Allah says in surah al-Ma'idah:

 Allah says in surah al-Ma'idah:

*وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ نَحْنُ أَبْنَاءُ اللَّهِ وَأَحِبَّاؤُهُ ۚ قُلْ فَلِمَ يُعَذِّبُكُم بِذُنُوبِكُم ۖ بَلْ أَنتُم بَشَرٌ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ ۚ يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ الْمَصِيرُ*

*The Jews and the Christians say, "We are Allah's children and loved ones." Say, "Then why does He punish you for your sins?" No. Rather, you are human beings whom He has created. He forgives whom He wishes and punishes whom He wishes. The heavens and the earth and all that is between them belong to Allah, and the final return is to Him. [18]*

In his tafsir of this ayah, al-Tabari began with the following narration from the historian Muhammad ibn Ishaq about some of the Jews of al-Madinah who came to visit the Prophet:

Ibn 'Abbaas said: Nu'man ibn Adha', Bahri ibn 'Amr, and Sha's ibn 'Adiyy came to the Prophet and addressed him. Allah's Messenger then addressed them, inviting them to Allah and warning them of His punishment. They said, "Do not try to frighten us, O Muhammad! We are Allah's children and loved ones!" similar to what the Christians say. So Allah then revealed this ayah.

 

[Tafsir al-Tabari 10/151-152]