John 5:38

KJV

And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} ye have {G2192} not {G3756} his {G846} word {G3056} abiding {G3306} in {G1722} you {G5213}: for {G3754} whom {G3739}{G1565} he hath sent {G649}, him {G5129} ye {G5210} believe {G4100} not {G3756}.

Complete Jewish Bible

moreover, his word does not stay in you, because you don’t trust the one he sent.

Berean Standard Bible

nor does His word abide in you, because you do not believe the One He sent.

American Standard Version

And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he sent, him ye believe not.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In John 5:38, Jesus delivers a scathing indictment against the Jewish religious leaders, revealing the profound spiritual chasm between their outward religiosity and their inner spiritual state. He asserts that their failure to recognize and believe in Him, the very One sent by God the Father, stems from a fundamental lack of the Father's word truly abiding within them, demonstrating a deep-seated spiritual disconnect that renders them incapable of discerning divine truth.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Jesus' extensive and confrontational discourse in [John 5](/john/5 "John 5 - Jesus Heals on the Sabbath and Claims Divine Authority"), following His miraculous healing of an invalid at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath. This act provoked fierce opposition from the Jewish authorities, who accused Him of violating the Sabbath law and, more significantly, of blasphemy by claiming equality with God. Jesus' subsequent defense (John 5:19-47) systematically dismantles their objections, presenting multiple witnesses to His divine identity and authority. Prior to [John 5:38](/john/5-38 "John 5:38 - The Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders"), Jesus has already cited the Father's direct testimony ([John 5:37](/john/5-37 "John 5:37 - The Father's Witness")), the witness of John the Baptist ([John 5:33-35](/john/5-33-35 "John 5:33-35 - The Witness of John the Baptist")), and even their own Scriptures ([John 5:39](/john/5-39 "John 5:39 - Search the Scriptures")) as evidence. Verse 38 specifically targets their internal spiritual condition, explaining *why* they fail to accept this overwhelming evidence.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Jewish religious leaders, primarily the Pharisees and Sadducees, were the custodians of the Mosaic Law and the oral traditions that had developed around it. They prided themselves on their meticulous adherence to the Law and their knowledge of the Scriptures. For them, the Sabbath was a cornerstone of their religious identity, and any perceived violation was a grave offense. Their expectation of the Messiah was often tied to a political or military deliverer, rather than a humble servant who would challenge their established authority and traditions. Jesus' statement in [John 5:38](/john/5-38 "John 5:38 - The Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders") directly confronts their self-perception, implying that despite their outward religiosity, they lacked a true, internal relationship with God and His word. This would have been a deeply offensive and challenging accusation to those who believed they were God's most faithful representatives.
* **Key Themes:** [John 5:38](/john/5-38 "John 5:38 - The Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders") powerfully underscores several core themes within the Gospel of John. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Spiritual Blindness and Unbelief**, demonstrating that intellectual knowledge of Scripture is insufficient without a receptive heart. The leaders, despite "searching the Scriptures" ([John 5:39](/john/5-39 "John 5:39 - Search the Scriptures")), failed to recognize the one to whom the Scriptures testified. Secondly, the verse emphasizes the **Authority of Jesus as the Father's Sent One**. Jesus consistently presents Himself as the divine emissary, and rejection of Him is tantamount to rejection of the Father who sent Him ([John 12:44-45](/john/12-44-45 "John 12:44-45 - Believing in Jesus is Believing in the Father")). Thirdly, it introduces the crucial concept of the **Abiding Word**. The phrase "his word abiding in you" points to a deep, transformative indwelling of God's truth, which is distinct from mere intellectual assent or external adherence to religious rules. This internal reception of God's word is essential for true faith and recognition of God's ultimate revelation in Jesus.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **word (Greek, _lógos'_):** (G3056) While _lógos_ broadly means "something said," "reasoning," or "discourse," in the context of John's Gospel, especially when referring to God's "word" or "His word," it carries profound theological weight. As the Ground Truth Strong's data notes, "specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ)." Here, "his word" refers to the Father's divine revelation, His truth, and ultimately, the very essence of His communication to humanity, which culminates in the person of Jesus Christ Himself. The leaders' failure to have this _lógos_ abiding in them means they lacked a true, internal grasp of God's self-disclosure.
* **abiding (Greek, _ménō'_):** (G3306) This verb signifies to "stay," "remain," "dwell," or "continue." It implies a deep, permanent indwelling, not merely a fleeting visit or superficial acquaintance. When Jesus states that the Father's word is not "abiding" in them, He is not suggesting they are ignorant of the Scriptures, but rather that God's truth has not taken root deeply within their hearts and minds, transforming their character and shaping their worldview. This lack of internal dwelling prevents genuine spiritual discernment.
* **believe (Greek, _pisteúō'_):** (G4100) To "have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ)." This word points to active trust and commitment, not just intellectual acknowledgment. The Jewish leaders' failure to _pisteúō_ in Jesus, the One sent by the Father, reveals their fundamental lack of faith, which is directly linked to the absence of the Father's word abiding within them. Their unbelief is a spiritual, not merely an intellectual, failing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And ye have not his word abiding in you:"** This opening clause presents the core accusation. Jesus asserts that despite their outward religious devotion and scriptural knowledge, the Jewish leaders lack a true, internal reception of God the Father's word. This "word" refers not merely to the written Torah, but to the living, active revelation of God's character and will. The absence of this "abiding" word signifies a spiritual emptiness or resistance, preventing genuine understanding and spiritual responsiveness.
* **"for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not."** This second clause provides the reason and consequence of the first. Their failure to have the Father's word truly dwelling within them directly explains their inability to believe in Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate "sent one" (apostle) of the Father, the embodiment of God's word and revelation. Their rejection of Jesus, therefore, is not merely a rejection of a man, but a profound rejection of God the Father Himself and His ultimate divine communication to humanity. Their unbelief in the Son is the direct fruit of their spiritual disconnect from the Father's abiding word.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs striking **Contrast** and profound **Irony**. The contrast is evident between the Jewish leaders' self-perception as guardians of God's word and Jesus' accusation that they do not truly possess it "abiding" within them. This highlights the chasm between external religiosity and internal spiritual reality. The irony lies in the fact that those who meticulously studied the Scriptures, which testified to the coming Messiah, were precisely the ones who failed to recognize and believe in Him when He stood before them. Furthermore, the concept of God's "word abiding" functions as a **Metaphor** for deep spiritual internalization and transformation, suggesting that true faith is not merely intellectual assent but a profound indwelling of divine truth that shapes one's entire being.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[John 5:38](/john/5-38 "John 5:38 - The Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders") is a stark reminder that true faith is not merely intellectual assent or outward religious practice, but a deep, internal reception of God's living word that transforms the heart and enables recognition of His ultimate revelation in Jesus Christ. The Jewish leaders' failure to believe in Jesus, despite their zealous study of the Scriptures, underscores the critical truth that without the Spirit's work enabling God's word to "abide" within us, we remain spiritually blind to His truth, even when it stands directly before us. This verse lays bare the spiritual bankruptcy of a religion devoid of genuine relationship with God through His Son.

* [John 1:11-12](/john/1-11-12 "John 1:11-12 - He Came to His Own")
* [Luke 16:31](/luke/16-31 "Luke 16:31 - They Will Not Be Convinced")
* [Hebrews 4:2](/hebrews/4-2 "Hebrews 4:2 - The Word Did Not Profit Them")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[John 5:38](/john/5-38 "John 5:38 - The Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders") serves as a timeless mirror for all who claim to follow God. It challenges us to move beyond mere intellectual knowledge of Scripture or outward religious performance and to cultivate a heart where God's word truly "abides." This means allowing the truth of God to penetrate our deepest being, shaping our thoughts, desires, and actions, and transforming us from the inside out. When God's word genuinely dwells within us, it cultivates a spiritual sensitivity that enables us to recognize and embrace His truth, particularly as it is revealed in Jesus Christ. This verse prompts us to ask whether our faith is merely a set of beliefs we affirm, or a living reality that continually transforms us and compels us to trust and obey the One whom the Father has sent.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be guilty of having head knowledge of God's word without truly allowing it to "abide" in my heart?**
* **How does my daily life demonstrate that God's word is truly dwelling within me, shaping my decisions and worldview?**
* **Am I truly open to recognizing God's truth, even if it challenges my preconceived notions or comforts?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a deeper, more abiding relationship with God's word?**

### FAQ
**What does it mean for God's word to "abide" in someone?**

Answer: For God's word to "abide" (Greek: _ménō_) in someone means much more than simply knowing or memorizing Scripture. It implies a deep, continuous, and transformative indwelling of divine truth within one's heart, mind, and spirit. It means allowing God's word to take root, to dwell permanently, and to shape one's entire being, influencing thoughts, values, and actions. It's an active, living relationship with the truth of God, leading to spiritual discernment and obedience, rather than a superficial acquaintance or intellectual assent. This abiding allows one to recognize and respond to God's ultimate revelation, Jesus Christ, as seen in [John 15:7](/john/15-7 "John 15:7 - Abiding in Christ's Words").

**Why was it so significant that the Jewish leaders did not believe the One whom the Father had sent?**

Answer: This was profoundly significant because Jesus was not merely a prophet or a teacher; He was the unique Son of God, the ultimate revelation of the Father, and the fulfillment of all God's promises. As Jesus states elsewhere, "Whoever sees me sees him who sent me" ([John 12:45](/john/12-45 "John 12:45 - Seeing Jesus is Seeing the Father")). By rejecting Jesus, the Jewish leaders were, in essence, rejecting God the Father Himself. Their unbelief in the "sent one" demonstrated a fundamental spiritual disconnect from God's will and truth, despite their outward religious zeal. It revealed that their understanding of God's word was incomplete and distorted, preventing them from recognizing the very Messiah they claimed to await.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[John 5:38](/john/5-38 "John 5:38 - The Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders") finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in understanding Jesus as the living embodiment of God's "word." The Jewish leaders lacked the Father's word abiding in them, leading to their unbelief in the One He sent. Yet, Jesus Himself is the ultimate "Word made flesh" ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), the perfect expression and revelation of the Father. To have God's word "abiding in you" ultimately means to have Christ Himself dwelling within you through faith, as He is the very essence of God's truth and revelation. The New Testament consistently presents Jesus as the One sent by the Father to accomplish salvation ([John 3:16-17](/john/3-16-17 "John 3:16-17 - God So Loved the World")), and belief in Him is the singular path to eternal life ([John 6:40](/john/6-40 "John 6:40 - Belief in the Son for Eternal Life")). Thus, the failure of the leaders to believe in the "sent one" highlights their rejection of God's ultimate provision and the very person of Christ, whose indwelling presence is now the means by which God's word truly abides in believers ([Colossians 3:16](/colossians/3-16 "Colossians 3:16 - Let the Word of Christ Dwell Richly")).

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 2:14

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Deuteronomy 6:6

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

Deuteronomy 6:9

And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

John 12:44

¶ Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

John 12:48

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

John 8:46

¶ Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

John 8:47

He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear [them] not, because ye are not of God.