John 8:50

And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

And {G1161} I {G1473} seek {G2212} not {G3756} mine own {G3450} glory {G1391}: there is {G2076} one that seeketh {G2212} and {G2532} judgeth {G2919}.

I am not seeking praise for myself. There is One who is seeking it, and he is the judge.

I do not seek My own glory. There is One who seeks it, and He is the Judge.

But I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

Context of John 8:50

This verse is part of an intense dialogue between Jesus and the Jewish leaders (Pharisees and others) in the Temple. They repeatedly question His authority, origin, and claims, often accusing Him of being demon-possessed or speaking blasphemy. In the verses immediately preceding, Jesus declares His eternal nature and unique relationship with Abraham, leading to their hostile reaction (John 8:48-49). Here, Jesus responds to their insults by emphasizing His pure motives and reliance on the Father's ultimate judgment and vindication.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Humility and Selflessness of Christ: Jesus consistently demonstrates that His mission is not driven by personal ambition or the desire for human applause. His focus is entirely on fulfilling the will of God the Father. This contrasts sharply with the self-seeking motives often attributed to Him by His accusers.
  • Divine Vindication and Justice: Jesus trusts completely in the Father's authority. He knows that the Father is the one who will ultimately "seek" His glory, vindicate His claims, and "judge" those who reject Him. This highlights God's active role in upholding truth and righteousness.
  • Contrast of Motives: The verse implicitly contrasts Jesus' pure motives with the self-glorifying and truth-distorting motives of His adversaries. While they sought to discredit Him for their own prestige, Jesus sought only the Father's honor.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "glory" (doxa - δόξα) refers to honor, renown, and splendor. When Jesus says, "I seek not mine own glory," He is disclaiming any pursuit of self-exaltation or human praise. The phrase "there is one that seeketh and judgeth" emphasizes the active role of God the Father. The verb "seeketh" (zētei - ζητεῖ) implies a pursuit or investigation, suggesting the Father actively looks out for Jesus' honor and truth. "Judgeth" (krinei - κρίνει) refers to the Father's ultimate authority to discern truth from falsehood and to execute righteous judgment.

Related Scriptures

Jesus' statement about not seeking His own glory is a recurring theme in John's Gospel, underscoring His divine humility. For example, He declares, "He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him" (John 7:18). Furthermore, the Father's role in judgment, though often committed to the Son, is ultimately rooted in the Father's authority, as seen in passages like John 5:22, where it states the Father has committed all judgment to the Son. Here, the emphasis is on the Father's direct action in vindicating Jesus against His accusers.

Practical Application

John 8:50 offers several powerful lessons for believers today:

  • Embrace Humility: Like Jesus, we should strive to live without seeking personal glory or recognition. Our actions and words should be motivated by the desire to honor God and serve others, not to build our own reputation.
  • Trust in Divine Justice: When we are misunderstood, falsely accused, or face opposition for standing for truth, this verse reminds us to trust that God is the ultimate seeker of truth and dispenser of justice. We do not need to vindicate ourselves; God will do so in His time and way.
  • Align with God's Will: Our ultimate purpose should be to align our lives with God's will, knowing that true honor and lasting significance come from Him alone, not from human praise or worldly pursuits.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 5:41

    I receive not honour from men.

  • John 8:54

    Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

  • John 7:18

    He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

  • John 5:20

    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.

  • John 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.

  • John 12:47

    And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

  • 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.

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