John 5:42

John 5:42, in plain English

Jesus says He knows them: they do not have the love of God in their hearts. That is the real problem behind everything else.

Why it's here

All their religious activity was masking an empty heart. They followed the rules but did not love the God behind the rules.

Who's speaking

Jesus speaks with perfect knowledge of their hearts, identifying the root issue that no amount of religious activity can hide.

Where it sits in the story

Religion without love for God is just a costume. These leaders looked the part, spoke the part, and lived the part, but their hearts were empty. Jesus sees through all of it to the truth.

The scholarly reading

Jesus' diagnosis is penetrating: 'I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you' (tēn agapēn tou theou ouk echete en heautois). The genitive 'of God' (tou theou) is ambiguous: it could mean love for God or love from God. Either reading reveals a fundamental spiritual deficiency.

Language and setting

This accusation goes beyond behavior to character. The absence of God's love explains both their rejection of Jesus and their inability to recognize God's work. Without love for God, all their religious activity is hollow performance.

Voice

Jesus reveals the root condition of His opponents: the absence of genuine love for God, which explains all their other failures.

Significance

Jesus names the disease behind all the symptoms. Their rejection of Him, their misuse of Scripture, their persecution of healings: it all flows from one source. They do not love God. Without that love, religion becomes a performance devoid of relationship.

40yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.

41I do not accept glory from men,

42but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you.

43I have come in My Father’s name, and you have not received Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him.

44How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

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.