New King James Version
John 5:44
44How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?
John 5:44 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
- New International Version (NIV)How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
- English Standard Version (ESV)How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
- New Living Translation (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.
Context of John 5:44
42But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.
Read all of John 5John 5:44 word by word
Πῶς δύνασθε ὑμεῖς πιστεῦσαι δόξαν παρὰ ἀλλήλων λαμβάνοντες καὶ τὴν δόξαν τὴν παρὰ τοῦ μόνου θεοῦ οὐ ζητεῖτε;¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
- canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- yeσύsu · youG4771
- believeπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- which receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- honourδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391
- oneἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240
- ofπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- seekζητέωzēteō · to seekG2212
- notοὐou · noG3756
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- onlyμόνοςmonos · aloneG3441
Cross-references for John 5:44
- John 3:20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
- John 8:43Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
- John 12:43for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
- Jeremiah 13:23Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.
- Romans 8:7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
- Hebrews 3:12Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
- Matthew 23:5But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.
- Galatians 5:19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
- Philippians 2:3Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
- 1 Samuel 2:30Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
- 2 Chronicles 6:8But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well in that it was in your heart.
- Matthew 25:21His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
- Luke 19:17And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’
- Romans 2:7eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
- 1 Corinthians 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
- 2 Corinthians 10:18For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Commentaries on John 5:44
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 44How can ye believe, which receive honor, etc. - The grand obstacle to the salvation of the scribes and Pharisees was their pride, vanity, and self-love. They lived on each other's praise. If they had acknowledged Christ as the only teacher, they must have given up the good opinion of the multitude; and they chose rather to lose their souls than to forfeit their reputation among men! This is the ruin of millions. They would be religious, if religion and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 44Which receive honour one of another - Who are studious of praise, and live for pride, ambition, and vainglory. This desire, Jesus says, was the great reason why they would not believe on him. They were unwilling to renounce their worldly honors, and become the followers of one so humble and unostentatious as he was. They expected a Messiah of pomp and splendor, and would not submit to one so despised and of so lowly a rank. Had the Messiah come, as they…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 39-44Verses 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 letter of the Scriptures…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 44The Jewish leaders wanted honor and praise from one another. They cared about their reputation and status. They loved religious activity, but they did not truly love God. Their actions did not match their claims. Because of this, God would judge them (5:45–46).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 43-4743-47. 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].Read the comment
Topics related to John 5:44
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on John 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries