John 5

1 After these things there was a feast day of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 And in Jerusalem is a washing place, that in Hebrew is called Bethesda, and hath five porches. [Forsooth at Jerusalem is a standing water of beasts, that in Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five little gates, or entries.]

3 In these lay a great multitude of sick men, blind, crooked, and dry, abiding the moving of the water.

4 For the angel of the Lord came down certain times into the [standing] water, and the water was moved; and he that first came down into the cistern, after the moving of the water, was made whole of whatever sickness he was held [was made whole of whatever sickness he was holden with].

5 And a man was there [Forsooth some man was there], having eight and thirty years in his sickness.

6 And when Jesus had seen him lying, and had known, that he had much time [and had known, for now he had much time], he saith to him, Wilt thou be made whole?

7 The sick man answered to him, Lord, I have no man, that when the water is moved [that when the water is troubled], to put me into the cistern; for while I come, another goeth down before me.

8 Jesus saith to him, Rise up, take thy bed, and go. [Jesus saith to him, Rise up, take thy bed, and wander.]

9 And at once the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and went forth [And anon the man is made whole, and took up his bed, and wandered]. And it was sabbath in that day.

10 Therefore the Jews said to him that was made whole, It is sabbath, it is not leaveful to thee, to take away thy bed.

11 He answered to them, He that made me whole, said to me, Take thy bed, and go [Take thy bed, and wander].

12 Therefore they asked him, What man is that, that said to thee, Take up thy bed, and go? [Therefore they asked him, Who is that man, that said to thee, Take thy bed and wander?]

13 But he that was made whole, wist not who it was. And Jesus bowed away from the people, that was set in the place [Forsooth Jesus bowed him from the company ordained, or set, in the place].

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, Lo! thou art made whole; now do not thou do sin [now do not thou sin], lest any worse thing befall to thee.

15 That man went, and told to the Jews, that it was Jesus that made him whole.

16 Therefore the Jews pursued Jesus, for he did this thing in the sabbath.

17 And Jesus answered to them, My Father worketh till now, and I work.

18 Therefore the Jews sought more to slay him, for not only he brake the sabbath, but [and] he said that God was his Father, and made him(self) even to God [making him even to God].

19 Therefore Jesus answered, and said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son may not of himself do any thing, but that thing that he seeth the Father doing; for whatever things he doeth, the Son doeth in like manner those things [whatever things soothly he doeth, these things and the Son also doeth].

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth to him all things that he doeth; and he shall show to him greater works than these, that ye wonder.

21 For as the Father raiseth dead men, and quickeneth, [and] so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

22 For neither the Father judgeth any man, but hath given every doom to the Son [but hath given all the doom to the Son],

23 that all men honour the Son, as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father that sent him.

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, that he that heareth my word, and believeth in him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and he cometh not into doom, but passeth from death into life [hath everlasting life, and cometh not into doom, but passed from death into life].

25 Truly, truly, I say to you, for the hour cometh, and now it is, when dead men shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear, shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself, so he gave to the Son, to have life in himself;

27 and he gave to him power to make doom, for he is man's Son.

28 Do not ye wonder in this, for the hour cometh, in which all men that be in burials, shall hear the voice of God's Son.

29 And they that have done good things, shall go into again-rising of life; but they that have done evil things, into again-rising of doom. [And they that have done good things, shall come forth into rising again of life; forsooth they that have done evil things, into rising again of doom.]

30 I may nothing do of myself, but as I hear, I deem [I may not of myself do any thing, but as I hear, I judge], and my doom is just, for I seek not my will, but the will of the Father that sent me.

31 If I bear witnessing of myself, my witnessing is not true;

32 another is that beareth witnessing of me, and I know that his witnessing is true, that he beareth of me.

33 Ye sent to John, and he bare witnessing to [the] truth.

34 But I take not witnessing of man; but I say these things, that ye be safe.

35 He was a lantern burning and shining [He was a lantern burning and shining, or giving light]; but ye would glad, or joy, at an hour in his light.

36 But I have more witnessing than John, for the works that my Father gave to me to perform them [forsooth the works that my Father gave me that I perform them], those works that I do bear witnessing of me, that the Father sent me.

37 And the Father that sent me, he bare witnessing of me. Neither ye heard ever his voice, neither ye saw his likeness [neither saw his likeness, or form].

38 And ye have not his word dwelling in you; for ye believe not to him, whom he sent.

39 Seek ye the scriptures, in which ye guess [in which ye ween] to have everlasting life; and those it be, that bear witnessing of me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye have life.

41 I take not clearness of men;

42 but I have known you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

43 I came in the name of my Father, and ye took not me. If another [shall] come in his own name, ye shall receive him.

44 How be ye able to believe [How may ye believe], that receive glory each of (the) other, and ye seek not the glory that is of God alone?

45 Do not ye guess, that I am to accuse you with the Father; it is Moses that accuseth you, in whom ye hope.

46 For if ye believed to Moses, peradventure ye should believe also to me; for he wrote of me.

47 But if ye believe not to his letters, how shall ye believe to my words?

John 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

The cure at the pool of Bethesda. (1-9) The Jews' displeasure. (10-16) Christ reproves the Jews. (17-23) Christ's discourse. (24-47)

Verses 1-9 We are all by nature impotent folk in spiritual things, blind, halt, and withered; but full provision is made for our cure, if we attend to it. An angel went down, and troubled the water; and what disease soever it was, this water cured it, but only he that first stepped in had benefit. This teaches us to be careful, that we let not a season slip which may never return. The man had lost the use of his limbs thirty-eight years. Shall we, who perhaps for many years have scarcely known what it has been to be a day sick, complain of one wearisome night, when many others, better than we, have scarcely known what it has been to be a day well? Christ singled this one out from the rest. Those long in affliction, may comfort themselves that God keeps account how long. Observe, this man speaks of the unkindness of those about him, without any peevish reflections. As we should be thankful, so we should be patient. Our Lord Jesus cures him, though he neither asked nor thought of it. Arise, and walk. God's command, Turn and live; Make ye a new heart; no more supposes power in us without the grace of God, his distinguishing grace, than this command supposed such power in the impotent man: it was by the power of Christ, and he must have all the glory. What a joyful surprise to the poor cripple, to find himself of a sudden so easy, so strong, so able to help himself! The proof of spiritual cure, is our rising and walking. Has Christ healed our spiritual diseases, let us go wherever he sends us, and take up whatever he lays upon us; and walk before him.

Verses 10-16 Those eased of the punishment of sin, are in danger of returning to sin, when the terror and restraint are over, unless Divine grace dries up the fountain. The misery believers are made whole from, warns us to sin no more, having felt the smart of sin. This is the voice of every providence, Go, and sin no more. Christ saw it necessary to give this caution; for it is common for people, when sick, to promise much; when newly recovered, to perform only something; but after awhile to forget all. Christ spoke of the wrath to come, which is beyond compare worse than the many hours, nay, weeks and years of pain, some wicked men have to suffer in consequence of their unlawful indulgences. And if such afflictions are severe, how dreadful will be the everlasting punishment of the wicked!

Verses 17-23 The Divine power of the miracle proved Jesus to be the Son of God, and he declared that he worked with, and like unto his Father, as he saw good. These ancient enemies of Christ understood him, and became more violent, charging him not only with sabbath-breaking, but blasphemy, in calling God his own Father, and making himself equal with God. But all things now, and at the final judgment, are committed to the Son, purposely that all men might honour the Son, as they honour the Father; and every one who does not thus honour the Son, whatever he may think or pretend, does not honour the Father who sent him.

Verses 24-29 Our Lord declared his authority and character, as the Messiah. The time was come when the dead should hear his voice, as the Son of God, and live. Our Lord first refers to his raising those who were dead in sin, to newness of life, by the power of the Spirit, and then to his raising the dead in their graves. The office of Judge of all men, can only be exercised by one who has all knowledge, and almighty power. May we believe His testimony; thus our faith and hope will be in God, and we shall not come into condemnation. And may His voice reach the hearts of those dead in sin; that they may do works meet for repentance, and prepare for the solemn day.

Verses 30-38 Our Lord returns to his declaration of the entire agreement between the Father and the Son, and declared himself the Son of God. He had higher testimony than that of John; his works bore witness to all he had said. But the Divine word had no abiding-place in their hearts, as they refused to believe in Him whom the Father had sent, according to his ancient promises. The voice of God, accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost, thus made effectual to the conversion of sinners, still proclaims that this is the beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased. But when the hearts of men are full of pride, ambition, and the love of the world, there is no room for the word of God to abide in them.

Verses 39-44 The Jews considered that eternal life was revealed to them in their Scriptures, and that they had it, because they had the word of God in their hands. Jesus urged them to search those Scriptures with more diligence and attention. "Ye do search the Scriptures," and ye do well to do so. They did indeed search the Scriptures, but it was with a view to their own glory. It is possible for men to be very studious in the letter of the Scriptures, yet to be strangers to its power. Or, "Search the Scriptures," and so it was spoken to them in the nature of an appeal. Ye profess to receive and believe the Scripture, let that be the judge. It is spoken to us as advising or commanding all Christians to search the Scriptures. Not only read them, and hear them, but search them; which denotes diligence in examining and studying them. We must search the Scriptures for heaven as our great end; For in them ye think ye have eternal life. We must search the Scriptures for Christ, as the new and living Way, that leads to this end. To this testimony Christ adds reproofs of their unbelief and wickedness; their neglect of him and his doctrine. Also he reproves their want of the love of God. But there is life with Jesus Christ for poor souls. Many who make a great profession of religion, yet show they want the love of God, by their neglect of Christ and contempt of his commandments. It is the love of God in us, the love that is a living, active principle in the heart, which God will accept. They slighted and undervalued Christ, because they admired and overvalued themselves. How can those believe, who make the praise and applause of men their idol! When Christ and his followers are men wondered at, how can those believe, the utmost of whose ambition is to make a fair show in the flesh!

Verses 45-47 Many trust in some form of doctrines or some parties, who no more enter into the real meaning of those doctrines, or the views of the persons whose names they bear, than the Jews did into those of Moses. Let us search and pray over the Scriptures, as intent on finding eternal life; let us observe how Christ is the great subject of them, and daily apply to him for the life he bestows.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 JOHN 5

In this chapter the apostle treats of the nature of faith and love; of Christ the object of both, and of the witness that is bore to him; of the necessity of believing the testimony concerning him; of the confidence of prayer being heard, and concerning whom it should be made; of the happiness of regenerate persons, and of their duty to keep themselves from idols. Faith in Christ is the evidence of regeneration, and where that is, there will be love to the author of regeneration, and to them that are regenerated; and love to them is known by love to God, and keeping his commandments; and keeping the commandments of God, and which are not grievous, is a proof of love to God, 1Jo 5:1-3; and whereas every regenerate man overcomes the world, it is by his faith, the evidence of his regeneration, that this victory is obtained; nor can any other man be pointed out that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God, 1Jo 5:4,5; and Christ, the Son of God, the object of this victorious faith, is described by his coming by water and blood, of which the spirit is witness, who is a true one; and six witnesses of the truth of this and his divine sonship are produced, three in heaven, the Father, Word, and Spirit, who are the one God, and three on earth, the Spirit, water, and blood, who agree in their testimony, 1Jo 5:6-8; wherefore this testimony concerning the Son of God ought to be received, since it is the testimony of God, which is greater than that of men; besides, he that believes in Christ has a witness of this in himself, and honours God, whereas he that believes not makes God a liar, not giving credit to his record concerning his Son; the sum of which is, that God has made a grant of eternal life to some persons, which is in his Son, which those that believe in the Son of God have, but those that do not believe in him have it not: all which show the necessity of receiving the above testimony; and the ends proposed in writing these things were, to believe in Christ, and that it might be known they had eternal life in him, 1Jo 5:9-13, and from faith in Christ the apostle passes to confidence in prayer, as a particular effect and fruit of it: as, that whatever is asked according to the will of God is heard; and that such who are satisfied of this, that they are heard, may be assured that they have the petitions they desire to have, 1Jo 5:14,15, and whereas it is one branch of prayer to pray for others as well as for ourselves, the apostle directs who we should pray for; for the brethren in general, and in particular for such who have sinned, but not unto death, and life shall be given to such: but as for those who have sinned unto death, he does not say prayer should be made for them, for though all unrighteousness in general is sin, yet there is a particular sin which is unto death, and is not to be prayed for, 1Jo 5:16,17; but happy are those who are born of God, for they do not sin this sin; and through the use of the armour of God, and the power of divine grace, they keep themselves from the evil one, and he cannot come at them, to draw them into this sin; also they know that they are of God, and are distinguished from the world, which lies in wickedness; yea, they know that the Son of God is come in the flesh, and hath given them an understanding of the true God, by which they know that they are in him, and in his Son Jesus Christ, who is with him, and the divine Spirit, the one true God, and the author and giver of eternal life, 1Jo 5:18-20; and the chapter, and with it the epistle, is concluded with an exhortation to these regenerate ones, as they had kept themselves from Satan, that they would also keep themselves from idols of all sorts, 1Jo 5:21.