Why did the Jews want to kill Jesus in this passage?

In this passage the Jews are not just upset about a broken rule. They believe Jesus has crossed a line in two ways. First, He healed on the Sabbath, which they saw as working on a day when work was forbidden. Second, and even more serious to them, He called God His Father in a special way and spoke of God’s work as His own work. They understand this as Jesus making Himself equal with God. In their eyes, this sounds like blasphemy and they think it deserves death.

What does Jesus mean when He says the Son can do nothing of himself?

When Jesus says the Son can do nothing of himself, He is not saying He is weak or helpless. He is showing how closely united He is with the Father. He does nothing on His own, apart from the Father’s will and power. Everything He does is in step with what He “sees” the Father doing. This means His words, His miracles, His judgments all come from the same mind and purpose as the Father. Far from lowering Him, it shows that His work is the very work of God.

How does this passage show that Jesus is equal with God?

The passage shows Jesus’ equality with God in several clear ways. He calls God His Father in a unique sense and then explains that whatever the Father does, the Son does in the same way. He shares in God’s works, not as a servant standing apart, but as one who acts together with the Father. Jesus claims the same power to raise the dead and give life. He also says all judgment has been given to Him so that people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. These are things that belong to God alone, yet Jesus claims them as His own.

What does it mean that the Son quickens whom he will?

The word “quicken” here means to give life. When Jesus says the Son quickens whom He will, He is saying that He has the same power as the Father to raise the dead and to give life. This includes both physical resurrection and the giving of spiritual life. Life does not come from people trying harder or from religious rituals. It comes from the Son, according to His will. This shows His divine authority over life and death and that anyone who truly receives life from God does so through Him.

Why has the Father committed all judgment to the Son?

The Father has given all judgment to the Son so that the Son will be openly honored. By placing judgment in Jesus’ hands, God makes it clear that knowing and responding to the Son is not optional. The same God who gives life through His Son will also judge through Him. This means that facing God and facing Jesus is the same thing. It also shows that the Father is not acting apart from the Son. He rules and judges the world through the Son He has sent and raised up.

What does it mean to honour the Son as the Father?

To honor the Son as the Father means to give Jesus the same kind of respect, worship, and trust that belong to God. In this passage Jesus explains that if someone refuses to honor Him, they are not truly honoring the Father either, even if they claim to. God does not accept worship that bypasses or downgrades His Son. Honoring the Son includes listening to His words, believing what He says about the Father, trusting Him for life, and treating Him as Lord. The way a person responds to Jesus shows what they really think of God.

What does passed from death unto life mean in this verse?

Passed from death unto life describes what happens to a person who hears Jesus’ word and believes in the One who sent Him. It pictures a change of state, like crossing from one place to another. Before believing, a person is in spiritual death and under condemnation. By hearing and believing, they already have everlasting life and will not come into condemnation. This is not only about a future hope, but a present reality. God counts them as having crossed over from death to life because of their response to His Son.

Does this passage teach that believers still face condemnation?

No, this passage teaches the opposite. Jesus gives a strong promise: the one who hears His word and believes in the Father who sent Him “hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation.” That means such a person is not waiting to see if they might someday be condemned. God has already changed their standing. They have eternal life now and have passed from death to life. While believers will still stand before Christ as Judge, this judgment will not end in condemnation, because their life and acceptance rest on Him.

How should this passage shape how I relate to Jesus today?

This passage calls you to take Jesus very seriously. He is not just a teacher or healer. He shares the Father’s work, gives life, and will judge everyone. So the right response is to listen carefully to His word and to believe in the Father who sent Him. Honoring God means honoring the Son in trust, worship, and obedience. It also brings comfort. If you hear and believe, Jesus says you already have everlasting life and will not come into condemnation. That promise should lead to humble faith and deep respect for Him.

What was happening when Jesus spoke these words about life and judgment?

Jesus spoke these words right after healing a disabled man on the Sabbath. The Jewish leaders were angry, first because they saw the healing and the command to carry a bed as breaking their Sabbath rules, and then because Jesus called God His Father in a way that made Him equal with God. In that tense setting, instead of backing down, Jesus explains His unity with the Father, His authority to raise the dead, His role as Judge, and the sure promise of eternal life to those who hear and believe. His teaching answers their charges and reveals who He truly is.

John.5.18

John 5:18

KJV

Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Jesus’ Equality with God

Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.