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John Chapter
Five
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Son of God the Savior was Opposed by the
Dead Religion
A. The description of the dead religion (v.1-7)
B. The
Son of God the Savior came to be the provision of one’s life (v.8-9)
C. The
hostility of the dead religion toward the savior of life (v.10-16)
D. The
origin of the Son of God the Savior’s work ---- the Father (v.17-30)
E. The
four testimonies of the Son of God the Savior
1. The testimony of the Father (v.31-32, 37-38)
2. The testimony of John the Baptist (v.33-35)
3. The testimony of the very works that the Son of
God the Savior does (v.36)
4. The testimony of the Scriptures ----
including the testimony of the Pentateuch (v.39-47)
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
John. 5:1 “After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to
Literal Translation: “After these things there was a feast
of the Jews, and Jesus went up to
Meaning of Words: “
Literal Meaning: “after this”, it was “after these things” in the
original, which disclosed that the author had an idea concerning the order of
time (see 6:1; 7:1).
“There was a feast of the Jews.” ---- There was none article before the
word “feast”, so there were many different suppositions about what the feast
actually was. Some held that it was one of the three great feasts of the
Passover, the Pentecost as well as the Feast of Tabernacles, for the pious Jews
would go to
Spiritual Meaning: “feast” typifies the
day when people shall be filled with joy.
“
John. 5:2 “Now
there is in
YLT: “and there is in
Meaning
of Words: “the Sheep Gate”: relating
to sheep; “
Literal
Meaning: “there is in
“Which is called in Hebrew,
“Having five porches”, porches were set around the poor, among which one porch divided the
pool into two parts, thus forming the
so-called “double-sons pool”. “Porch”, a colonnade at a height of
20 feet and with a cover, was specially employed to adopt the patients who lay
in it.
Spiritual
Meaning: “the Sheep Gate” symbolizes the door of the
sheepfold (see 10:1), and the sheepfold symbolizes the law which guarded the
people of God before the salvation of the New Testament (see Gal 3:23).
“Porches of Bethesda” typifies the fact
that one finds out his weakness, inability and affliction (see Rom 7:7-24) from
obeying the law, thus only coming to look onto the mercy of God (the original
meaning of Bethesda).
“Having five porches”, the number “five” refers to being responsible. “Porch” can protect one from being wet by the rain
or burnt by the sun, so it typifies the protection under the Law of Moses.
John. 5:3 “In
these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for
the moving of the water.”
YLT: “in these were
lying a great multitude of the ailing, blind, lame, withered, waiting for the
moving of the water,”
The
Background: men believed the
healing efficacy of the water in the pool, so a great multitude of sick people waited here and were desirous to be healed.
Spiritual
Meaning: this verse typifies
that those who have been protected by the Law of Moses are of various sickness
by nature in the religious door of the sheepfold: the “blind” symbolizes the one whose eyes inside are closed;
the “lame” symbolizes the one who is unable to walk in his life; the “paralyzed”
symbolizes being in want of provision of life.
Enlightenment
in the Word: the life of a man
who has not the Christ will not appear to be normal and will have every
spiritual disease. Only when one came to Christ, he might be healed.
John. 5:4 “For an
angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then
whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of
whatever disease he had.”
YLT: “for a messenger
at a set time was going down in the pool, and was troubling the water, the
first then having gone in after the troubling of the water, became whole of
whatever sickness he was held.”
Meaning
of Words: “made well of”: recovered from an illness, healthy,
perfect;
Literal
Meaning: in some old Scriptures, there were not this
verse and the last half part of verse three (i.e. “waiting for the moving of
the water”). The Bible exegetes had two different views: (1) some held that it
was an explanation added by others later according to verse seven. (2) Some held
that it was a part of the original Scriptures, for without this explanation it
would be irrational that so many sick men gathered in the porches (v.3). Those
who copied the Scriptures later deleted it deliberately in order to make a
clear distinction between the superstitious heathens, among whom the offering
of holy water was popular, thus avoiding unnecessary misapprehensions among
others later.
“For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and
stirred up the water”, the pool might
spring water at regular intervals or produce water by seasonal rain, so the water
might rise and spring regularly, and water in the pool would be stirred up when
the water was rising.
Spiritual
Meaning: “an angel” here typifies the Jewish leaders who advocate
keeping the law.
“To stir up the water”
typifies to provoke others into resolving to keep the law.
“Whoever
stepped in first” typifies that if
one could really keep the law by his own ability, he would be a perfect man.
John. 5:5 “Now a
certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.”
YLT: “and there was a
certain man there being in ailment thirty and eight years,”
Literal
Meaning: “a certain man was there”, John did not mentioned the actual disease
of the man, but it could be inferred from the situation of his difficulty in
getting about (v.7) that he might be paralyzed or be lame at least.
Spiritual
Meaning: this verse is a
vivid picture, and there are several meanings concerning “there” as below:
1. Men shall be filled with joy in the day of “feast”
(v.1)
2. Men shall be granted great honor and peace
in “
3. Men shall be protected from invasion by “the
Sheep Gate” (v.2)
4. Men shall receive ample kindness in “Porches of Bethesda” (v.2)
5. Men shall be shielded by the “five porches” (v.2-3)
6. Men shall enjoy rest on “the Sabbath” (v.10)
In such above-mentioned
sound conditions, even a man had unexpectedly had an infirmity thirty-eight years, showing that he had never enjoyed joy,
honor, peace, protection, mercy, shield or rest.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
(1) “Who had an infirmity thirty-eight years”, the
infirmities in one’s life are all old weaknesses and deep-rooted illnesses
(2) For such a man who
had been ill for many years had no joy
even in the joyful feast (see v.1), and he had no rest even on the Sabbath (see v.10).
John. 5:6 “When
Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition
a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" ”
YLT: “him Jesus
having seen lying, and having known that he is already a long time, he saith to
him, `Dost thou wish to become whole?'”
Meaning
of Words: “be made of”: to be
recovered to health, complete;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
(1) If one does not
want to be made well, the Lord will not heal him without a cause. We have not
been saved in our will, but one shall be saved in the Lord if he is willing to
receive the salvation.
(2) The Lord’s salvation is only granted to those who
have mouth confession and call the name of the Lord (see Rom 10:10, 13).
(3) The men did
not even ask the Lord, the Lord earlier asked him: "do
you want to be made well?" Oh, what a great
favor! How great His love is!
John. 5:7 “The
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." ”
YLT: “The ailing man
answered him, `Sir, I have no man, that, when the water may be troubled, he may
put me into the pool, and while I am coming, another doth go down before me.'”
Spiritual
Meaning: this verse typifies
that religion can provide only some ways to deal with the problems of one’s
life (“when
the water is stirred up … before me”) but without the
power of working with those methods (“I have no man to put me into the pool”), so it is only froth for those who are
weak and infirm.
This verse has also fully
disclosed the irrationality of religion: (1) selfish: it forced men to vie with
each other and seek one’s own healing in spite of others. (2) To take the
branch for the root: the one whose condition was lighter had been healed first,
but the one whose condition was worst could never catch the chance.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The mysterious philosophies of life in
every religion are so excessive that one can not study them thoroughly
throughout his life. However, one can still receive none help even though he
has understood those philosophic theories, which cannot provide men with power
to fulfill them.
2) One cannot solve
his problems concerning life in his own way, and one can never save him by
himself.
3) All those religions
which require keeping and doing the doctrines with men’s power will always ultimately prove that:
there is always another one who is better than you, and so that one has to
confess that he is not as good as others
(“but while I am
coming, another steps down before me.”).
4) We will fall into
despair if we repose our hope of being delivered from sin in anyone.
John. 5:8 “Jesus
said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." ”
YLT: “Jesus saith to
him, `Rise, take up thy couch, and be walking;'”
Literal
Meaning: “take up your bed and walk”, “bed”, a portable mattress which was the
bed of the poor at that time.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Once we have been saved, we shall not only “rise”, and “walk” ahead as well.
2) Many so-called
Christians are actually those who are lying on their mattresses with spiritual
infirmities and hoping others’
help all day (v.7).
John. 5:9 “And
immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day
was the Sabbath. ”
YLT: “and immediately
the man became whole, and he took up his couch, and was walking, and it was a
sabbath on that day,”
Literal
Meaning: “took up his bed, and walked”, “walk” means “to walk all around” or “to
walk continually” according the original.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) When the Lord Jesus has
asked us to do something, he never withholds the provision of His power. This
is the difference between the Lord Jesus and various religions: religion only
asks but provides no power, but the Lord Jesus provides His power first and
asks men thereafter.
2) The Lord’s power is perfected in men’s weakness (2Cor 12:9). Although we are weak
and infirm, we may still have strength for all things in Him that gives me
power (see Phil 4:13).
3) To keep the
commandment of the Lord, we should make sure that whether it is of the Lord or
not instead of looking upon the weaknesses of ourselves.
4) We had been
supported by the “bed” before we received the Lord’s salvation, but we hold the “bed”
after we have received the Lord’s
salvation. This is the power of life!
John. 5:10 “The
Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not
lawful for you to carry your bed." ”
YLT: “the Jews then
said to him that hath been healed, `It is a sabbath; it is not lawful to thee
to take up the couch.'”
Meaning
of Words: “not lawful”: not allowed, not permitted;
The
Background: the Law of Moses
prohibited men from doing any work on the Sabbath, but not prohibited from carrying
one’s bed (see Ex20:10-11; 31:13-17). Actually, the rabbis prohibited men from
carry heavy objects including moving furniture and bearing heavy burdens in
their explanations for the Law of Moses.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The majority of those who are zealous of
religion focus on the customs of the Sabbath, but ignore the problem that
whether men have true rest or not.
2) The Sabbath was
made on account of man, not man on account of the Sabbath (see Mark 2:27). To
search and find the origin is a sound way to know the will of God for us.
John. 5:11 “He
answered them, "He who made me well said to me, "Take up your bed and
walk."'”
YLT: “He answered
them, `He who made me whole -- that one said to me, Take up thy couch, and be
walking;'”
Literal
Meaning: “He who made me well”, he meant that it was not of his own will
and he only obeyed the command of the one who healed him.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) He who has the spiritual power has the
spiritual authority.
2) Let those who labor
in God’s word and speak in the power of life be counted worthy
of double honor (see 1Tim 5:17).
John. 5:12 “Then
they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, "Take up your bed
and walk'?" ”
YLT: “they questioned
him, then, `Who is the man who is saying to thee, Take up thy couch and be
walking?'”
Literal
Meaning: “who said to you, "Take
up your bed and walk?"” ---- Note that the
Pharisees did not ask who healed him but who allowed him to take up the bed. They
find the proofs of disobeying the customs on purpose.
John. 5:13 “But
the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a
multitude being in that place.”
YLT: “But he that was
healed had not known who he is, for Jesus did move away, a multitude being in
the place.”
Meaning
of Words: “withdrawn”:
convey self away
Enlightenment
in the Word: to know the power
of the Lord and to know the Lord Himself are different. When we first believed
the Lord, mostly we only experienced the power of the Lord, but not the Lord
Himself (“did
not know who it was”).
John. 5:14 “Afterward
Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made
well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." ”
YLT: “After these
things, Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said to him, `Lo, thou hast become
whole; sin no more, lest something worse may happen to thee.'”
Literal
Meaning: “Sin no more, lest a worse
thing come upon you.”---- It meant “do
not sin again”. It suggests
that the infirmity of this man resulted from sin, but it does not mean all
infirmities are in connection with sin.
“Lest a worse thing come upon you”, it does not indicate that if he sinned
again he would be suffered worse ill. Instead, it shows that the end of his
life might be caused into severe judgment and punishment of God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “Afterward Jesus found him
in the temple”, believers should
always live in the environment where Jesus can be usually seen ---- live in the
church (in the temple).
2) This verse
discloses the infirmity of this man resulted from sin. Here, the Lord not only
healed his infirmity, but delivered Him also from the origin ---- sin. How
complete the Lord’s salvation is! So
when we are sick, we should look upon the healing of the Lord on one side and
on the other ask for enlightenment from the Lord ---- what’s the spiritual reason of this illness on
earth? Have we sinned against God?
3) The eternal result
of sin is much more serious than any illness.
4) To live a holy life
is a mystery of keeping healthy for the believers.
John. 5:15 “The
man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.”
YLT: “The man went
away, and told the Jews that it is Jesus who made him whole,”
Literal
Meaning: “it was Jesus who had made
him well”, note that the
Jews asked him who
said to him to take up his bed and walk
(see v.12), but he told them who had made him well.
John. 5:16 “For
this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had
done these things on the Sabbath.
”
YLT: “and because of
this were the Jews persecuting Jesus, and seeking to kill him, because these
things he was doing on a sabbath.”
The
Background: according to the
Jewish scribes’ explanations for the Law of Moses, once a man heals illness on
the Sabbath, he has disobeyed the commandment, unless one is critically ill.
Literal
Meaning: “the Jews persecuted Jesus”, “persecute” denotes “begin to persecute” or “habitually
persecute”.
“Because He had done these things on the Sabbath”, “had done these things”, the verb in the original referred to a
proceeding action, which meant it was not an occasional matter, but a frequent
one.
John. 5:17 “But
Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have
been working." ”
YLT: “And Jesus
answered them, `My Father till now doth work, and I work;'”
Literal
Meaning: “My Father has been working
until now”, it indicates that
“My father has never ceased His work”. Although the great work of God’s
creation has been finished (see Gen 2:1-2), He still rules over the whole
universe and is doing work unceasingly, e.g. raise the dead (v.21), sent the Son(v.36), testify of the Son (v.37) etc.
What Christ has done are: upholding all things by
the word of his power, having perfected the redemption and having made the
purification of sins (Heb 1:3), to be the surety of believers (Heb 7:22), to purify
by the washing of water by word (Eph 5:26), and to build His assembly (Matt
16:18) etc.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God has never been rest since the man had been
fallen, for He remembers men ceaselessly and intents to save the souls.
2) There is no retirement in
spiritual works. Whenever one stops working, his life stops flowing.
3) We should perform spiritual functions not only
in Christian gatherings but also in our daily life (have been working).
John. 5:18 “Therefore
the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the
Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”
YLT: “because of
this, then, were the Jews seeking the more to kill him, because not only was he
breaking the Sabbath, but he also called God his own Father, making himself
equal to God.”
Meaning
of Words: “break”:
break (up), destroy, dissolve, melt, and put off;
The
Background: the Jews did not
oppose the idea that God was their Father, so they might call God “our Father”
or “our Father in the heavens”. But they daren’t call Him “my Father”, and they
strongly opposed the individual who claimed that he had an intimate relation
with God.
Literal
Meaning: “but also said that God was
His Father”, it does not generally refer to the Father in the heavens, but the
fact that God is “His own” Father.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The worst thing
today is that the extreme religionist regards their murdering as serving God.
2) Although men does
not like to listen to the truth, we should still learn from the Lord Jesus who holds
back nothing of what is profitable (see Act 20:20, 27).
John. 5:19 “Then
Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son
can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He
does, the Son also does in like manner. ”
YLT: “Jesus therefore
responded and said to them, `Verily, verily, I say to you, The Son is not able
to do anything of himself, if he may not see the Father doing anything; for
whatever things He may do, these also the Son in like manner doth;”
Literal
Meaning: “most assuredly, I say to you”, this verse intends to remind the hearers
to take heed of what He will say afterwards, for it is rather important.
“The
Son can do nothing of Himself”, “of” is “out from” in the original. It manifests that
the Son is never the origin of anything. What He sees the Father do, the Son also does; the Father speaks, then the Son speaks.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “The Son can do nothing of
Himself”, it indicates that
the Lord is humbly in the principle of being restricted. “For whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” ---- It unveils that He has limitless
authority actually. Oh, Christ manifests His boundless power in the principle
of being restricted in lowliness.
2) Christ “can do nothing of Himself” first, and then he “also does in like manner”. How comely His “can do nothing of Himself” is! How glorious His “doing in like manner” is!
3) “Sin”
means that one does something which is not commanded by God. When God has not
initiated anything, man initiates something independently ---- this is sin.
John. 5:20 “For
the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He
will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. ”
YLT: “for the Father
doth love the Son, and doth shew to him all things that He himself doth; and
greater works than these He will shew him, that ye may wonder.”
Meaning
of Words: “love”:
regard others as one’s self, kiss, like;
Literal
Meaning: “For the Father loves the
Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does”, the Father’s love for the Son is the origin of
the authority in the Son’s commission, and this love manifests His work and
even “greater
works”.
“He will show Him greater works than
these”, “greater works” refers to the fact that the Son gives life to the dead and has the right to judge (see
v.21-30).
This verse manifests three things: (1) the Father
is different from the Son; (2) the Father is greater than the Son; (2) the Son
knows completely what the Father does.
John. 5:21 “For as
the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life
to whom He will. ”
YLT: “`For, as the
Father doth raise the dead, and doth make alive, so also the Son doth make
alive whom he willeth;”
Literal
Meaning: this verse explains
that the nature of the “greater works (v.20)” is that those who are dead in
spirit will be quickened.
“Even so the Son gives life to whom He will”, it
may refer to the truth that Christ come today that men may have life, and may
have abundantly (see 10:10), even though it may also refer to the resurrection
in future (see 11:25-26).
John. 5:22 “For
the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, ”
YLT: “for neither
doth the Father judge any one, but all the judgment He hath given to the Son,”
Enlightenment
in the Word: the Lord’s judgment is purposed
to give life to men (see v.21). His provision of life harmonizes with his
ministry of judging the world.
John. 5:23 “that
all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor
the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. ”
YLT: “that all may
honour the Son according as they honour the Father; he who is not honouring the
Son, doth not honour the Father who sent him.”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If Christians judge
all things in complete accordance with the will of God, the world will “honor” God on account of us
2) If one does not
believe the Lord Jesus, he will not believe God either. And if one does not
worship the Lord Jesus, he will not worship God either (see 14:1, 6; Eph
1:20-22; Phil 2:10).
John. 5:24 “"Most
assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me
has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from
death into life.”
YLT: “`Verily,
verily, I say to you -- He who is hearing my word, and is believing Him who
sent me, hath life age-during, and to judgment he doth not come, but hath
passed out of the death to the life.”
Meaning
of Words: “passed from”: change place,
remove, and depart;
Literal
Meaning: “believes in Him who sent Me
has everlasting life”, “has”: to possess
now instead of waiting until the future. “Everlasting life” is not only a life till the eternity and a
life with a divine nature as well.
“And
shall not come into judgment”, it refers to the
judgment in the last day. To those who have believed the word of Christ, their
sins will never be remembered (see Heb 10:17) for Christ had paid the penalty
of sin on the cross.
“But
has passed from death into life”, it means that to
pass out of the sphere of death and enter that of life. Those who have believed
the Lord will never dead in their offences and sins and have already been quickened
with the Christ (Eph 2:1, 5)
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “And believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life”, faith is connected with life (see 20:31).
2) “But has passed from death
into life”, believers enter
the everlasting life is started when they are on the earth.
3) “Pass from death into life”, there rests the difference of life and
death among those who are believing or unbelieving.
4) Death originates
from the tree of knowledge, and life originated from the tree of life (see Gen
2:9, 17). Therefore, “to
pass from death into life” means to change the origin of life.
John. 5:25 “Most
assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will
hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.”
YLT: “`Verily,
verily, I say to you -- There cometh an hour, and it now is, when the dead
shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those having heard shall live;”
Meaning
of Words: “hear”:
listen to
Literal
Meaning: “the hour is coming, and now
is”, it shows that Christ will not only raise
the dead in the last day, and He gives life to men at present as well.
“The
dead will hear the voice of the Son
of God”, “the dead” refers to those who have been dead in spirit, i.e. being
dead in the offences and sins (Eph 2:1). It does not mean those who have been
dead in the flesh (see v.28-29).
“And those who hear will live.” ---- “live” refers
to those who have been quickened in spirit (Eph 2:5).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) In God’s view, men in the world have been entirely
in a dead condition ---- their spirits have been dead, though they still live
in body. The only salvation is that “when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and
those who hear will live”.
2) May the Lord enable
us to hear His voice in spirit so that our spiritual conditions can always be kept alive and fresh.
John. 5:26 “For as
the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in
Himself,”
YLT: “for, as the
Father hath life in himself, so He gave also to the Son to have life in
himself,”
Literal
Meaning: “as the Father has life in
Himself”, God is the origin
of life. And life, a gift by God, is of God (see Deut 30:20; Job 10:12; 33:4;
Ps 16:11; 27:1; 36:9).
“So He has granted the Son to have life in Himself”, note that it does not mean “to grant life to the Son”, but means “to grant His Son the equal divinity”, i.e. “to have life in Himself”, so life in Christ is not a granted life,
but a self- existing one.
John. 5:27 “and
has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.”
YLT: “and authority
He gave him also to do judgment, because he is Son of Man.”
John. 5:28 “Do not
marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will
hear His voice”
YLT: “`Wonder not at
this, because there doth come an hour in which all those in the tombs shall
hear his voice,”
Literal
Meaning: “all
who are in the graves” refers to those who have been dead in the flesh
and buried in the graves.
John. 5:29 “and
come forth--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those
who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. ”
YLT: “and they shall
come forth; those who did the good things to a rising again of life, and those
who practised the evil things to a rising again of judgment.”
Literal
Meaning: “and come forth” “com forth” refers to the resurrection
in the flesh. When the Lord, with an assembling shout, with archangel's voice
and with trump of God, shall come again, those who have been dead in Christ shall
rise (see 1The 4:16). But those who have been dead but have not believed will
rise after the Kingdom of a thousand years (see Rev 20:5, 12).
“Those
who have done good, to the resurrection of life”, it does not mean that one obtain life through
his good works. For one can obtain the eternal life only by believing Jesus
Christ (see 3:16, 36). God grants us the eternal life for the purpose of making
us do good works (see Eph 2:10). The believers’ good works is the manifestation
of their life within.
“And
those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation”, “have done evil” refers to those who are unwilling
to repent or receive the Lord Jesus and refuse the Lord’s salvation. They will
go to the
resurrection of “condemnation” and be judged, and will ultimately be cast
into the lake of fire (Rev 20:13, 15).
The word “do” in the phrase “have done good” and
the other word “do (practice)” in the phrase “have done evil” are different in
Greek. “One does good” means that one may sin occasionally, and “one practices
evil” means that one may sin habitually.
Controversial
Clarification: some Bible exegetes hold that there will be only
one time of resurrection according to this verse and with false application of
other verses. The good-doers and evil-doers will come simultaneously to the
resurrection of being judgment, but it does not conform to the Bible for the
reasons as follows:
1. The Bible has manifestly held that “the rest
of the dead did not live in the first resurrection (Rev 20:5)”, so it can be
seen that there is more that once resurrection. The first resurrection is
before the Kingdom of a thousand years, and the resurrection of the evil ones
will arise after the Kingdom of a thousand years (see Rev 20:5, 7, 12-13).
2. All the verses in the Bible which mention
that there will be a resurrection concerning both good and evil (see Dan 12:2;
Acts 24:15) state that “all of” them will come to a resurrection, but not come “simultaneously”.
3. The judgment on all the nations when Christ
shall come again in the 25th chapter of the Book of Matthew specifically refers
to the judgment on those who shall still live then, but not the judgment of the
resurrection of the dead (see Matt 25:31-46).
4. When Christ shall come again in the last
day, those who will be caught up before the judgment-seat of the Christ and
will be judged, rightly, refer to the believers in the first resurrection, not those
who do not believe (see 6:39-40; 11:23-25; 2Cor 5:10; 2Tim 4:1).
5. The Bible mentions those who have
relations with the first resurrection as that: “the Christ's (1Cor 15:23)”; “the
dead in Christ (1The 4:16)”; “the just (Luke 14:14)”; “the resurrection from
among dead…are sons of God (Luke 20:35-36)”.
6. The first resurrection
arises when Christ shall come again (1Cor 15:23), and when the trumpet shall
sound (see 1Cor 15:52; 1The 4:16).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The final conclusion
of men is either “the resurrection of
life” or “the
resurrection of condemnation”.
2) “To do good” is not
the source of salvation but the result of salvation. All those who still practice
evil after having been saved may have not obtained the life of “doing good”
(i.e. the nominal Christians), or may have not lived in this life.
3) A believer who
walks in God’s life shall
manifest the goodness naturally. But if he walks in his natural life, he will
inevitably practice evil and commit sins.
John. 5:30 “I can
of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because
I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. ”
YLT: “`I am not able
of myself to do anything; according as I hear I judge, and my judgment is
righteous, because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father who sent
me.”
Literal
Meaning: “I can of Myself do nothing”,
it does not remark that He has none ability to do things, but means that He
will never leave God and act independently.
“As
I hear, I judge”, “judge” here does
not carry any legislative meaning. Instead of judging the law cases, it means
to discern what shall be done, and what shall not be done.
“I
do not seek My own will”, “own will” refers
to the will in his humanity (see Matt 26:39).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The judgment of
Christ is righteous for He judges according to the will of Father who sent Him
instead of reasoning or “His
own will”. Actually, the will
of the Father is none other than to glorify His beloved Son in all things. Yes,
the glorious Christ is the only standard appointed by God to judge all things
(see Act 17:31).
2) We believers shall
discern a certain matter according to the will of God instead of the so-called “spirituality”, “love
of the Lord” or “zeal for service”.
3) Christians should
walk according to the knowledge of God’s
will instead of walking independently.
4) Once a man seeks
his own will, he will pervert judgment and fall into false judgment.
5) Many believers repeatedly
declare that they will seek the will of God, but actually they ask God to
permit their own will.
John. 5:31 “"If
I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. ”
YLT: “`If I testify
concerning myself, my testimony is not true;”
Literal
Meaning: the Lord’s meanings
in this verse are as follows: (1) If He bears witness of Himself, the Jews will
doubt that His witness is not true. (2) If the witness of Himself that he hears
is high above the witness that the Father and the Bible bear (v. 32, 37, and 39),
His witness will not be true.
As a matter of fact, the
witness of the Lord Himself that He bears is exactly conform to the witness of
Him that the Father and the Bible bear (see 8:17-18), so His witness is true
(see 8:14).
John. 5:32 “There
is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He
witnesses of Me is true.”
YLT: “another there
is who is testifying concerning me, and I have known that the testimony that he
doth testify concerning me is true;”
Meaning
of Words: “another”:
one another, else;
Literal
Meaning: “there is another who bears
witness of Me”, who is the “another” one on earth? Someone believes it refers to John
the Baptist, for the all the next several verses have mentioned him. But a more
rational explanation is that the Father bears witness of the Son.
John. 5:33 “You
have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. ”
YLT: “ye have sent
unto John, and he hath testified to the truth.”
Literal
Meaning: “You have sent to John”, please read the
detailed record concerning this matter in chapter one (1:19-27)
“And he has borne witness to
the truth”, the “truth” here
refers to Christ (see 14:6). He is the specific expression, revelation and
manifestation of the divine reality.
Instead of bringing men to himself, John the
Baptist directed others to the Savior the Lord Jesus (see 1:29, 36; 3:28-30).
John. 5:34 “Yet I
do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be
saved. ”
YLT: “`But I do not
receive testimony from man, but these things I say that ye may be saved;”
Literal
Meaning: “but I say these things”, “these things” referred to the words that Lord spoke about the
witness of Him that John the Baptist bore
“That you may be saved”, the Lord Jesus hoped that those who had
heard these things could receive the witness by John the Baptist so that they
might obtain the salvation.
John. 5:35 “He was
the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his
light.”
YLT: “he was the
burning and shining lamp, and ye did will to be glad, for an hour, in his
light.”
Meaning
of Words: shine”: lighten, show; “willing”:
desire, intend;
The
Background: the lamp used in
the old Jewish family shall shine by adding oil to it. The shining light could illuminate,
but it was not light itself.
Literal
Meaning: “he was the burning and
shining lamp”, it remarked that John was not the shining light (see 1:8)
itself. Instead, he was only a lamp in need of others’ igniting, and the lamp
could only shine by the cost of giving up one’s soul in the igniting. “Was”, in
past tense, indicated that John might have been bound in prison or even been
killed.
“And you were willing for a time to rejoice
in his light”, “for a time” disclosed that the Jewish leaders had
never understood the messages by John the Baptist, and their reaction to John
was transitory and superficial at most.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Believers appear as
lights in the world and hold forth the word of life (Phil 2:15-16) ---- this is
the obligatory testimony of us.
2) May everyone who
loves the Lord are willing to be His fire, burn oneself and bring light to the
world.
John. 5:36 “But I
have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me
to finish--the very works that I do--bear witness of Me, that the Father has
sent Me. ”
YLT: “`But I have the
testimony greater than John's, for the works that the Father gave me, that I
might finish them, the works themselves that I do, they testify concerning me,
that the Father hath sent me.”
Meaning
of Words: “finish”: accomplish, consummate,
perfect;
John. 5:37 “And
the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His
voice at any time, nor seen His form. ”
YLT: “`And the Father
who sent me Himself hath testified concerning me; ye have neither heard His
voice at any time, nor His appearance have ye seen;”
Meaning
of Words: “form”: appearance, fashion,
shape;
Literal
Meaning: “has testified of Me”, God the Father has borne two witness of
the Lord Jesus: (1) by the prophesy in the Old Testament. (2) By the voice from
the heaven (see Matt 3:17).
John. 5:38 “But
you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not
believe. ”
YLT: “and His word ye
have not remaining in you, because whom He sent, him ye do not believe.”
Meaning
of Words: “word”: utterance (“logos” in
Greek);
Literal
Meaning: that the Jews could
not understand the word of God, and it could be seen from the fact that they
did not believe the Lord Jesus.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) In the period of the Old Testament, even the
people of God could not hear the voice of God or see the form of God (see
v.37), and they could only know God through “His word”. Unfortunately however, they regarded the
Scriptures as knowledge, and finally they did not know Him truly.
2) Christ is the
centre and reality of all divine things. Only by joining to Him ---- “believing” Him, one can obtain the word of God “dwelling in his heart”, hear the “voice” of God and behold the glorious “form” of God (see v.37).
John. 5:39 “You
search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these
are they which testify of Me.”
YLT: “`Ye search the
Writings, because ye think in them to have life age-during, and these are they
that are testifying concerning me;”
Meaning
of Words: “search”: investigate, seek;
Literal
Meaning: “You search the Scriptures”, “search”, a word used in mining in Greek,
connotes the meaning of exploring, measuring, excavating, adopting and accumulating
etc. So it means searching the Scriptures intensively and carefully. This verb
can be stated in both declarative tone ---- “search”, and imperative tone ---- “one
should search”.
“For in them you think you have eternal
life”, if “search” this verse was in the declarative
tone, the whole verse could be interpreted as the meaning that the Jews had
searched the Scriptures and had believed that one would obtained the eternal
life if he kept the customs of the law rigidly. If “search” was in the imperative
tone, the whole verse might suggest that they have searched the Scriptures for
the purpose of obtaining the eternal life.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The whole Bible is
a testimony of Christ, so we shall read it with the aim of knowing and enjoying
the fullness of Christ, not knowing some knowledge or obeying some customs.
2) Augustus said: “the New Testament is hidden in the Old
Testament, and the Old Testament is manifested in the New Testament.
3) Generally speaking,
the outline of the Old Testament is the coming Christ. If someone who searches
the Old Testament misses this outline, he will have missed the most significant
part.
4) Since the Bible
testifies of Christ, we should not consider the Bible and Christ separately.
Every time we open the Bible, we shall embrace the attitude and heart of
seeking and seeing Christ.
5) The Jews were not
ignorant of the fact that searching the Scriptures means not only searching the
letter but also seeking the “eternal
life” therein.
Unfortunately however, it was still in vain for they did not know further that
this Jesus who was just before them is the reality of the eternal life.
Likewise, it is insufficient for us to seek the
spiritual enlightenment and provision of life through the letter. Instead, we
should further know that every sound enlightenment and true provision is Christ
Himself. Once we target Christ as the only aim of searching the Bible, we may
naturally obtain the enlightenment and provision.
John. 5:40 “But
you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”
YLT: “and ye do not
will to come unto me, that ye may have life;”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Even though one can search the Bible thoroughly,
he may have still not obtained life if he does not come to the Lord.
2) That a man has not
obtained life is not on account of his “incapability”, but his “unwillingness”.
John. 5:41 “"I
do not receive honor from men.”
YLT: “glory from man
I do not receive,”
Literal
Meaning: the Lord Jesus intended
to say: “it was not because you had not glorified Me that I deeply concerned at
heart and spoke the word of reproach, for I did not seek honor from men deliberately.
Instead, I just bore in mind the interest of you and wished you to receive the
best blessings.”
Enlightenment
in the Word: the Lord has never
hoped to receive honor from men, so He never be frustrated. Today, many
believers are often disappointed for perhaps they still unconsciously want to receive
“honor from men”.
John. 5:42 “But I
know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.”
YLT: “but I have
known you, that the love of God ye have not in yourselves.”
Literal
Meaning: “you do not have the love of
God”, it suggested that their unbelieving and being hostile to the Lord Jesus were ultimately on account of their lack of
God’s love in their heart.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If man does not
respond to God’s love in his heart
(see 1John 4:19), he will still have no relation with or portion of life,
though God loves the world (see 3:16)
2) If God’s love abides in us, we will love God more
than us.
John. 5:43 “I have
come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his
own name, him you will receive. ”
YLT: “`I have come in
the name of my Father, and ye do not receive me; if another may come in his own
name, him ye will receive;”
Literal
Meaning: “if another comes in his own
name”, “another” refers to the false Christs and antichrist.
According to the record of history, after the ascension of the Lord Jesus, there had arisen at least 64 false Christs who induced
the Jews to believe them. But it was of more possibility
that the Lord here might warn the Jews that the
man of sin would have been revealed and worshipped, the son of perdition (see
2The 2:3).
Enlightenment
in the Word: if one loves God
truly (v.42), he will involuntarily love this Christ who pleases God in both
word and action.
John. 5:44 “How
can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor
that comes from the only God? ”
YLT: “how are ye able
-- ye -- to believe, glory from one another receiving, and the glory that from
God alone ye seek not?”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) One who receives honor from
men can not believe the Lord, and one who does not seek the honor from God can not believe the Lord either. For one who
believes the Lord is for the glory of God, and he may often be persecuted or
despised by others.
2) A real Christian seeks
only the honor
that comes from the only God instead of being
greedy for glory from men.
3) If one pays more
heed to his impression in others’
eyes than in God’s eyes, he may have
not established a normal relationship with the Lord.
4) Believers shall
fear that God does not please instead of fearing others’ comments
concerning their words and walks.
John. 5:45 “Do not
think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses
you--Moses, in whom you trust.”
YLT: “`Do not think
that I will accuse you unto the Father; there is who is accusing you, Moses --
in whom ye have hoped;”
Meaning
of Words: “accuse”:
to be a plaintiff, i.e. to charge with some offence in court (a legislative
word); “trust”: expect, confide, and hope;
Literal
Meaning: “Moses, in whom you trust”, they regarded Moses as their intercessor
and advocate, but Moses had turned to the accuser of them, for the Law of Moses only brought men unto Christ, but they
went against this basic principle.
John. 5:46 “For if
you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. ”
YLT: “for if ye were
believing Moses, ye would have been believing me, for he wrote concerning me;”
Literal
Meaning: “he wrote about Me”, the Old Testament including the Pentateuch exactly testifies of the Son of God Jesus
Christ that God bears (see Gen 12:3, 22：18；
Num21:9; Deut 18:15-19).
Enlightenment
in the Word: all those who know
the connotation of the
Law of Moses will necessarily
know Christ and be willing to receive Him.
John. 5:47 “But if
you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" ”
YLT: “but if his
writings ye believe not, how shall ye believe my sayings?'”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) There is close
relation between the Old Testament and the New Testament. If one doubts the
revelation of the Old Testament, he will not receive the revelation of the New
Testament.
2) If one opposes a
part of the Bible, he will oppose the rest sooner or later.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
I. The Vanity of Religion
A. Judaism is a Typical Religion Formed by the Oracles
of God:
1. They had the feast (v
2.
They had
3. They had the Sheep Gate (v
4. They had the pool in
5. They had five porches (v
6. They had the angle (v.1b). ---- The heavenly
help
7. They had the stirring water (v.4). ---- The way of solving one’s life
problems
8. They had the Sabbath (v
9. They had the Scriptures (v.39). ---- The revelation of God’s will
10. They has Moses, in
whom they trust (v.45) ---- The spiritual elder
B. The Real Condition of the Judaism:
1. In the porches lay a great multitude of sick people (v.3) ---- be in want of the power of life.
2. Even there was a certain man who had an infirmity thirty-eight years (v.5). ---- No matter how long one lingers
in the religion, he could still not benefit from it.
C. The Reason for the Vanity of Religion:
1. Religion has only methods
or demands, but does not provide the power for men to fulfill them (v.7).
2. Religion focuses on customs
rather than the real joy of men (v.10)
3. Religion can not deal
with the problem of sin (v.)
4. Religionist even regards
murder as serving God (v.18)
5. Religionist does not know
God, and has no God’s word dwelling within (v.37-38).
6. Religionist searches the
Scriptures, but has missed the center of the Scriptures ---- the Christ
(v.39-40)
7. Religionist has
no love of God within (v.42)
8. Religionist receives
the false Christs (v.43)
9. Religionist receives honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that
comes from the only God (v.44)
10. Religionist does
not believe the Holy Scriptures (v.47)
II. The Contrast between
“There be” and “There be not”
A. Although there were many people and
things, without the Lord, they availed nothing. :
1. There was a pool (v
2. There were five porches (v.2b).
3. There was an angle that went down at a certain time into the
pool (v.4)
4. There was another who stepped down earlier than others (v.7b)
B. When
the Lord was there, immediately the sick man was made well though there were none other things (v.12).
IV. The Equality between
the Son of God the Savior and the Father in Seven Aspects
A. Equality
in work (v.17-19)
B. Equality
in knowledge (v.20)
C. Equality
in the resurrection (v.21, 28-29)
D. Equality in judgment (v.22, 27,
30)
E. Equality in honor (v.23)
F. Equality in rebirth (v.24-25)
G. Equality in existence (v.26)
V. Christ Jesus Who is
Equal with God
A. The
Fact of Being Equal with God:
1. He says that God is His Father
(v.18)
2. He gives life to men
(v.21)
3. He judges men (v.27-29)
B. The Testimony of Being Equal with God:
1. The testimony of John the Baptist (v.33)
2. The testimony of what He does (v.36)
3. The testimony of the Father (v.37)
4. The testimony of the Scriptures (v.39)
C. The Teachings for us:
1. One should honor the Son just as he
honor the Father (v.23).
2. One should receive the Lord for he loves God
(v.42-43).
3. One should believe the Scriptures and the word
of the Lord (v.46-47).
VI. The Verity of the
Divinity of Jesus Christ
A. For whatever the
Father does,
the Son also does in like manner
(v.19)
B. For
as the Father
raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He
will (v.21).
C. For the Father has committed all judgment to the Son (v.22).
D. The
Father pleases that one should honor the Son just as he honor the Father (v.23).
E. One who hears the Son’s word and believes in the Father who sent the Son has everlasting life (v.24).
F. The
dead who hear
the voice of the Son of God will live
(v.25).
G. For as the Father has life
in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself (v.26).
VII. Three “No”s in the
Character of Christ
A. He can do nothing of Himself (v.19).
B. He does
not seek His own will (v.30).
C. He does
not receive honor from men (v
VIII. Two Sorts of “Death”
and “Resurrection”
A. The
spiritual death and risen (v.24-25).
B. The
bodily death and resurrection (v.36-37)
VIII. How to Know Christ?
A. To receive the witness of Christ that God bears (v
B. To receive the witness of Christ that the servants of God bears (V.35b) ---- Christ shall be magnified in them (Phil
1:20).
C. To receive
the witness of what Christ has done (v
D. To receive
the witness of Christ that the Scriptures bears (v.36B) ---- Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom (
IX. Four Defects of
Religionists
A. They have not
heard the voice of God (v
B.
They have not seen the form of God (v.37b)
C. They have no word of God dwelling in
their hearts (v.38)
D. They have no love of God within their
hearts (v.42)
X. Alarms raised from the Faults of the Jews
for Believers
A. They are not willing to come to the Lord (v.40) ---- to read the Bible is
important, but one should not ignore the Lord Himself.
B. They
do not have
the love of God in them (v.42) ---- One
should not be zealous of serving God only, but not love God Himself.
C. They greedily seek the worldly glory
(v.44) ---- one should not seek the vain glory (Phil 2:3).
D.
They do not believe the word in the Law of Moses (v. 47) ---- To believe very
Scriptures is given by inspiration of God (2 Tim 3:16).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou