that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes that honoring the Son is not optional, but is intrinsically linked to honoring the Father. It reveals that rejecting Jesus means rejecting the very Father who sent Him, highlighting their inseparable unity.
that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just healed a man on the Sabbath, an act that infuriates the Jewish leaders. In response, Jesus explains that he is not merely breaking the Sabbath but is acting with the same authority as God the Father, who is always at work. This leads Jesus to declare his intimate relationship with the Father and the equal authority and power he shares, even to the point of giving life and judging the world.
Why does Jesus insist that honoring Him is the same as honoring God the Father? It’s a profound statement about His divine identity.
Jesus makes a direct link between honoring Himself and honoring the Father. He states, “that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father.” This isn't just a polite suggestion; it’s a divine decree. The Father has given all things into the Son’s hands, including judgment and the bestowing of life. This authority and these divine actions are not separate from the Father's work but are expressions of it. Therefore, to withhold honor from the Son is to withhold honor from the Father. It highlights that Jesus is not merely a messenger or a subordinate being, but fully shares in the divine nature and authority of the Father.
Jesus emphasizes that the Father 'sent Him.' What does this unique sending reveal about their relationship and our response?
The phrase 'who sent Him' is not just a background detail; it’s crucial. It clarifies that the Son's actions and His authority originate from the Father. The Father sent the Son not as an inferior acting independently, but as an equal representative, carrying the Father's will and authority. When we refuse to honor the Son, we are in essence refusing to honor the Father who commissioned and sent Him. This emphasizes that true worship of God is inseparable from recognizing and honoring Jesus Christ as the Father's chosen emissary and divine representative.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
timaō · Greek Verb
To show reverence, value, or esteem; in a biblical context, it implies recognizing the divine authority, deity, and glory due to God or His appointed Representative.
apostellō · Greek Verb
The state of being sent with authority; in the New Testament, it signifies Jesus’ divine commission by the Father to accomplish the work of salvation.
This verse emerges from Jesus' direct confrontation with the Jewish authorities who questioned His authority and His claims of equality with God. His declaration that honoring Him is inseparable from honoring the Father underscores the central, divine role He plays in God's relationship with humanity.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Teaching
During His earthly ministry, Jesus proclaimed His divine authority, performed miracles, and taught about His unique relationship with God the Father. This period was marked by His interactions with Jewish leaders who often challenged His claims.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus was crucified and resurrected, events that profoundly confirmed His identity and mission. These foundational events form the core of Christian belief.
c. 40-60 AD
Spread of the Gospel
Following Jesus' ascension, His apostles and early followers began spreading the gospel throughout the Roman Empire, facing both acceptance and persecution.
c. 90-100 AD
Gospel of John Written
The Gospel of John was written during this period, likely in Ephesus, aiming to affirm Jesus' divine nature and encourage faith in Him as the Son of God.
This passage directly calls for all people to 'serve the LORD with fear' and 'kiss the Son,' highlighting the imperative to honor the Son as a reflection of honoring God.
Philippians 2:9-11Here, Paul echoes John 5:23 by stating that God has highly exalted Jesus and bestowed on him a name above every name, so that at Jesus' name every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. This shows the unified purpose of exalting both Father and Son.
1 John 2:23This verse states, 'No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.' This directly parallels John 5:23 by asserting that honoring or acknowledging the Son is inseparable from honoring or acknowledging the Father.
Matthew 28:18-19Jesus declares that 'all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,' and commands his followers to make disciples of all nations. This demonstrates the Son's authority, which is intrinsically linked to the Father's commission and demands equal honor.
vincentJohn 5:23: "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."
Which sent HimA phrase peculiar to John, and used only by the Lord, of the Father. See John 4:34; John 6:38, John 6:39; John 7:16, John 7:28, John 7:33, etc.
calvinJohn 5:20-24: "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 the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things which he doeth; and he will show him greater works than these, that you may wonder. 21. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; so also the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son; 23. That…
The verse emphasizes that honoring the Son is not optional, but is intrinsically linked to honoring the Father. It reveals that rejecting Jesus means rejecting the very Father who sent Him, highlighting their inseparable unity.
Jesus has just healed a man on the Sabbath, an act that infuriates the Jewish leaders. In response, Jesus explains that he is not merely breaking the Sabbath but is acting with the same authority as God the Father, who is always at work. This leads Jesus to declare his intimate relationship with the Father and the equal authority and power he shares, even to the point of giving life and judging the world.
Jesus has just healed a man on the Sabbath, an act that infuriates the Jewish leaders. In response, Jesus explains that he is not merely breaking the Sabbath but is acting with the same authority as God the Father, who is always at work. This leads Jesus to declare his intimate relationship with the Father and the equal authority and power he shares, even to the point of giving life and judging the world.
"that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." — The verse emphasizes that honoring the Son is not optional, but is intrinsically linked to honoring the Father. It reveals that rejecting Jesus means rejecting the very Father who sent Him, highlight…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026