Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just pointing out a consequence; He's revealing the root. When people reject Him, it's not merely a personal preference against Jesus; it's a deep-seated rejection of God Himself, because Jesus is the perfect image of the Father. Therefore, hating Jesus is fundamentally an act of hating God.
Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is explaining to his disciples that the world's opposition to them is a direct result of its rejection of him. He emphasizes that their ignorance is no excuse, as he has clearly revealed both himself and the Father through his words and deeds. This verse follows the assertion that the world would have been without sin if he hadn't come and spoken, but now their hatred is inexcusable, revealing a deeper, inherent enmity towards God himself.
Jesus states a radical connection: hating Him is the same as hating God. How can this be? It hinges on who Jesus truly is.
Jesus is making a profound theological statement here about His unique relationship with the Father. When people rejected Jesus, they weren't just turning away from a good teacher or a prophet. They were rejecting God Himself.
Think about it:
Jesus explains that His presence and message actually increase accountability. Why does encountering truth sometimes lead to hatred?
Jesus clarifies that the people who hated Him weren't ignorant; they were willfully rebellious. He points out that if He hadn't come and spoken, their sin might have been less severe.
This isn't about excusing their sin, but about highlighting the gravity of their choice:
Ask a follow-up
The Bible says the world hates Jesus. What does this 'world' represent, and why is its hatred so deep-seated?
Jesus often refers to 'the world' as a system or a group of people opposed to God. This isn't just about individuals; it's about a pervasive mindset.
Understand the original words
miseō · Greek Verb
Hate is a settled state of active hostility, antagonism, or deep-seated aversion. In the New Testament, it signifies the rejection of God's truth and the active opposition toward those who belong to Him.
ergon · Greek Noun
In the Fourth Gospel, 'works' refer to the miraculous signs and mighty deeds performed by Jesus. These acts are intended to validate His identity, reveal the power of God, and provide irrefutable evidence of His divine mission.
This passage directly states that anyone who does not honor the Son also does not honor the Father who sent Him, reinforcing the idea that rejecting Jesus is equivalent to rejecting God.
1 John 2:23This verse explains that whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either, highlighting the inseparable relationship between the Father and the Son and the consequence of rejecting one.
Romans 1:30This verse lists 'hatred of God' as a characteristic of those who turn away from Him, showing that a refusal to accept God's revelation in Christ is a manifestation of this deep-seated animosity.
Matthew 10:40Jesus tells His disciples that whoever receives them receives Him, and whoever receives Him receives the one who sent Him. This principle implies that rejecting His messengers is also rejecting Him and, by extension, the Father.
calvinJohn 15:22-27: "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin."
- If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23. He who hateth me hateth my Father also. 24. If I had not done among them the works which no other man did, they would not have had sin; but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25. But that the word may be fulfilled which is written in their la…
bengelJohn 15:23: "He that hateth me hateth my Father also."
John 15:23 . Μισῶν , he that hateth ) Love accompanies faith; hatred, unbelief: ch. John 3:18-19 .— καὶ , also ) Implying the enormity of that sin of theirs.
Jesus isn't just pointing out a consequence; He's revealing the root. When people reject Him, it's not merely a personal preference against Jesus; it's a deep-seated rejection of God Himself, because Jesus is the perfect image of the Father. Therefore, hating Jesus is fundamentally an act of hating God.
Jesus is explaining to his disciples that the world's opposition to them is a direct result of its rejection of him. He emphasizes that their ignorance is no excuse, as he has clearly revealed both himself and the Father through his words and deeds. This verse follows the assertion that the world would have been without sin if he hadn't come and spoken, but now their hatred is inexcusable, revealing a deeper, inherent enmity towards God himself.
Jesus is explaining to his disciples that the world's opposition to them is a direct result of its rejection of him. He emphasizes that their ignorance is no excuse, as he has clearly revealed both himself and the Father through his words and deeds. This verse follows the assertion that the world would have been without sin if he hadn't come and spoken, but now their hatred is inexcusable, revealing a deeper, inherent enmity towards God himself.
"Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father." — Jesus isn't just pointing out a consequence; He's revealing the root. When people reject Him, it's not merely a personal preference against Jesus; it's a deep-seated rejection of God Himself, because…
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Last reviewed October 2026