John 5:17

¶ But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

But {G1161} Jesus {G2424} answered {G611} them {G846}, My {G3450} Father {G3962} worketh {G2038} hitherto {G2193}{G737}, and I {G2504} work {G2038}.

But he answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I too am working.”

But Jesus answered them, “To this very day My Father is at His work, and I too am working.”

But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I work.

Commentary

Context

The verse immediately follows Jesus' healing of a man who had been infirm for 38 years at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:8-9). Because this miracle occurred on the Sabbath, and Jesus instructed the man to carry his bed, it provoked intense opposition and persecution from the Jewish religious leaders (John 5:16). Jesus' response in John 5:17 is His defense, asserting His divine prerogative.

Meaning and Significance

In this profound statement, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work," Jesus defends His actions on the Sabbath by appealing to the continuous activity of God the Father. The Jewish understanding of the Sabbath involved a cessation of all labor, but Jesus points out that God Himself never stops working in terms of sustaining creation, governing the universe, and carrying out His divine purposes. If God the Father is constantly at work, then Jesus, as the Son, is justified in also working – particularly in acts of mercy and healing. This statement is a bold assertion of Jesus' divine nature and His unique, intimate relationship with God, implying equality in purpose and authority. It was precisely this claim of making Himself equal with God that further incensed His accusers (John 5:18).

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority of Jesus: Jesus claims an authority that transcends human-made religious rules, grounding His actions in the very nature and ongoing work of God.
  • The Ongoing Work of God: God is not a static deity but is actively involved in His creation, providentially caring for it and working out His will.
  • Jesus' Equality with the Father: By stating He works as His Father works, Jesus implicitly claims a shared nature and divine prerogative, a theme central to John's Gospel (e.g., John 10:30).
  • True Meaning of the Sabbath: Jesus challenges a rigid, legalistic interpretation of the Sabbath, emphasizing that acts of compassion and God's redemptive work are not violations but expressions of its true spirit.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "worketh hitherto" (KJV) translates the Greek verb ergazomai (to work) in the present tense, combined with heōs arti (hitherto, up to now). This emphasizes God's continuous, uninterrupted activity from creation until the present moment. Jesus' use of "My Father" (Greek: Ho Patēr mou) is a deeply personal and possessive claim, highlighting His unique filial relationship and divine Sonship, which was understood by the Jews as a claim to deity.

Practical Application

John 5:17 reminds us that God is always at work in the world and in our lives, even when we don't perceive it. It encourages believers to understand Jesus not merely as a prophet or teacher, but as God incarnate, sharing the Father's nature and mission. For us, this verse underscores the importance of aligning our "work" – our lives, ministries, and acts of service – with God's ongoing purposes, rather than being bound by rigid traditions that might hinder compassion or the advancement of His kingdom. It calls us to discern and participate in what God is doing.

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Cross-References

  • John 9:4 (12 votes)

    I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

  • John 14:10 (12 votes)

    Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

  • Colossians 1:16 (8 votes)

    For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

  • 1 Corinthians 12:6 (7 votes)

    And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

  • Hebrews 1:3 (6 votes)

    Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

  • Genesis 2:1 (6 votes)

    ¶ Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

  • Genesis 2:2 (6 votes)

    And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.