John 5:37
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And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form,
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
the Father himself . . . hath borne witness of me--not referring, probably, to the voice of His baptism, but (as seems from what follows) to the testimony of the Old Testament Scripture [CALVIN, LUCKE, MEYER, LUTHARDT, &c.]. neither heard his voice, &c.--never recognized Him in this character. The words are "designedly mysterious, like many others which our Lord uttered" [STIER].
Open source ↗We have in the gospels a faithful record of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, Act 1:1. These two are interwoven, because what he taught explained what he did, and what he did confirmed what he taught. Accordingly, we have in this chapter a miracle and a sermon. I. The miracle was the cure of an impotent man that had been diseased thirty-eight years, with the circumstances of that cure (v. 1-16). II. The sermon was Christ's vindication of himself before the sanhedrim, when he was prosecuted as a criminal for healing the man on the sabbath day, in which, 1. He asserts his authority as Messiah, and Mediator between God and man (Joh 5:17-29). 2. He proves it by the testimony of his Father, of John Baptist, of his miracles, and of the scriptures of the Old Testament, and condemns the Jews for their unbelief (v. 30-47).
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father, who sent Me, also testifies about Me.”
And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
And the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; there was only a voice.
Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”