John 5:42

KJV

But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G235} I know {G1097} you {G5209}, that {G3754} ye have {G2192} not {G3756} the love {G26} of God {G2316} in {G1722} you {G1438}.

Complete Jewish Bible

but I do know you people — I know that you have no love for God in you!

Berean Standard Bible

but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you.

American Standard Version

But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in yourselves.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In John 5:42, Jesus delivers a profound and piercing indictment against the Jewish religious leaders, revealing the true spiritual condition that undergirds their rejection of Him. Despite their outward religious zeal and diligent study of the Scriptures, Jesus declares with divine insight that they fundamentally lack "the love of God" within them, exposing their spiritual hypocrisy and the ultimate reason for their hostility toward the very Son of God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a climactic statement within a prolonged and intense confrontation between Jesus and the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem. The discourse begins after Jesus miraculously healed an invalid man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, an act that immediately drew the ire of the religious establishment. Their anger escalated when Jesus claimed God as His own Father, thereby making Himself equal with God, a claim they perceived as blasphemy ([John 5:18](/john/5-18 "John 5:18 - Jesus' Claim to Equality with God")). In the preceding verses, Jesus systematically presents various witnesses to His divine authority—the Father, John the Baptist, His own works, and the Scriptures themselves ([John 5:31-40](/john/5-31-40 "John 5:31-40 - Witnesses to Jesus' Authority")). Despite this overwhelming evidence, the leaders remained hardened. Verse 42 serves as Jesus' direct, unvarnished diagnosis of their spiritual malady, explaining *why* they could not believe: their hearts lacked genuine love for God, rendering them incapable of recognizing or receiving His ultimate revelation in Christ.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Judaism, particularly among the Pharisees and Sadducees, placed immense emphasis on adherence to the Mosaic Law, oral traditions, and outward religious observances. For many, piety was often measured by public displays of devotion, meticulous Sabbath-keeping, and rigorous study of the Torah. The Temple was central to their religious life, and the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial and ecclesiastical council, held significant authority. In this context, Jesus' claims challenged their established authority and their understanding of God's Law. Their rigid interpretation of the Sabbath, their focus on human praise ([John 5:44](/john/5-44 "John 5:44 - Seeking Praise from Men")), and their failure to grasp the true spirit of the Law demonstrated a profound disconnect between their external religious practice and an internal, heart-felt love for God. This cultural backdrop highlights the radical nature of Jesus' accusation, as it directly undermined their self-perception as God's devoted people.
* **Key Themes:** [John 5:42](/john/5-42 "John 5:42 - Jesus' Indictment of the Jewish Leaders") contributes significantly to several major themes within the Gospel of John and the broader biblical narrative. One prominent theme is **Spiritual Blindness and Hypocrisy**. Despite their outward religiosity and their diligent "searching the Scriptures" ([John 5:39](/john/5-39 "John 5:39 - Searching the Scriptures")), the leaders failed to see or receive Jesus, the very one the Scriptures testified about. Their piety was superficial, driven by a desire for human glory rather than genuine devotion to God, a theme Jesus reiterates in [John 5:44](/john/5-44 "John 5:44 - Seeking Praise from Men"). Another key theme is **The Nature of True Love for God**. Jesus implies that authentic love for God is not merely ritualistic adherence or intellectual assent, but a heart condition that embraces His truth and, crucially, His Son. Their rejection of Jesus, the ultimate revelation of God, proved their lack of this foundational love. This also underscores **Jesus' Divine Omniscience**, as He perceives the deepest motives and spiritual state of individuals, seeing beyond their external religious facade to the spiritual void within their hearts. Ultimately, the verse identifies the absence of "the love of God" as the fundamental **Root of Rejection** for their inability to recognize and accept Jesus as the Messiah.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **know (Greek, _ginṓskō'_):** This verb signifies a deep, experiential knowledge, not merely intellectual acquaintance. When Jesus says "I know you," it implies a profound, intuitive understanding of their inner state, motives, and character. It speaks to His divine omniscience, His ability to perceive beyond outward appearances and discern the true condition of their hearts. This is not a guess or an inference, but an absolute, certain knowledge of their spiritual reality.
* **love (Greek, _agápē'_):** This term refers to a selfless, unconditional, and benevolent love, distinct from other Greek words for love (like _eros_ or _philia_). Here, "the love of God" (ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ) is best understood as love *for* God, indicating devotion, allegiance, and a willingness to obey His will. It is the highest form of spiritual love, characterized by seeking the good of the beloved. Jesus' statement means that this divine quality of love, which should characterize those who truly serve God, was conspicuously absent from the hearts of these religious leaders.
* **in (Greek, _en'_):** This primary preposition denotes a fixed position, state, or condition. When Jesus says "in you," it emphasizes that the lack of God's love is an internal, inherent state within their very being, not merely an external action or a temporary lapse. It points to a deep-seated spiritual deficiency, a fundamental absence of this vital quality within their hearts and spirits.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But I know you,"**: This opening clause highlights Jesus' divine insight and authority. He is not merely speculating or accusing based on their actions, but speaking from a position of absolute knowledge of their innermost spiritual condition. This direct address underscores the personal and piercing nature of His indictment.
* **"that ye have not the love of God"**: This is the core accusation. Despite their outward religious observance, their diligent study of the Law, and their claims of devotion to God, Jesus declares that the essential quality of "the love of God" is missing from their lives. This "love of God" refers to their love *for* God—a genuine, heart-felt devotion and allegiance that should characterize those who truly serve Him. Their actions, particularly their rejection and persecution of Jesus, served as undeniable evidence of this profound deficiency.
* **"in you."**: This concluding phrase emphasizes the internal and inherent nature of their spiritual lack. The absence of God's love is not an external issue or a superficial problem, but a deep-seated condition within their very being. It is a spiritual void at the core of their existence, preventing them from recognizing or receiving the truth embodied in Jesus.

#### Literary Devices
The profound impact of [John 5:42](/john/5-42 "John 5:42 - Jesus' Indictment of the Jewish Leaders") is amplified by Jesus' masterful use of several literary devices. The most prominent is **Direct Address**, as Jesus confronts the Jewish leaders with a blunt, personal accusation ("I know *you*"). This creates an immediate and inescapable sense of accountability. There is also significant **Irony** at play: those who outwardly claimed to be the most devout and knowledgeable of God's Law are precisely the ones revealed to lack the most fundamental aspect of true faith—love for God. Their diligent "searching the Scriptures" ([John 5:39](/john/5-39 "John 5:39 - Searching the Scriptures")) is ironically contrasted with their inability to recognize the very subject of those Scriptures because their hearts are devoid of genuine love for God. Furthermore, the statement functions as a powerful **Diagnosis**, where Jesus, as the divine physician, cuts through all external appearances to expose the root spiritual disease. The stark simplicity of the declaration, devoid of elaborate metaphor, lends it a directness that makes it incredibly potent and unforgettable.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 5:42 serves as a critical theological statement about the nature of true faith and the essence of a relationship with God. It reveals that mere intellectual assent, ritualistic observance, or even diligent study of Scripture is insufficient without a genuine, heartfelt love for God. This love is not just an emotion, but a disposition of the heart that expresses itself in obedience and reception of God's truth, particularly as revealed in His Son. The absence of this foundational love explains the spiritual blindness and hostility of the religious leaders, demonstrating that a lack of love for God directly impedes one's ability to recognize and embrace His divine revelation.

* [1 John 2:5](/1_john/2-5 "1 John 2:5 - Love for God Perfected")
* [Matthew 22:37](/matthew/22-37 "Matthew 22:37 - The Greatest Commandment")
* [Romans 5:5](/romans/5-5 "Romans 5:5 - God's Love Poured Out")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 5:42 stands as a timeless challenge to all who claim to follow God, urging us to look beyond outward religious performance and examine the true condition of our hearts. It compels us to ask whether our faith is rooted in a genuine, selfless love for God, or if it is driven by other motives such as a desire for human approval, self-righteousness, or a sense of duty devoid of affection. True love for God manifests in a willingness to embrace His truth, including the challenging and counter-cultural aspects, and to receive His ultimate revelation in Jesus Christ. This verse reminds us that a life of devotion is not merely about what we do, but about *why* we do it, emphasizing that the heart's disposition towards God is paramount. It calls us to cultivate a love for God that is deep, transformative, and evident in our acceptance of His Son and His word.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Do my religious practices and spiritual disciplines truly stem from a deep, abiding love for God, or are they motivated by other factors like tradition, duty, or the desire for human approval?**
* **How does my acceptance of Jesus Christ, His teachings, and His person reflect the presence of "the love of God" in my own heart?**
* **What areas of my life might indicate a deficiency in genuine love for God, and how can I cultivate a more profound and authentic devotion to Him?**

### FAQ

**What does "the love of God" mean in this specific context?**

Answer: In [John 5:42](/john/5-42 "John 5:42 - Jesus' Indictment of the Jewish Leaders"), "the love of God" (ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ) primarily refers to the Jewish leaders' love *for* God, rather than God's love *for* them. Jesus is diagnosing their spiritual deficiency: despite their outward religious zeal, their hearts lacked genuine devotion, allegiance, and affection for God. This absence of love for the Father was the root cause of their inability to recognize and receive Jesus, whom the Father had sent. Their actions, particularly their hostility towards Jesus, directly contradicted any claim of truly loving God.

**How could the religious leaders lack love for God when they were so religious and studied the Scriptures diligently?**

Answer: This is the profound irony Jesus exposes. Their religiosity was largely external and self-serving. They diligently studied the Scriptures ([John 5:39](/john/5-39 "John 5:39 - Searching the Scriptures")) not to find God and embrace His truth, but to gain eternal life through their own efforts and to uphold their traditions and authority. Their love was for their own interpretations, their own prestige, and the praise of men, as Jesus explicitly states in [John 5:44](/john/5-44 "John 5:44 - Seeking Praise from Men"). True love for God involves a humble heart, open to His revelation, even when it challenges one's preconceived notions or established systems. Their lack of genuine love meant they were spiritually blind to the very Messiah the Scriptures pointed to, demonstrating that outward religious activity without inward devotion is hollow and ultimately self-deceptive.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[John 5:42](/john/5-42 "John 5:42 - Jesus' Indictment of the Jewish Leaders") finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus Himself as the perfect embodiment of "the love of God" and the one through whom true love for God is both revealed and made possible. The Jewish leaders' failure to have the love of God in them was precisely their failure to recognize and receive Jesus, who is the ultimate expression of God's love for humanity ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love for the World")). Jesus perfectly demonstrated what it means to love God with all one's heart, soul, and mind, living in complete obedience to the Father's will even unto death ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience")). Furthermore, it is through Christ that believers are enabled to truly love God. The Holy Spirit, poured into the hearts of those who believe in Jesus, is the very Spirit of God's love ([Romans 5:5](/romans/5-5 "Romans 5:5 - God's Love Poured Out")), empowering them to obey His commands and thereby demonstrate genuine love for Him ([1 John 4:7-10](/1_john/4-7-10 "1 John 4:7-10 - God is Love")). Thus, the indictment of [John 5:42](/john/5-42 "John 5:42 - Jesus' Indictment of the Jewish Leaders") highlights that true love for God is inextricably linked to one's relationship with Jesus Christ; to reject Him is to reject the very love of God, while to embrace Him is to enter into a loving relationship with the Father through the Son.

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 2:25

And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

1 John 2:15

Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 3:17

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1 John 4:20

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Romans 8:7

Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

John 8:55

Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.