And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus reveals that the root of persecution isn't the disciples' actions, but the persecutors' profound ignorance of who God the Father and Jesus truly are. This lack of recognition means they can't grasp that God is love and that Jesus came to save, not destroy, leading them to mistake their violent actions as serving God.
And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is preparing His disciples for a future of persecution, explaining that they will be cast out of synagogues and even killed by those who think they are serving God. He clarifies that this hostility stems from a profound ignorance of who God the Father truly is and of Jesus Himself.
Ever wonder why people can be so against something they don't truly understand? Jesus tells us here that the reason for hostility often isn't what you've done, but what the other person doesn't know.
Jesus drops a bombshell in this verse: the reason people will persecute his followers isn't because the followers are doing anything wrong, but because the persecutors are profoundly ignorant.
Ignorance of the Father
They haven't known the Father. This means they don't grasp God's character – His love, His mercy, His ultimate plan for humanity.
Ignorance of Jesus
They haven't known Jesus either. They don't recognize who He is: the Son of God, the Savior, the embodiment of God's love. Without this recognition, they can't comprehend His mission or the nature of His followers.
This ignorance leads to a dangerous blindness. Instead of seeing God's love in action through Jesus and His disciples, they see a threat and react with hostility. It's a tragic disconnect born from a lack of true knowledge.
It sounds wild, but sometimes the fiercest opposition to God's people comes from those who think they are serving God. How does that happen?
Jesus points out a chilling reality: people can be actively hostile towards His followers while genuinely believing they are doing God a service.
The Illusion of Devotion
Those who persecute don't see their actions as evil. Instead, they often frame their cruelty as devotion, a righteous act performed for God's sake. They are 'killing you and think that they are offering service to God,' as Jesus says elsewhere in this chapter (John 16:2).
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Zeal Without True Knowledge
This misguided zeal stems directly from the ignorance mentioned earlier. Because they don't truly know the Father or the Son, their understanding of 'serving God' is warped. They operate under false assumptions, believing that by attacking those who follow Christ, they are somehow pleasing God or purifying His name.
This doesn't excuse their sin, but it explains the intensity and sincerity of their opposition. It's a powerful reminder that outward religious acts or a fervent spirit don't automatically mean someone is aligned with God's will.
Understand the original words
ginōskō · Greek Verb
Biblical 'knowing' implies more than intellectual awareness; it is a deep, personal, covenantal relationship. Failure to know the Father and the Son indicates a lack of spiritual regeneration and true relationship with God.
patēr · Greek Noun
The first person of the Trinity, the source of life and the One whom Jesus reveals. He is the ultimate authority to whom Jesus consistently points and whose character is perfectly reflected in the Son.
Jesus is warning his disciples that their persecutors will act out of a profound ignorance of both God the Father and Himself, not out of any genuine wrong committed by the disciples. This ignorance, tragically, leads them to believe they are serving God when they attack His followers.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus' public ministry, teaching, and healing, culminating in his crucifixion, challenged the religious and political authorities of the time.
c. AD 30-33
The Early Church in Jerusalem
Following Jesus' ascension, his followers formed the nucleus of the early church in Jerusalem, preaching the Gospel and experiencing initial growth.
c. AD 33-36— this verse
Persecution of Early Christians
The Sanhedrin, particularly figures like Saul of Tarsus, actively persecuted the early followers of Jesus, driving them from Jerusalem and the synagogues.
c. AD 36 onwards
Spread of Christianity
Despite persecution, the Gospel message began to spread beyond Judea to Samaria and eventually to the Gentile world, carried by apostles and other believers.
This passage directly challenges anyone claiming to know God while disobeying His commands, mirroring John 16:3's assertion that true knowledge of God and Christ is absent in those who persecute.
Acts 26:9-11Paul's own testimony reveals how profound ignorance and a misguided zeal can lead someone to actively oppose Christ and His followers, illustrating the principle in John 16:3 that persecution stems from not knowing God or Jesus.
Matthew 5:44Jesus commands His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, a stark contrast to the ignorance described in John 16:3, highlighting the transformative power of knowing God versus the destructive nature of not knowing Him.
Galatians 4:8-9Paul reminds the Galatians that before knowing Christ, they were slaves to ignorance, similar to the state of those described in John 16:3 who persecute because they haven't truly known the Father or Jesus.
vincentJohn 16:3: "And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me."
Unto youOmit.
cambridgeJohn 16:3: "And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me."
3 . unto you ] These words are of doubtful authority. they have not known ] Better, they did not recognise . The verb implies that they had the opportunity of knowing; but they had failed to see that God is Love, and that Jesus came not to shut out, but to bring in, not to destroy, but to save. The very names ‘Father’ (here used with special point) and ‘Jesus’ might have taught them better thing…
Jesus reveals that the root of persecution isn't the disciples' actions, but the persecutors' profound ignorance of who God the Father and Jesus truly are. This lack of recognition means they can't grasp that God is love and that Jesus came to save, not destroy, leading them to mistake their violent actions as serving God.
Jesus is preparing His disciples for a future of persecution, explaining that they will be cast out of synagogues and even killed by those who think they are serving God. He clarifies that this hostility stems from a profound ignorance of who God the Father truly is and of Jesus Himself.
Jesus is preparing His disciples for a future of persecution, explaining that they will be cast out of synagogues and even killed by those who think they are serving God. He clarifies that this hostility stems from a profound ignorance of who God the Father truly is and of Jesus Himself.
"And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me." — Jesus reveals that the root of persecution isn't the disciples' actions, but the persecutors' profound ignorance of who God the Father and Jesus truly are. This lack of recognition means they can't g…
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Last reviewed October 2026