Verily, verily, I say unto you. — (Comp. John 5:19; John 5:25, and Note on John 1:51.) For “shall not come into condemnation,” read doth not come into judgment. (Comp. Note on John 3:18.)
The repeated “verily” introduces, as elsewhere, one of the deeper spiritual truths which He came to teach. This truth explains the “whom He willeth” of John 5:21 to have no limit but that of human receptivity. It again brings out the unity of Father and Son. The Son’s word is the revelation of the Father. He that hears this word believes not on Him only, but on Him that sent Him (comp. John 12:44). It asserts that eternal life is not of the future only, but is already in germ possessed by the man who is thus brought into communion with the source of life. (Comp. 1 John 1:2.) This man comes not into judgment. There can be for him no separation from God, no condemnation. He has already passed from the state of death to that of life. What remains for him is the development of life.
Believeth on him that sent me. — Better, believeth Him that sent Me.