Explore the Bible Online

John 5:31-39

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

31. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 36. But 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. 37. And 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. 38. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

John 5:31-39 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on John 5:31

Theological / Devotional

Witness of myself. In regard to legal testimony as to certain phases, at least, of one’s personal life, the Mishnah declares: “No one may testify concerning himself’ (Mishnah Kethuboth 2. 9, Soncino ed. of the Talmud, p. 151). Jesus’ statement in the present verse probably was intended to appeal to this type of thinking among His Jewish hearers. At first sight ch. 8:14 appears to be a contradiction of His declaration here. In each case, however, Jesus’ words were framed to meet the thinking of His hearers. In ch. 8:14 the discussion was not in regard to His relation to the Father, but rather to His declaration, “I am the light of the world,” which the Pharisees rejected because He said it of Himself. To this objection Jesus insisted nevertheless that His words were true. In the present passage, however, the setting is different: here Jesus sought to demonstrate His dependence upon His Father by pointing to the works that He was empowered to perform as an evidence of His claims (John 5:36, 37). To enforce His point, He seems to have reminded His hearers of the Jewish principle that testimony regarding one’s own conduct was not considered valid.

By SdaBc