John 5:44 kjv
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
John 5:44 nkjv
How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?
John 5:44 niv
How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
John 5:44 esv
How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
John 5:44 nlt
No wonder you can't believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don't care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.
John 5 44 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 5:44 | You receive honor from one another, but you do not seek the honor that comes from the only God. | Cross-ref: Underlying motivation for disbelief |
| Ps 5:11 | But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. May you be their BIBLE NAME; may those who love your name exult in you. | Cross-ref: True source of joy |
| Ps 115:1 | Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! | Cross-ref: Proper attribution of glory |
| Isa 42:8 | I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I will not give to another. | Cross-ref: God's unique glory |
| Jer 9:23-24 | Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts, boast of this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness on the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” | Cross-ref: True boasting |
| Matt 6:1-6 | “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will receive no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. | Cross-ref: Motivation for religious practice |
| Luke 16:14-15 | The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. | Cross-ref: Human approval vs. God's knowledge |
| Rom 2:29 | but a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by a written code. His praise is not from others but from God. | Cross-ref: True praise source |
| 1 Cor 1:31 | Let him who boasts, boast in the LORD. | Cross-ref: Boasting in the Lord |
| 1 Thess 2:6 | nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made ourselves a burden as apostles of Christ, | Cross-ref: Apostle's motivation |
| Gal 5:26 | Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. | Cross-ref: Danger of conceit |
| Phil 2:3 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | Cross-ref: Humility vs. conceit |
| 1 Pet 4:11 | whoever speaks, as one speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one serves with the strength that God supplies—in all things may God be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. | Cross-ref: Glorifying God in service |
| Heb 12:2 | looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. | Cross-ref: Jesus' motivation |
| Prov 14:2 | Whoever walks straightly fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him. | Cross-ref: Respect for God |
| Isa 8:13 | But the LORD of hosts, you shall honor; let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. | Cross-ref: Honoring the Lord |
| Ps 73:25 | Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. | Cross-ref: God as ultimate desire |
| John 12:43 | For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. | Cross-ref: Parallel sentiment in John |
| John 7:18 | The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. | Cross-ref: Seeking own glory vs. God's |
| John 8:50 | I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and judges. | Cross-ref: Jesus' seeking God's glory |
John 5 verses
John 5 44 Meaning
Jesus directly addresses the fundamental reason why some people do not receive His message: their ultimate pursuit is the honor and glory they give to one another, rather than seeking the approval of God. This prideful self-seeking prevents them from believing in Christ.
John 5 44 Context
This verse occurs in John chapter 5, following Jesus' healing of a man at the pool of Bethesda. Jesus declared His divine authority and intimate relationship with the Father. He asserted that He does what the Father does, and that the Father has given Him authority to judge. The preceding verses detail the Jewish leaders' hostility towards Jesus because He violated their Sabbath laws and because He "called God his own Father, making himself equal with God." Jesus then explains the authority given to Him by the Father, the validity of His witness, and the importance of hearing His word and believing in Him who sent Him. The immediate context is Jesus’ confrontation with the religious elite who are rejecting Him because their focus is on receiving honor from one another, rather than on honoring God. This highlights a significant spiritual and theological divide.
John 5 44 Word analysis
- ὑμεῖς (humeis): You (plural). This direct address emphasizes that Jesus is speaking to a specific group, likely the Jewish leaders present or those who embody their unbelieving attitude.
- λαμβάνετε (lambanete): You receive. Present active indicative, suggesting a continuous and habitual action. They are accustomed to receiving something.
- παρ’ ἀλλήλων (par' allēlōn): From one another.
par'(para) signifies "from" or "beside," andallēlōn(allēlōn) is a reciprocal pronoun meaning "one another." This points to a circular economy of human approval. - τὴν δόξαν (tēn doxan): The glory.
doxan(doxan) refers to glory, honor, praise, repute. It is the "the" definite article indicating a specific and desired kind of glory. - τὴν ἐκ τοῦ μόνου (tēn ek tou monou): That from the only.
ek(ek) means "from," indicating the source.monou(monou) emphasizes "the only," referring exclusively to God. - θεοῦ (theou): God. The genitive case of
theos(theos) indicates possession or origin. - οὐ ζητεῖτε (ou zēteite): You do not seek.
zēteite(zēteite) is the present active indicative ofzēteō(zēteō), meaning to seek, inquire, desire. The negationou(ou) underscores their deliberate lack of pursuit.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "You receive honor from one another": This phrase captures the essence of seeking human validation. The "honor" received is superficial and dependent on the opinions of other humans. Their self-worth and recognition are derived from their peers and their own perceived status within their community, rather than from a higher source.
- "but you do not seek the honor that comes from the only God": This directly contrasts their human-centered focus with their neglect of divine acknowledgment. The phrase "the only God" highlights the singularity and supreme authority of God. Their failure to seek His honor reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of true honor and a rejection of the divine source of ultimate validation.
John 5 44 Bonus section
The concept of "honor" (doxa) in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospel of John, is multifaceted. It often refers to divine glory, the manifestation of God’s presence and power. Jesus consistently speaks of glorifying the Father and His own seeking of the Father’s glory (John 8:50, 17:1, 17:4-5). The people Jesus addresses in this verse are seeking a reflected glory from their human social structure, rather than the substantive glory that emanates from the very being of God and is manifested in Christ. This rejection of Jesus by those seeking human honor is a recurring theme in John's Gospel, showing how pride and the love of status can blind people to divine truth.
John 5 44 Commentary
This verse profoundly exposes the root of spiritual blindness and resistance to Christ: a consuming desire for human acclaim over divine approval. When individuals prioritize what others think of them, their ability to perceive and embrace the truth of God's word is severely impaired. This inward focus on personal reputation prevents them from receiving the "honor" God offers—the validation of being accepted by Him through faith in His Son. The pursuit of human glory leads to a circular dependency where individuals affirm each other, but this creates an echo chamber devoid of divine truth. True believers, conversely, understand that lasting honor originates from God alone and that seeking His favor is paramount, even at the cost of human popularity or recognition. This internal orientation shapes one's response to God’s revelations and His Son.