John 5:23

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

That {G2443} all {G3956} men should honour {G5091} the Son {G5207}, even as {G2531} they honour {G5091} the Father {G3962}. He that honoureth {G5091} not {G3361} the Son {G5207} honoureth {G5091} not {G3756} the Father {G3962} which {G3588} hath sent {G3992} him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

so that all may honor the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever fails to honor the Son is not honoring the Father who sent him.

Berean Standard Bible

so 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.

American Standard Version

that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 5:23 profoundly declares the co-equality of Jesus Christ with God the Father, asserting that the honor, reverence, and worship due to the Father must be equally extended to the Son. This pivotal statement underscores Jesus' divine nature and authority, establishing that true honor for God necessitates honoring the Son whom He sent, thereby linking the acceptance or rejection of Jesus directly to one's relationship with God the Father.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a crucial component of Jesus' extended discourse in [John 5](/john/5 "John 5 - Jesus' Authority and Relationship with the Father"), where He defends His actions after healing a paralytic on the Sabbath ([John 5:9](/john/5-9 "John 5:9 - Healing at the Pool of Bethesda")). The Jewish leaders' accusation that Jesus not only broke the Sabbath but, more significantly, "made himself equal with God" ([John 5:18](/john/5-18 "John 5:18 - Jesus' Claim of Equality with God")) prompts this profound theological explanation. Jesus systematically articulates His unique and dependent relationship with the Father, emphasizing that He does nothing independently but only what He observes the Father doing ([John 5:19](/john/5-19 "John 5:19 - The Son Does What He Sees the Father Do")). He further reveals that the Father has entrusted all judgment to the Son ([John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father Has Committed All Judgment to the Son")), setting the stage for the absolute demand for honor presented in [John 5:23](/john/5-23 "John 5:23 - Honor the Son as the Father").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Judaism was fiercely monotheistic, upholding the singular worship of Yahweh as central to their identity. Any claim of divinity or co-equality with God was considered blasphemy, a capital offense under Mosaic Law. Jesus' assertion that He was "equal with God" and that He should receive the same honor as the Father directly challenged this deeply ingrained monotheistic framework, leading to intense conflict with the Jewish authorities. His claims were not merely about prophetic authority but about His very essence and identity, demanding a radical re-evaluation of who God is and how He is to be worshiped. This context highlights the revolutionary and confrontational nature of Jesus' words, which were understood by His listeners as a direct claim to deity.
* **Key Themes:** [John 5:23](/john/5-23 "John 5:23 - Honor the Son as the Father") contributes significantly to several major themes in John's Gospel. Foremost among them is the theme of **Jesus' Divine Identity and Deity**, unequivocally presenting Him as co-equal with the Father in honor and authority. This verse also amplifies the theme of the **Unity of the Father and the Son**, demonstrating that their will, purpose, and essence are inextricably linked, so much so that dishonoring one is to dishonor the other. Furthermore, it reinforces the theme of **Divine Authority and Commission**, as Jesus acts not independently but as the Father's divinely "sent" representative, carrying out His will, including the authority to judge and to receive honor. This statement is foundational to understanding the Trinitarian implications woven throughout John's narrative, particularly as Jesus later declares, "[I and my Father are one](/john/10-30 "John 10:30 - Jesus and the Father are One")."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **honour (Greek, _timáō'_):** Derived from the word for "precious" or "valuable," _timáō_ means to prize, value, esteem, or revere. When applied to God, it signifies the highest form of respect, adoration, and worship. The continuous action implied by the Greek tense here suggests an ongoing, habitual act of reverence.
* **even as (Greek, _kathṓs'_):** This adverbial conjunction denotes an exact correspondence, equality in measure, or identity in manner. It is a crucial term here, indicating that the honor given to the Son is not merely similar to, but precisely the same in quality and degree as, the honor given to the Father. It demands co-equal worship.
* **sent (Greek, _pémpō'_):** This verb means to dispatch, transmit, or send, often with the implication of a temporary errand or mission. In the context of John's Gospel, the Father "sending" the Son signifies the divine initiative in salvation, the Son's obedience to the Father's will, and the Son's inherent authority as the Father's authorized agent and embodiment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father."**: This clause sets forth the primary command and theological assertion. The purpose ("That," _hína_) of the Father's commission and the Son's authority (as described in the preceding verses) is that humanity should render to the Son the same quality and degree of honor that is given to the Father. The phrase "even as" (_kathṓs_) is paramount, demanding co-equal reverence and worship, thereby asserting Jesus' full deity.
* **"He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him."**: This second clause functions as a direct consequence and emphatic reiteration of the first, employing a strong double negative ("not... not"). It reveals the inseparable unity between the Father and the Son. To withhold honor from the Son is not merely to disrespect Jesus, but to fundamentally dishonor the Father who dispatched Him. This implies that one cannot truly worship or acknowledge God the Father while simultaneously rejecting or diminishing the divine status of His Son.

#### Literary Devices
John 5:23 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound theological truth. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second part of the verse reinforces and expands upon the first. The initial declaration that the Son should be honored "even as" the Father is immediately followed by the inverse, demonstrating that dishonoring the Son equates to dishonoring the Father. This creates a strong, undeniable logical and theological link. The use of the phrase "**even as**" itself functions as a powerful **Comparative Device**, drawing an explicit and absolute equivalence between the honor due to the Father and that due to the Son. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Emphasis** through repetition of the verb "honour" (_timáō_) and the stark contrast between honoring and not honoring, underscoring the critical importance of this command. The structure also presents a **Conditional Statement** (implied: "If one does not honor the Son, then one does not honor the Father"), highlighting the indispensable nature of acknowledging Jesus' divine status for genuine worship of God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 5:23 is a cornerstone for understanding the New Testament's Christology and the nature of the Godhead. It directly addresses the deity of Christ, asserting that He is not merely a prophet, a good teacher, or even the Messiah in a human sense, but is God in the same manner as the Father. The demand for co-equal honor implies co-equal essence and nature, laying foundational groundwork for the doctrine of the Trinity—one God existing in three persons. True worship, therefore, is inherently Trinitarian, encompassing honor for the Son as well as the Father. To deny the Son honor is to deny the very God who sent Him, revealing that salvation and relationship with God are inextricably linked to one's response to Jesus Christ.

* [Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Christ's Exaltation and Universal Worship")
* [Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - The Son's Radiance and Sustaining Power")
* [John 14:6-7](/john/14-6-7 "John 14:6-7 - Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 5:23 challenges believers to deeply examine the object and nature of their worship. It demands that our reverence for Jesus Christ be no less than our reverence for God the Father, acknowledging His full deity and authority in every aspect of our lives. This means not only intellectually assenting to His divine status but also living a life that reflects His lordship, obeying His commands, and prioritizing His will. True honor for the Son translates into a life of humble submission, fervent adoration, and unwavering trust. If we claim to honor God, we must equally honor Jesus, for He is the Father's perfect revelation and the very means by which we come to know and experience God. This verse calls us to a holistic and Christ-centered understanding of God, urging us to ensure that our worship, our theology, and our daily walk consistently reflect the co-equal honor due to the Son.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what practical ways do I demonstrate that I honor the Son "even as" I honor the Father in my daily life?**
* **How does my understanding of Jesus' co-equality with the Father impact my prayer life and worship?**
* **If dishonoring the Son means dishonoring the Father, what does this imply about how I speak of, or present, Jesus to others?**
* **Are there any areas in my faith or practice where I might be inadvertently diminishing the honor due to Jesus Christ?**

### FAQ
**Does John 5:23 mean that Jesus is God?**

Answer: Yes, absolutely. The phrase "even as they honour the Father" (Greek: _kathṓs_) is a direct and unequivocal statement of co-equality in honor, which in the context of divine worship, implies co-equality in nature and essence. In a monotheistic Jewish context, demanding the same honor due to God the Father for anyone else was a claim to deity. Jesus is not asking for a lesser honor, or merely a derivative honor, but the exact same honor. This is a profound declaration of His full divinity, indicating that He shares the same divine attributes and is worthy of the same worship as the Father. This aligns with other passages where Jesus asserts His divine identity, such as "[I and my Father are one](/john/10-30 "John 10:30 - Jesus and the Father are One")" and His acceptance of Thomas's declaration, "[My Lord and my God!](/john/20-28 "John 20:28 - Thomas's Confession of Jesus' Deity")".

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 5:23 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God and the one through whom all things were created and sustained ([Colossians 1:15-17](/colossians/1-15-17 "Colossians 1:15-17 - Christ's Supremacy in Creation")). The Father's purpose in sending the Son, as revealed in this verse, was not merely to convey a message, but to reveal Himself fully and to establish the means by which humanity could truly honor God. Jesus' incarnation, life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection are the very acts through which the Father's will is perfectly accomplished, and through which the Son is supremely glorified. Because Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross, God has highly exalted Him and given Him "the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" ([Philippians 2:8-11](/philippians/2-8-11 "Philippians 2:8-11 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")). Thus, the honor demanded in [John 5:23](/john/5-23 "John 5:23 - Honor the Son as the Father") is not an arbitrary decree, but a recognition of Christ's inherent divine worth and His completed work of redemption, through which alone we can approach and truly honor the Father ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way to the Father")).

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

1 John 2:23

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.]

Luke 10:16

He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

2 John 1:9

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Matthew 11:27

All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].

John 15:23

He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

John 15:24

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.

Jeremiah 17:5

¶ Thus saith the LORD; Cursed [be] the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.