This commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
15The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
16And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
17But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18Therefore 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.
19Then 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.
20For 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.
21For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
As we read the immediate context (vv. 24–25), Jesus explains “quickeneth” means spiritual resurrection and not physical like Lazarus:
“He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and is passed from death unto life” (v. 24).
“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” (v. 25).
This cannot be physical resurrection:
it happens “now is”
it results in present possession of eternal life
it is conditioned on hearing and believing (John 6:45)
“Whom He will” does not imply a selective or limited will
At first glance, “whom He will” might appear to restrict the recipients of life. However, John’s Gospel explicitly defines Christ’s will, and it is not selective nor different from the Father because “The Son can do nothing of himself” (vs 19). The Son’s will is the same as the Father’s.
The Father’s will is for everyone who believes
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40
Thus, “whom He will” is not an undefined group, but everyone who believes.
Salvation is genuinely offered, not irresistibly imposed
“I say these things that ye might be saved.” John 5:34
Jesus does not say that you will be saved, but that you might be saved, indicating a real offer that may be refused.
Unbelief is explicitly attributed to human unwillingness
““And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:40
Jesus does not say: “you cannot come”, “it was not given to you”, “you were not chosen”. He locates the cause of unbelief in their refusal, not in divine withholding.
See also 1 Timothy 2:3–4, 2 Peter 3:9, Acts 17:30
The context: Jesus is asserting authority, not defining limitations
In John 5, Jesus is answering a charge of blasphemy. “Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he… said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God” John 5:18. Jesus’ point in verse 21 is not who receives life, but who has the authority to give it. This is why He says even so the Son.
He is asserting that:
as the Father gives life
so also the Son gives life,
demonstrating equality with God.
Thus, “whom He will” emphasizes authority equal with God, not arbitrary restriction or selection.
22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23That 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.
24Verily, 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.
The Son makes alive or quickeneth those that believe on him.
25Verily, 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.
They key phrase here “and now is”tells us this isn’t a future thing to come but was happening then, people were being made spiritually alive by believing on Jesus.
26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
30I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
31If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
35He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41I receive not honour from men.
42But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
5
John 5 — Forever Word commentary
King James VersionThis commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
15The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
16And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
17But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18Therefore 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.
19Then 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.
20For 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.
21For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
As we read the immediate context (vv. 24–25), Jesus explains “quickeneth” means spiritual resurrection and not physical like Lazarus:
“He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and is passed from death unto life” (v. 24).
“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” (v. 25).
This cannot be physical resurrection:
it happens “now is”
it results in present possession of eternal life
it is conditioned on hearing and believing (John 6:45)
“Whom He will” does not imply a selective or limited will
At first glance, “whom He will” might appear to restrict the recipients of life. However, John’s Gospel explicitly defines Christ’s will, and it is not selective nor different from the Father because “The Son can do nothing of himself” (vs 19). The Son’s will is the same as the Father’s.
The Father’s will is for everyone who believes
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40
Thus, “whom He will” is not an undefined group, but everyone who believes.
Salvation is genuinely offered, not irresistibly imposed
“I say these things that ye might be saved.” John 5:34
Jesus does not say that you will be saved, but that you might be saved, indicating a real offer that may be refused.
Unbelief is explicitly attributed to human unwillingness
““And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:40
Jesus does not say: “you cannot come”, “it was not given to you”, “you were not chosen”. He locates the cause of unbelief in their refusal, not in divine withholding.
See also 1 Timothy 2:3–4, 2 Peter 3:9, Acts 17:30
The context: Jesus is asserting authority, not defining limitations
In John 5, Jesus is answering a charge of blasphemy. “Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he… said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God” John 5:18. Jesus’ point in verse 21 is not who receives life, but who has the authority to give it. This is why He says even so the Son.
He is asserting that:
as the Father gives life
so also the Son gives life,
demonstrating equality with God.
Thus, “whom He will” emphasizes authority equal with God, not arbitrary restriction or selection.
22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23That 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.
24Verily, 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.
The Son makes alive or quickeneth those that believe on him.
25Verily, 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.
They key phrase here “and now is” tells us this isn’t a future thing to come but was happening then, people were being made spiritually alive by believing on Jesus.
26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
30I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
31If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
35He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41I receive not honour from men.
42But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?