord Jesus also told the contradicting sinners that the day would come when cavillers would be convinced. Observe how he put it: "When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself." Cavillers may have a fine time of it just now; but they will one day be convinced either to their conversion or their confusion. Let us hope that many will see the truth before they die--early enough to seek and find a Saviour. But many in our Lord's day who discovered …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891