Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Therefore [or 'for this cause' dia (G1223 ) touto (G5124 )], the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, х patera (G3962) idion (G2398)]. This is not strong enough. It should be, 'that God was His own Father;' in the sense of Romans 8:32 (see there).
Making himself equal with God. This last clause expresses the sense in which they understood His words. And they were right in gathering this to be His meaning, not from the mere words "My Father," but from His claim of right to act as His Father did, in the like high sphere and by the same law of ceaseless activity in that sphere. And since, instead of instantly disclaiming any such meaning-as He must have done if it was false-He positively sets His seal to it in the following verses, merely explaining how consistent such claim was with the prerogatives of His Father, it is beyond all doubt that we have here an assumption of unique, personal Sonship, or participation in the Father's essential nature.