John 15:24

KJV

If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

KJV (with Strong's)

If {G1508} I had {G4160} not {G1508} done {G4160} among {G1722} them {G846} the works {G2041} which {G3739} none {G3762} other man {G243} did {G4160}, they had {G2192} not {G3756} had {G2192} sin {G266}: but {G1161} now {G3568} have they {G3708} both {G2532} seen {G3708} and {G2532} hated {G3404} both {G2532} me {G1691} and {G2532} my {G3450} Father {G3962}.

Complete Jewish Bible

If I had not done in their presence works which no one else ever did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now, they have seen them and have hated both me and my Father.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

If I had not done among them the works which none other did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 15:24 encapsulates Jesus' profound declaration during His Farewell Discourse, asserting the inexcusable guilt of those who witnessed His unparalleled divine works yet chose to reject Him. He states unequivocally that their sin is not one of ignorance, but of willful and active hatred, directly implicating both Jesus and God the Father in their rejection. This verse underscores the heightened accountability of those who receive clear revelation of God's truth.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Jesus's extended Upper Room Discourse (John 13-17), delivered to His disciples just hours before His crucifixion. It follows His teaching on the vine and branches, emphasizing the necessity of abiding in Him for fruitfulness, and immediately precedes His explicit warning about the world's hatred and persecution of His followers. Jesus is preparing His disciples for the intense opposition they will face, explaining that this antagonism is not arbitrary but stems from the world's prior, deliberate rejection of Himself. The "works" mentioned here serve as the irrefutable evidence that renders their unbelief culpable, setting the stage for the coming spiritual conflict and the role of the Holy Spirit as a witness to truth.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jesus's ministry occurred within a Jewish society deeply rooted in the Law and the Prophets, awaiting the Messiah. Miracles and divine signs were understood as authenticating a prophet's message or a messenger's divine commission. Jesus performed numerous public miracles—healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead, and demonstrating power over nature—which were widely witnessed and acknowledged, even by His adversaries. The Jewish leaders, in particular, were confronted with undeniable evidence of His extraordinary power, yet they chose to attribute it to demonic influence or deny it outright, rather than acknowledge His divine origin. This context highlights the deliberate nature of their rejection in the face of what, by their own cultural standards, should have been compelling proof.
* **Key Themes:** John 15:24 powerfully contributes to several key themes within John's Gospel. It reinforces the theme of **Inexcusable Unbelief**, demonstrating that the unique "works" (ἔργα, _erga_) of Jesus left His contemporary audience without any legitimate excuse for their rejection. Their unbelief was not a passive lack of understanding but an active, willful defiance. This verse also illuminates the **Nature of Hatred**, revealing that the world's antagonism towards Jesus was not mere indifference but a deep-seated spiritual animosity, a "hatred" (μισέω, _miséō_) for both Jesus and, by extension, God the Father. This underscores the spiritual blindness and rebellion inherent in their unbelief, as seen in the broader narrative of opposition to Jesus's ministry, such as the Pharisees' response to the healing of the man born blind in [John 9](/john/9 "John 9 - Healing the Man Born Blind"). Furthermore, it emphasizes the **Unity of Father and Son**, as Jesus explicitly states that to have "seen and hated" Him is to have hated the Father, echoing His earlier declaration, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" in [John 14:9](/john/14-9 "John 14:9 - Seeing the Father Through Jesus"). Finally, the verse speaks to **Divine Accountability**, establishing that greater revelation brings greater responsibility, a principle woven throughout Jesus's teachings, including His woes against unrepentant cities in [Matthew 11:20-24](/matthew/11-20-24 "Matthew 11:20-24 - Woes to Unrepentant Cities").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **works (Greek, _érgon'_):** Refers to toil as an effort or occupation; by implication, an act. In this context, "works" encompasses the totality of Jesus's miraculous deeds, profound teachings, and His entire life, which served as undeniable, public evidence of His divine power, unique authority, and intimate relationship with God the Father. These were not mere human achievements but demonstrations of God's presence and power through Him.
* **sin (Greek, _hamartía'_):** Properly abstract, denoting an offence. Here, it signifies not merely a general state of sinfulness common to all humanity, but specifically the heightened, inexcusable culpability of rejecting the Messiah despite having witnessed overwhelming and unique evidence of His divine identity and mission. Their "sin" is the deliberate, willful rejection of God's ultimate revelation in Christ.
* **hated (Greek, _miséō'_):** To detest, especially to persecute; by extension, to love less. This word reveals a profound, active spiritual animosity and willful opposition. It indicates that the response of those who witnessed Jesus's works was not simply a lack of belief or ignorance, but a deliberate, deep-seated antagonism and spiritual rebellion against both Jesus and, by extension, God the Father.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"If I had not done among them the works which none other man did":** Jesus sets a crucial condition for their culpability. He emphasizes the unparalleled nature of His "works" (miracles, teachings, and life). These were not ordinary human deeds but unique, divinely empowered manifestations that clearly pointed to His identity as the Son of God. The phrase "none other man did" highlights the singularity and irrefutability of His ministry, making His actions an undeniable testimony.
* **"they had not had sin":** This does not imply that they would be entirely sinless in a general sense, but rather that they would not bear the specific, grave sin of rejecting the Messiah in the face of such clear, divine evidence. Their ignorance would have been excusable, or at least their culpability significantly reduced, had they not been confronted with the unique revelation of God in Christ.
* **"but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father":** The conjunction "but now" marks a stark contrast, indicating that the condition has been met. Having directly witnessed ("seen") these unique works, their subsequent response of "hatred" is a deliberate, active rejection. This hatred is directed not only at Jesus ("me") but also, inseparably, at God the Father ("my Father"), underscoring the profound unity between the Son and the Father. Their rejection of Jesus is a rejection of God Himself.

#### Literary Devices
John 15:24 employs several potent literary devices. **Contrast** is central, highlighted by the "If...then not...but now" structure, which starkly differentiates a hypothetical scenario of excusable ignorance from the reality of culpable rejection. The phrase "the works which none other man did" uses **Hyperbole** to emphasize the unparalleled nature of Jesus's miracles and ministry, underscoring their unique divine origin and undeniable power. The verse also utilizes **Parallelism** in the concluding clause, "both seen and hated both me and my Father," which structurally links the act of seeing with the act of hating, and the object of hatred (Jesus) with the Father, reinforcing the inseparable unity between them. This parallelism also serves as a form of **Climax**, building to the ultimate accusation that their hatred extends to God Himself.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 15:24 is a cornerstone statement on the nature of divine revelation and human accountability. It articulates that the unique and unparalleled works of Jesus Christ served as irrefutable evidence of His divine identity and mission. Consequently, those who witnessed these works and still rejected Him incurred a profound, inexcusable guilt. Their sin was not merely intellectual doubt but a willful, active hatred that extended beyond Jesus to God the Father Himself, demonstrating that to reject the Son is to reject the Father. This principle establishes a heightened level of responsibility for those who are exposed to the clearest manifestation of God's truth, asserting that divine light, when rejected, intensifies condemnation.

* [Luke 12:48](/luke/12-48 "Luke 12:48 - To Whom Much is Given")
* [Romans 1:20](/romans/1-20 "Romans 1:20 - God's Invisible Qualities")
* [Hebrews 6:4-6](/hebrews/6-4-6 "Hebrews 6:4-6 - The Danger of Falling Away")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 15:24 serves as a sobering reminder of the gravity of our response to divine revelation. While we may not have physically witnessed Jesus's miracles, we possess the comprehensive, Spirit-inspired testimony of Scripture, centuries of Christian witness, and the transformative power of the Gospel in countless lives. This verse challenges us to examine the depth of our own faith: is it a genuine embrace of Christ, or is there any lingering resistance or subtle animosity towards His claims, His teachings, or the will of God the Father? The greater the light we have received—through the Bible, through preaching, through the Holy Spirit's conviction—the greater our accountability. We are called not merely to intellectual assent but to a wholehearted surrender and love for the One whose works undeniably declared His divine identity. Spiritual indifference or outright rejection in the face of clear biblical truth is a serious matter, for it is ultimately a rejection of God Himself.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do I acknowledge or resist the "works" of Jesus as revealed in Scripture and through the Holy Spirit today?**
* **How does my response to Jesus's teachings and claims reflect my true attitude towards God the Father?**
* **Do I recognize the heightened accountability that comes with greater exposure to God's truth in my life?**
* **What areas of my life might still harbor a subtle "hatred" or resistance to God's will, despite having "seen" His truth?**

### FAQ
**What does Jesus mean by "works which none other man did"?**

Answer: When Jesus refers to "the works which none other man did," He is emphasizing the unique and unparalleled nature of His miracles, teachings, and the entirety of His life and ministry. These were not just extraordinary deeds, but divinely empowered acts that transcended human capability and clearly demonstrated His identity as the Son of God, the promised Messiah. Unlike prophets or other religious figures who performed miracles, Jesus's works were a consistent, comprehensive, and undeniable manifestation of God's own power and presence, serving as irrefutable evidence of His divine origin and authority. Examples include His power over nature ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Calming the Storm")), His ability to raise the dead ([John 11:43-44](/john/11-43-44 "John 11:43-44 - Lazarus Raised")), and His profound, authoritative teachings that revealed the very heart of God ([Matthew 7:28-29](/matthew/7-28-29 "Matthew 7:28-29 - Authority of Jesus's Teaching")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 15:24 finds its Christ-centered fulfillment not in a future event, but in the very person and redemptive work of Jesus Himself, particularly in how His unique ministry exposed the depth of human sin and the necessity of His atoning sacrifice. The "works" Jesus performed were not merely demonstrations of power; they were signs pointing to His identity as the Messiah, the very revelation of God in human flesh. When people "saw and hated" Him, they were rejecting God's ultimate self-disclosure, proving the extent of humanity's spiritual blindness and rebellion. This profound hatred, culminating in the crucifixion, underscores the truth that humanity, left to its own devices, would reject even God Himself. Yet, it is precisely this rejection and the subsequent crucifixion that Jesus willingly embraced, fulfilling the Father's redemptive plan. His death on the cross, the ultimate "work," became the means by which the sin of humanity—including the sin of rejecting Him—could be forgiven. The resurrection then vindicated His claims and His works, demonstrating that He truly was the Son of God, conquering sin and death. Thus, the very hatred and rejection described in [John 15:24](/john/15-24 "John 15:24 - Inexcusable Hatred") became the backdrop against which God's boundless love and provision for salvation, through the sacrifice of His Son, shine most brightly (as seen in [Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love While We Were Still Sinners") and [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin For Us")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 14:9

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?

John 5:36

But I have greater witness than [that] of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

John 10:32

Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

John 7:31

And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this [man] hath done?

John 10:37

If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

John 9:32

Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

Deuteronomy 5:9

Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me,