Joh 5:19-47 | JFB | STEP | 19-20. the Son can do nothing of himself-- that is, apart from and in rivalry of the Father, as they supposed. The meaning is, "The Son can have no separate interest or action from the Father." for what things, &c.-- On the contrary, "whatever the Father doeth that same doeth the Son," likewise-- "in the like manner." What claim to absolute equality with the Father could exceed this: not only to do "the same things," but to do them as the Father does them?

‏ John 5:19-47

19-20. the Son can do nothing of himself--that is, apart from and in rivalry of the Father, as they supposed. The meaning is, "The Son can have no separate interest or action from the Father."

for what things, &c.--On the contrary, "whatever the Father doeth that same doeth the Son,"

likewise--"in the like manner." What claim to absolute equality with the Father could exceed this: not only to do "the same things," but to do them as the Father does them?

21-23. raiseth the dead and quickeneth them--one act in two stages. This is His absolute prerogative as God.

so the Son quickeneth them--that is, raiseth up and quickeneth.

whom he will--not only doing the same divine act, but doing it as the result of His own will, even as the Father does it. This statement is of immense importance in relation to the miracles of Christ, distinguishing them from similar miracles of prophets and apostles, who as human instruments were employed to perform super-natural actions, while Christ did all as the Father's commissioned Servant indeed, but in the exercise of His own absolute right of action.

24. believeth on him that sent me--that is, believeth in Him as having sent Me. I have spoken of the Son's right not only to heal the sick but to raise from the dead, and quicken whom He will: And now I say unto you, That life-giving operation has already passed upon all who receive My words as the Sent of the Father on the great errand of mercy.

hath everlasting life--immediately on his believing (compare Joh 3:18; 1Jo 5:12, 13).

is passed--"hath passed over"

from death unto life--What a transition! (Compare 1Jo 3:14).

25-29. The hour cometh--in its whole fulness, at Pentecost.

and now is--in its beginnings.

the dead--the spiritually dead, as is clear from Joh 5:28. Here He rises from the calmer phrase "hearing his word" (Joh 5:24), to the grander expression, "hearing the voice of the Son of God," to signify that as it finds men in a dead condition, so it carries with it a resurrection-power.

shall live--in the sense of Joh 5:24.

30-32. of mine own self do nothing--that is, apart from the Father, or in any interest than My own. (See on Joh 5:19).

as I hear--that is, "My judgments are all anticipated in the bosom of My Father, to which I have immediate access, and by Me only responded to and reflected. They cannot therefore err, as I live for one end only, to carry into effect the will of Him that sent Me."

33-35. Ye sent unto John--(See Joh 1:19, &c.).

receive not testimony ... from man--that is, depend not on human testimony.

but ... that ye might be saved--"I refer to him merely to aid your salvation."

36-38. I have greater witness--rather, "The witness which I have is greater."

the works ... bear witness of me--not simply as miracles nor even as a miracle of mercy, but these miracles, as He did them, with a will and a power, a majesty and a grace manifestly His own.

39-42. Search the scriptures, &c.--"In the Scriptures ye find your charter of eternal life; go search them then, and you will find that I am the Great Burden of their testimony; yet ye will not come to Me for that life eternal which you profess to find there, and of which they tell you I am the appointed Dispenser." (Compare Ac 17:11, 12). How touching and gracious are these last words! Observe here (1) The honor which Christ gives to the Scriptures, as a record which all have a right and are bound to search--the reverse of which the Church of Rome teaches; (2) The opposite extreme is, resting in the mere Book without the living Christ, to direct the soul to whom is its main use and chiefest glory.

43-47. if another shall come, &c.--How strikingly has this been verified in the history of the Jews! "From the time of the true Christ to our time, sixty-four false Christs have been reckoned by whom they have been deceived" [Bengel].