John 5:44
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
John 5:44 in other translations
| BSB | How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? |
|---|---|
| WEB | How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God? |
| ASV | How can ye believe, who receive glory one of another, and the glory that cometh from the only God ye seek not? |
| YLT | how are ye able--ye--to believe, glory from one another receiving, and the glory that is from God alone ye seek not? |
| DARBY | How can ye believe, who receive glory one of another, and seek not the glory which comes from God alone? |
| BBE | How is it possible for you to have faith while you take honour one from another and have no desire for the honour which comes from the only God? |
| Webster | How can ye believe, who receive honor one from another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? |
What does John 5:44 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 5:43-47
43-47. if another shall come, &c.--How strikingly has this been verified in the history of the Jews! "From the time of the true Christ to our time, sixty-four false Christs have been reckoned by whom they have been deceived" [Bengel].
Barnes' Notes
1. A man cannot believe the gospel while he is wholly under the influence of ambition. The two are not compatible. The religion of the gospel is humility, and a man who has not that cannot be a Christian.
2. Great numbers are deterred from being Christians by pride and ambition. Probably there is no single thing that prevents so many young men from becoming Christians as this passion. The proud and ambitious heart refuses to bow to the humiliating terms of the gospel.
3. Though while a man is under this governing principle he cannot believe the gospel, yet this proves nothing about his ability to lay that aside, and to yield to truth. That is another question. A child CANNOT open a trunk when he gets on the lid and attempts to raise his own weight and the cover of the trunk too; but that settles nothing about the inquiry whether he might not get off and then open it. The true question is whether a man can or cannot lay aside his ambition and pride, and about that there ought not to be any dispute. No one doubts that it may be done; and if that can be done, he can become a Christian.
Seek not the honour. The praise, the glory, the approbation of God. The honour which comes from men is their praise, flattery, commendation; the honour that comes from God is his approbation for doing his will. God alone can confer the honours of heaven--the reward of having done our duty here. That we should seek, and if we seek that, we shall come to Christ, who is the way and the life.
(t) "seek not the honour" Rom 2:10
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 5:39-44
The Jews considered that eternal life was revealed to them in their Scriptures, and that they had it, because they had the word of God in their hands. Jesus urged them to search those Scriptures with more diligence and attention. "Ye do search the Scriptures," and ye do well to do so. They did indeed search the Scriptures, but it was with a view to their own glory. It is possible for men to be very studious in the…
John 5:44 in the original Greek
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for John 5:44
- John 12:43
For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
- Romans 2:29
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
- Philippians 2:3
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
- Matthew 23:5
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
- Romans 8:7-8
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
- 1 Samuel 2:30
Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
- 1 Peter 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
- Romans 2:7
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
- Romans 2:10
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
- 2 Chronicles 6:8
But the Lord said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:
- Luke 19:17
And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
- Matthew 25:21-23
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- John 5:43
I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
- John 5:44
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
- John 5:45
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
John 5:44 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | ¿Cómo podéis vosotros creer, pues tomáis la gloria los unos de los otros, y no buscáis la gloria que de sólo Dios viene? |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Comment pouvez-vous croire, vous qui recevez de la gloire l’un de l’autre et qui ne cherchez pas la gloire qui vient de Dieu seul? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wie könnt ihr glauben, die ihr Ehre voneinander nehmet und die Ehre, welche von Gott allein ist, nicht suchet? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Quomodo vos potestis credere, qui gloriam ab invicem accipitis, et gloriam quæ a solo Deo est, non quæritis? |