John 5 14

John 5:14 kjv

Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

John 5:14 nkjv

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."

John 5:14 niv

Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."

John 5:14 esv

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you."

John 5:14 nlt

But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, "Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you."

John 5 verses

John 5 14 Meaning

John 5:14 reveals Jesus' post-healing encounter with the man He previously cured at the Pool of Bethesda. In this verse, Jesus issues a profound warning, directly linking the man's prior suffering to sin and cautioning him against returning to a sinful lifestyle. He implies that the consequences of future sin would be "worse" than his past physical affliction, emphasizing the spiritual dimension of His redemptive work and the moral responsibility that accompanies divine grace. This interaction underscores Jesus' omniscience, authority over both physical and spiritual well-being, and the urgent call for a life of repentance and obedience following a miraculous intervention.

John 5 14 Context

John chapter 5 opens with Jesus visiting Jerusalem for an unnamed feast. He encounters a paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda, known for its supposed healing properties when its waters were stirred. This man had been paralyzed for 38 years. Jesus, without any ritual or anointing, simply commands him to "Rise, take up your bed, and walk," instantly healing him on the Sabbath. This miracle immediately stirs controversy among the Jewish leaders, as carrying a mat was considered work prohibited on the Sabbath (Jer 17:21-22).

Following the healing, the formerly paralyzed man, when questioned by the Jewish authorities, could not identify his healer as Jesus had withdrawn. However, in verse 14, Jesus "finds him" again, specifically in the temple. This second encounter is critical. It implies Jesus' divine knowledge of the man's whereabouts and His persistent care. The temple was the center of Jewish religious life, a place for prayer, thanksgiving, and sacrificial offerings. The man might have been there to offer thanks for his healing. Jesus' subsequent warning to "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you" establishes a direct connection between the man's 38-year ailment and sin, though the Bible is clear not all sickness is a direct result of personal sin (John 9:3). The warning also serves as a polemic against the superficiality of merely observing religious rituals without internal moral transformation. The "worse thing" suggests not just physical relapse but spiritual judgment, aligning with the escalating conflict between Jesus and the Jewish authorities concerning His authority and the interpretation of the Law.

John 5 14 Word analysis

• Afterward: Ἀργότερα (Argotera). Signifies a passage of time, yet highlights Jesus' intentional follow-up. It indicates not a chance encounter but Jesus actively seeking the man out, revealing His deep concern and knowledge.
• Jesus found him: ὁ Ἰησοῦς εὑρίσκει αὐτὸν (ho Iēsous heuriskei auton). "Finds" is in the present tense (εὑρίσκει), a stylistic choice (historic present) common in Greek narratives to make the event more vivid and immediate, almost as if the reader is there. It emphasizes Jesus' proactive pursuit and His omniscience, knowing where the man was. This highlights His personal, shepherd-like care for individuals.
• in the temple: ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ (en tō hierō). The Temple in Jerusalem was the spiritual heart of Jewish life, a place of worship, teaching, and atonement. His presence there might be for thanksgiving or perhaps a search for deeper spiritual meaning after his profound physical healing. Jesus, as the true "Temple" (John 2:21), encounters him in the physical temple, underscoring a deeper reality.
• and said to him: Direct address, highlighting the personal nature of the communication and its solemnity.
• See: Ἴδε (Ide). An imperative, meaning "Look!" or "Behold!" It draws the man's immediate attention to the profound truth Jesus is about to impart, signifying a critical, urgent warning.
• you have been made well: ὑγιὴς γέγονας (hygiēs gegonas). This is a perfect tense verb, "you have become well," which denotes a completed action with lasting results. It emphasizes the absolute and enduring efficacy of Jesus' healing power, affirming that the cure is not temporary but complete. This healing encompassed restoration to physical health and perhaps societal integration.
• Sin no more: μηκέτι ἁμάρτανε (mēketi hamartane). μηκέτι (mēketi) means "no longer" or "no more," a strong negative command. ἁμάρτανε (hamartane) is a present imperative, which can imply "stop an action already in progress" or "do not continue to do this." It's not just "do not commit one more sin" but "do not continue in a life characterized by sin." This command elevates the spiritual healing and ethical conduct above the physical miracle.
• lest a worse thing come upon you: ἵνα μὴ χεῖρόν σοι τι γένηται (hina mē cheiron soi ti genētai). ἵνα μὴ (hina mē) means "in order that not" or "lest." χεῖρόν (cheiron) means "worse" (comparative adjective). The "worse thing" implies consequences far exceeding his previous 38 years of paralysis. Scholars debate its exact nature, but it strongly suggests a spiritual outcome like eternal condemnation, deeper spiritual decay, or even a return of physical affliction with added judgment. It underscores the severity of continued, deliberate sin after receiving divine grace.
• Word-group: "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you": This phrase combines a command with a conditional warning, articulating a fundamental theological principle: God's grace, demonstrated in the healing, demands a response of ethical and spiritual transformation. It signifies that receiving a miraculous blessing incurs a responsibility to live a righteous life. Failure to heed this warning would invite dire consequences, revealing that Jesus' concern extends beyond physical ailments to the eternal state of the soul. The 'worse thing' is not a threat from Jesus, but an inevitable spiritual consequence of persistent rebellion against God after a profound encounter with His grace and mercy.

John 5 14 Bonus section

The phrase "worse thing" can be interpreted beyond mere physical relapse. It points towards an escalation of judgment that could be spiritual (further alienation from God, deeper bondage to sin, or spiritual death), physical (more severe ailments, or prolonged suffering), or even eternal condemnation (referencing the imagery in Matt 12:45 about a house reoccupied by worse spirits). The fact that Jesus "found him in the temple" is also significant; it suggests the man might have been there to offer thanks, yet Jesus addresses his continuing spiritual need. This illustrates that outward religious acts are insufficient without inward moral transformation, a key polemic against mere ritualism. This verse emphasizes that the greatest gift Jesus offers is liberation from the power and penalty of sin, and this gift comes with the responsibility of living a life that honors such profound grace.

John 5 14 Commentary

John 5:14 distills a crucial aspect of Jesus' ministry: He offers not just physical restoration but comprehensive, spiritual salvation. His follow-up encounter with the healed man in the temple demonstrates His relentless pursuit of individual souls and His insight into the man's spiritual condition. The command "Sin no more" firmly establishes a connection, in this specific case, between the man's past ailment and sin, prompting a call for true repentance and a changed life. It implies that unrepented sin invites more severe, possibly eternal, consequences than physical suffering. This is a profound warning against spiritual complacency and a reminder that divine grace empowers but also obligates believers to forsake their old ways. Jesus is calling the man to align his inner life with his external healing. This challenges the common assumption that all sickness is unrelated to personal sin while simultaneously affirming that, for some, there can be a direct link, and that ultimate healing encompasses forgiveness and deliverance from sin's power and consequences.