John 5:38

38 And you do not have his word residing in yourselves, because the one whom that one sent, in this one you do not believe.

John 5:38 Meaning and Commentary

John 5:38

And ye have not his word abiding in you
Which some understand of Christ himself, the Logos, or word: who, though he was now with them, being made flesh, and dwelling among them, yet would not long continue with them: though rather this designs the written word, or the Scriptures of truth; and especially that part of them, which contains prophecies concerning the Messiah, which did not dwell in them richly, nor they dwell in their meditation on them, as was requisite. Or rather, it may intend that word of God expressed in the testimony he bore to the sonship of Christ at his baptism, by a voice from heaven, which made no lasting impression upon the minds and hearts of the Jews that heard it; as appears by what follows:

for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not;
meaning himself; for if they had had either a due regard to the sacred oracles, or to that voice from heaven at his baptism, they would have received and embraced him as the Messiah, and sent of God, and not have disbelieved and rejected him, as now they did.

John 5:38 In-Context

36 "But I have a testimony greater than John's, for the works which the Father has given to me that I should complete them--the very works which I am doing--[these] testify about me, that the Father has sent me.
37 And the Father who sent me, that one has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his form.
38 And you do not have his word residing in yourselves, because the one whom that one sent, in this one you do not believe.
39 You search the scriptures because you think that you have eternal life in them, and it is these that testify about me.
40 And you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.