The saying belongs to the instruction given at the second Passover after the healing of the paralytic at Bethesda on the Sabbath. It was spoken as the answer to the uproar in the temple court and the controversy over the Sabbath law after the Jews accused Him of breaking the Sabbath. At that time He declared that His Father works and He works, claiming equal rights with God to do a work equally sacred and of the same character as His Father's. It declares that Jesus does not seek, depend on, or receive honor, approval, sanction, support, or praise from people. This includes human leaders, the Sanhedrin, and the rabbis.
Human praise was not the source of His worth or authority. His honor and authority came from heaven and from above. Angels could have honored Him and the Father could have testified to His divinity. No human influence could add to His honor, and He did not need human endorsement to establish His divine mission. He spoke it to people who had received great light and honor from God but did not reflect His glory because they would not come to Him in humility and contrition to have life. He said it while longing to save those who refused to come to Him for life and with knowledge that they do not have the love of God in them.
By contrast with Himself, the Pharisees and hearers sought honor from one another. They searched the Scriptures for evidence about the Messiah yet failed to recognize Him while He was among them. They refused to come to Him for life though the Scriptures testified about Him. The saying belongs with His charge that they rejected Him who came in His Father's name while being willing to receive another who comes in his own name. It belongs also with the inability to believe of those who receive honor from one another and do not seek the honor that comes from God only. He wanted the Jewish rulers to recognize His character and receive the blessings He brought, for their own sake and for the nation's sake.
The saying belongs to the instruction given at the second Passover after the healing of the paralytic at Bethesda on the Sabbath. It was spoken as the answer to the uproar in the temple court and the controversy over the Sabbath law after the Jews accused Him of breaking the Sabbath. At that time He declared that His Father works and He works, claiming equal rights with God to do a work equally sacred and of the same character as His Father's. It declares that Jesus does not seek, depend on, or receive honor, approval, sanction, support, or praise from people. This includes human leaders, the Sanhedrin, and the rabbis.
Human praise was not the source of His worth or authority. His honor and authority came from heaven and from above. Angels could have honored Him and the Father could have testified to His divinity. No human influence could add to His honor, and He did not need human endorsement to establish His divine mission. He spoke it to people who had received great light and honor from God but did not reflect His glory because they would not come to Him in humility and contrition to have life. He said it while longing to save those who refused to come to Him for life and with knowledge that they do not have the love of God in them.
By contrast with Himself, the Pharisees and hearers sought honor from one another. They searched the Scriptures for evidence about the Messiah yet failed to recognize Him while He was among them. They refused to come to Him for life though the Scriptures testified about Him. The saying belongs with His charge that they rejected Him who came in His Father's name while being willing to receive another who comes in his own name. It belongs also with the inability to believe of those who receive honor from one another and do not seek the honor that comes from God only. He wanted the Jewish rulers to recognize His character and receive the blessings He brought, for their own sake and for the nation's sake.