John 5:23

John 5:23, in plain English

The reason is so that everyone will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. If you do not honor Jesus, you do not honor God.

Why it's here

This is about as clear as it gets. Jesus is not asking for polite respect. He is saying He deserves the same worship and honor as God the Father.

Who's speaking

Jesus makes the boldest claim possible: He is to be honored in the same way and to the same degree as God the Father.

Where it sits in the story

There is no honoring God while ignoring Jesus. They come as a package deal. How you treat Jesus is how you treat God.

The scholarly reading

The purpose (hina) of delegating judgment to the Son is 'that all may honor the Son just as (kathōs) they honor the Father.' The adverb kathōs ('just as/in the same manner') demands equal honor, making dishonoring the Son equivalent to dishonoring the Father.

Language and setting

This verse is one of the strongest claims to the deity of Christ in the New Testament. Equal honor with the Father is not shared with any created being; it can only be appropriate if the Son shares the Father's divine nature.

Voice

Jesus explains the theological purpose behind the delegation of judgment: the Son must receive the same honor as the Father.

Significance

Jesus draws the ultimate conclusion: if the Father has given all judgment to the Son, then the Son deserves the same honor as the Father. To dishonor Jesus is to dishonor God. There is no middle ground.

21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes.

22Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,

23so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

24Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.

25Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

Read all of John 5 — A man who has been an invalid for thirty-eight years is told to pick up his mat and walk. The Pharisees are more concerned about the day of the week.