John 12:49

49 For I have not spoken from myself, but the Father himself who sent me {has commanded me} what I should say and what I should speak.

John 12:49 Meaning and Commentary

John 12:49

For I have not spoken of myself
As man, or as separate from his Father; his doctrine was not human, but divine, and therefore a rejection of it cannot escape notice at the future judgment:

but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment what I should
say, and what I should speak;
Christ, as man, had his mission, and commission, and his instructions from his Father to preach the Gospel unto men; he was anointed for it by the Holy Ghost; he was enjoined the preaching of it by his Father, and the several doctrines he published were delivered him by him; see ( John 8:28 ) ( 17:8 ) .

John 12:49 In-Context

47 And if anyone hears my words and does not observe [them], I will not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

48 The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has one who judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

49 For I have not spoken from myself, but the Father himself who sent me {has commanded me} what I should say and what I should speak.

50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So [the things] that I say, just as the Father said to me, thus I say."

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "has given me commandment"