John 5:19-29 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

Jesus Confirms Their View Of His Equality With God And Points To The Resurrection (John 5:19-29).

Jesus now expands on His claim to be co-equal with the Father. He does not want them to be in any doubt, but does it in semi-veiled terms comparable with His use of parables. He leaves them to think through the implications. It may be of help if we first summarise what Jesus is about to say, for it will help to bring home just how great a claim He was making. Notice how close the relationship is between Father and Son, and how Jesus links Himself with the Father in the greatest issues of life:

· The Son is doing what His Father does (John 5:19).

· He is the Son Who is loved by the Father so that the Father shows Him all that He the Father does (John 5:20).

· He is the Son Who like the Father can make alive whoever He wills (John 5:21).

· He is the Son to Whom the Father has committed all judgment (John 5:22).

· He is the Son Who is deserving of equal honour with the Father (John 5:23).

· He is the Son Who like the Father has life in Himself, so that as the Son of God He will summon the dead to life at the last day (John 5:25-26).

· He is the Son to Whom the Father has given the authority to exercise judgment because He is the Son of Man (John 5:27).

A glance over Jesus' claims here helps to explain the attitude of the Scribes and Pharisees. They were being put on the spot, for they either had to recognise the stupendous nature of His claims and respond to Him, or dismiss them out of hand. They reveal Him as a figure of gigantic proportions. It will be apparent that the third, fifth and sixth statements are inconceivable unless Jesus really is equal with the Father, while the remainder also bring out His uniqueness in the scheme of things, the seventh being Messianic. We will now consider them in more detail.

Related Commentaries of John 5:19

John 5:19-29

19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them,Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead 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 hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.