John5
New American Standard
1After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2Now in Jerusalem, by the Sheep Gate, there is a pool which in Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porticoes.
3In these porticoes lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, limping, or paralyzed.
4
5Now a man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
6Jesus, upon seeing this man lying there and knowing that he had already been in that condition for a long time, said to him, “Do you want to get well?”
7The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
8Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.”
9Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was a Sabbath on that day.
10So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is a Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.”
11But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’”
12They asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Pick it up and walk’?”
13But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place.
14Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.”
15The man went away, and informed the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
16For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on a Sabbath.
17But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
18For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
19Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way.
20For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.
21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.
22For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,
23so that all will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24“Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
25Truly, truly, I say to you, a time is coming and even now has arrived, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
26For just as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;
27and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
28Do not be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,
29and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
30“I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.
31“If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true.
32There is another who testifies about Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true.
33You have sent messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth.
34But the testimony I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
35He was the lamp that was burning and shining, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
36But the testimony I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.
37And the Father who sent Me, He has testified about Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.
38Also you do not have His word remaining in you, because you do not believe Him whom He sent.
39You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me;
40and yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.
41I do not receive glory from people;
42but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.
43I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
44How can you believe, when you accept glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?
45Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have put your hope.
46For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.
47But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for John 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The cure at the pool of Bethesda. (1–9). The Jews' displeasure. (10–16). Christ reproves the Jews. (17–23). Christ's discourse. (24–47).
vv1-9
We are all by nature impotent folk in spiritual things, blind, halt, and withered; but full provision is made for our cure, if we attend to it. An angel went down, and troubled the water; and what disease soever it was, this water cured it, but only he that first stepped in had benefit. This teaches us to be careful, that we let not a season slip which may never return. The man had lost the use of his limbs thirty-eight years. Shall we, who perhaps for many years have scarcely known what it has been to be a day sick, complain of one wearisome night, when many others, better than we, have scarcely known what it has been to be a day well? Christ singled this one out from the rest. Those long in affliction, may comfort themselves that God keeps account how long. Observe, this man speaks of the unkindness of those about him, without any peevish reflections. As we should be thankful, so we should be patient. Our Lord Jesus cures him, though he neither asked nor thought of it. Arise, and walk. God's command, Turn and live; Make ye a new heart; no more supposes power in us without the grace of God, his distinguishing grace, than this command supposed such power in the impotent man: it was by the power of Christ, and he must have all the glory. What a joyful surprise to the poor cripple, to find himself of a sudden so easy, so strong, so able to help himself! The proof of spiritual cure, is our rising and walking. Has Christ healed our spiritual diseases, let us go wherever he sends us, and take up whatever he lays upon us; and walk before him.
vv10-16
Those eased of the punishment of sin, are in danger of returning to sin, when the terror and restraint are over, unless Divine grace dries up the fountain. The misery believers are made whole from, warns us to sin no more, having felt the smart of sin. This is the voice of every providence, Go, and sin no more. Christ saw it necessary to give this caution; for it is common for people, when sick, to promise much; when newly recovered, to perform only something; but after awhile to forget all. Christ spoke of the wrath to come, which is beyond compare worse than the many hours, nay, weeks and years of pain, some wicked men have to suffer in consequence of their unlawful indulgences. And if such afflictions are severe, how dreadful will be the everlasting punishment of the wicked!
vv17-23
The Divine power of the miracle proved Jesus to be the Son of God, and he declared that he worked with, and like unto his Father, as he saw good. These ancient enemies of Christ understood him, and became more violent, charging him not only with sabbath-breaking, but blasphemy, in calling God his own Father, and making himself equal with God. But all things now, and at the final judgment, are committed to the Son, purposely that all men might honour the Son, as they honour the Father; and every one who does not thus honour the Son, whatever he may think or pretend, does not honour the Father who sent him.
Key Words
μετά (metá): properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between G575 (ἀπό) or G1537 (ἐκ) and G1519 (εἰς) or G4314 (πρός); less intimate than G1722 (ἐν) and less close than G4862 (σύν))
ταῦτα (taûta): these things
ἦν (ēn): I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
ἑορτή (heortḗ): a festival
Ἰουδαῖος (Ioudaîos): Judæan, i.e. belonging to Jehudah
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
ἀναβαίνω (anabaínō): to go up (literally or figuratively)
εἰς (eis): to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
Ἱεροσόλυμα (Hierosólyma): Hierosolyma (i.e. Jerushalaim), the capitol of Palestine
Cross References
John 5Explicitly clarifies Christ's claim of equality and unity with the Father, which Jews sought to punish.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Direct Old Testament background for the dual resurrection of life and resurrection of damnation/contempt.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The prime messianic prophecy written by Moses, predicting the Prophet whom the people must hear.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Establishes the location of the pool near the 'sheep gate' (sheep market) rebuilt by Eliashib.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Old Testament Sabbath law regarding carrying burdens, which the Jews accused the healed man of breaking.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The Son of man receiving authority and dominion to execute judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Contrasts receiving praise from men with seeking the praise that comes from God alone.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Parallel diagnosis of unbelief: loving the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Confirms Christ's principle: if they do not hear Moses, they will not be persuaded by miracles.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
The Law commanding Jewish men to go up to Jerusalem for the major annual feasts.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallel command to 'rise, take up thy bed, and walk' demonstrating immediate divine authority to heal.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel controversy where the Jews accuse Jesus of blasphemy for making Himself God.
Supported by John Calvin
Demonstrates the perfect operational unity where seeing the Son's work is seeing the Father's work.
Supported by John Calvin
Verbal echo of the Father's love for His Son and showing Him all things.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Believing in the Son grants immediate possession of everlasting life.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Spiritual quickening of those dead in trespasses and sins hearing His voice.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels the Son having inherent life in himself as the Source of life.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The historical record of the Jews sending to John and his witness to Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Christ expounding in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Moses wrote of Christ, illustrating how Scriptures testify of Him.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Christ reiterates that His own self-honor is nothing; the Father is the One who honors Him.
Supported by John Calvin
Fulfillment of Christ's warning that the Jews would reject Him but receive false messiahs.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Exposes the hypocrisy of resting and trusting in the Law while failing to keep it.
Supported by John Calvin
Philip's confession matches Christ's claim: Moses in the Law and the prophets wrote of Jesus.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Christ's post-resurrection practice of expounding things concerning Himself beginning at Moses.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Another instance of Sabbath controversy sparked by Jesus healing on the Sabbath day.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus directly references this specific Sabbath healing of Bethesda in later defense.
Supported by JFB
Shows the typical ruler-of-the-synagogue outrage over healing performed on the Sabbath day.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel solemn warning by Jesus to 'sin no more' after experiencing His saving mercy.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The last Adam was made a quickening spirit, raising up the dead.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Father's divine prerogative to kill and make alive, shared by the Son.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
God will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He ordained.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Father serves as the second witness alongside the Son's self-testimony.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The works of Christ bear witness of his union with the Father.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
No man has seen God at any time; the Son declares Him.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The Father's audible, direct witness to His beloved Son at baptism.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole