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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 5:17-30

We have here Christ's discourse upon occasion of his being accused as a sabbath-breaker, and it seems to be his vindication of himself before the sanhedrim, when he was arraigned before them: whether on the same day, or two or three days after, does not appear; probably the same day. Observe, I. The doctrine laid down, by which he justified what he did on the sabbath day (John 5:17): He answered them. This supposes that he had something laid to his charge: or what they suggested one to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 5:19-29

5:19-29 This is the truth I tell you--the Son cannot do anything which proceeds from himself. He can only do what he sees the Father doing. In whatever way the Father acts, the Son likewise acts in the same way; for the Father loves the son and has shown him everything that he does. And he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be moved to wondering amazement. For, as the Father raises the dead and makes them alive, so also the Son makes alive those whom he wishes. Neither... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 5:19

Then answered Jesus, and said unto them ,.... They charged him with blasphemy for calling God his Father, and making himself equal to him: and his answer is so far from denying the thing, or observing any mistake, or misrepresentation of his words, that he allows the whole, and vindicates himself in so saying: verily verily, I say unto you ; nothing is more certain; it may be depended on as truth; I who am truth itself, the "Amen", and faithful witness, aver it with the greatest... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 5:20

For the Father loveth the Son ,.... As being his Son, his image, the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person; as being of the same nature, and having the same perfections, and so equal to him; See Gill on John 3:35 ; and showeth him all things that himself doth ; not as if he was ignorant of them, since he lies in the bosom of his Father, is the wisdom of God, is the omniscient God, that knows all things; not only all things in men, but all things in God, even the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 5:21

For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them ,.... Which may be understood either spiritually of raising dead sinners from the death of sin, to a life of grace and holiness; and the rather, because it is expressed in the present tense "raiseth", and not "hath raised"; or naturally of raising those that are dead in a corporeal sense, and quickening them, as the widow of Sarepta's son by Elijah, and the Shunamite's son by Elisha: even so the Son quickeneth whom he will ; both... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 5:19

The Son can do nothing of himself - Because of his inseparable union with the Father: nor can the Father do any thing of himself, because of his infinite unity with the Son. What things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son - God does nothing but what Christ does. What God does is the work of God, and proper to no creature - Jesus does whatsoever God does, and therefore is no created being. The Son can do nothing but what he sees the Father do: now, any intelligent creature may do... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 5:20

Greater works than these - Two of these he immediately mentions: Raising the dead, John 5:21 . And judging the world, John 5:22 . That ye may marvel - Or, So as to make you wonder. Our Lord sometimes speaks of himself as God, and sometimes as the ambassador of God. As he had a human and Divine nature, this distinction was essentially necessary. Many errors have originated from want of attention to this circumstance. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 5:21

As the Father raised up the dead - This he did in the case of the widow's son at Sarepta, 1 Kings 17:22 , by the ministry of the Prophet Elijah. And again, in the case of the Shunamite's son, 2 Kings 4:32-35 , by the ministry of the Prophet Elisha. The Son quickeneth whom he will - He raiseth from death to life whomsoever he pleases. So he did, for he raised the ruler's daughter, Mark 5:35-42 ; the widow's son at Nain, Luke 7:11-15 ; and Lazarus, at Bethany, John 11:14-44. Whom... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 5:19

Verse 19 19.Jesus therefore answered. We see what I have said, that Christ is so far from vindicating himself from what the Jews asserted, though they intended it as a calumny, that he maintains more openly that it is true. And first he insists on this point, that the work which the Jews cavilled at was a divine work, to make them understand that they must fight with God himself, if they persist in condemning what must necessarily be ascribed to him. This passage was anciently debated in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 5:20

Verse 20 20.For the Father loveth the Son. Every body sees how harsh and far-fetched is the exposition of this passage which is given by the Fathers. “God,” they say, “loves himself in the Son.” But this statement applies beautifully to Christ as clothed with flesh, that he is beloved by the Father. What is more, we know that it is by this excellent title that he is distinguished both from angels and from men, This is my beloved Son, (Matthew 3:17.) For we know that Christ was chosen, that the... read more

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