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    Honouring the Son Is Honouring the Father

    John 5:23 Commentary

    In-depth meaning, historical context, and practical application

    Written by Bible Sundays Editorial TeamChecked by Bible Sundays Scripture DeskLast reviewed August 1, 2026Our editorial standards
    "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 5:23 (KJV)
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    Introduction

    One verse before the great assurance of v. 24, Jesus makes a claim no mere man could make: God the Father intends every honour given to Himself to be given equally to the Son.

    Historical Context

    Jesus is answering Jewish leaders who sought to kill Him for making Himself 'equal with God' (v. 18). Far from softening the claim, He intensifies it: the Father insists on it.

    Original Language Insights

    'Even as' (kathos) — to the same degree, in the same way. Not a lesser honour, not a different worship — identical.

    Theological Significance

    Any religion that claims to honour God while rejecting Christ falls under this verse's verdict. The Father has linked His own glory to the Son's so tightly that the two cannot be separated.

    Practical Application

    Examine your worship. If Jesus is not honoured at the centre of it, the Father Himself says you are not honouring Him either.

    Cross-References & Related Scriptures

    John 5:24

    "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life."

    The next verse — honouring the Son leads to receiving His life-giving word.

    Philippians 2:10-11

    "Every knee should bow… every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

    Same arrangement: the Father is glorified through honour given to the Son.

    Prayer Response

    Father, I honour Your Son as I honour You. May my worship hold them both together forever. Amen.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Does honouring Christ take honour away from the Father?

    No — the Father Himself ordained it. Refusing to worship the Son is the one sure way to fail to honour the Father.

    Read commentary on surrounding verses

    Continue studying John 5 verse by verse:

    After · John 5:24Exact verse

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

    Theme: Eternal Life

    After · John 5:25Exact verse

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

    Theme: The Spiritually Dead Hear and Live

    Nearest commentary in John

    Earlier · 1 ch back · John 4:14Nearest chapter

    But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

    Theme: Spiritual Satisfaction

    Earlier · 1 ch back · John 4:23-24Nearest chapter

    But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

    Theme: True Worship

    Earlier · 1 ch back · John 4:23Nearest chapter

    But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

    Theme: Worship

    Earlier · 1 ch back · John 4:24Nearest chapter

    God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

    Theme: True Worship

    Read John 4Commentary: John 4:23-24
    Read John 5 (full)Nearest commentary: John 5:24
    Read John 6Commentary: John 6:35
    Previous commentary: John 4:35Next commentary: John 5:24

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    Related Bible Questions

    Common questions people ask about this passage — answered with KJV scripture.

    What Proof Is There That Jesus Is God?

    Jesus claimed divine titles, accepted worship, forgave sins, demonstrated omniscience and power over nature and death — and Scripture explicitly calls Him God.

    Read answer

    Who Was the Apostle John?

    John was the 'beloved disciple,' part of Jesus' inner circle, who wrote the Gospel of John, three epistles, and the Book of Revelation — emphasizing love and the deity of Christ.

    Read answer

    What Is the Gospel of John About?

    The Gospel of John presents Jesus as the divine Son of God, emphasizing His deity, seven miraculous signs, and the promise of eternal life through faith.

    Read answer

    What Is the Deity of Christ?

    The deity of Christ is the doctrine that Jesus is fully God, equal with the Father in essence and glory, as affirmed throughout the New Testament and essential to the Christian faith.

    Read answer

    Who Was Zacharias the Priest in the Bible?

    Zacharias was a priest of the course of Abia whose prayer for a son was answered in old age with the birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ.

    Read answer

    What Is the Nicene Creed?

    The Nicene Creed is a formal statement of Christian orthodoxy adopted at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, affirming the full deity of Christ and His consubstantiality with the Father.

    Read answer

    Quick Devotional

    For a shorter devotional reflection on related verses:

    John 14:6 – Meaning & Devotional

    "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

    John 16:33 – Meaning & Devotional

    "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

    John 1:1 – Meaning & Devotional

    "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

    Related Miracles

    Signs and wonders connected to this passage and its themes:

    Healing
    New Testament

    Healing at the Pool of Bethesda

    Jesus heals a man who had been infirm for 38 years at the Pool of Bethesda with a word.

    Read the miracle
    Healing
    New Testament

    Healing of the Man Born Blind

    Jesus anointed a man's eyes with clay and gave sight to one born blind from birth.

    Read the miracle
    Signs & Wonders
    New Testament

    Water Turned into Wine

    Jesus' first public miracle at a wedding in Cana turned six water pots into the best wine.

    Read the miracle
    Resurrection
    New Testament

    The Raising of Lazarus

    After four days in the tomb, Lazarus came forth at the command of Jesus.

    Read the miracle

    Related Reading

    Continue your study with related content from across our library:

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    In-depth study • True Worship

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    John 4:23 Commentary

    In-depth study • Worship

    Commandment

    Honour Thy Father and Thy Mother

    The fifth commandment bridges our duties to God and to others, calling for respe

    Hymn

    This Is My Father's World

    Maltbie D. Babcock • 1901

    Q&A

    Jesus vs. The Father — Are They the Same Person?

    Theology & Doctrine

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