A.T. Robertson Commentary John 5:42

"But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in yourselves." — John 5:42 (ASV)

But I know you (αλλα εγνωκα υμας). Perfect active indicative of γινωσκω, "I have come to know and still know," the knowledge of personal experience (2:24f.).

The love o' God (την αγαπην του θεου). Objective genitive, "the love toward God." See Lu 11:42 for this phrase in the same sense (only other instance in the Gospels, but common in 1John (1 John 2:5; 3:17; 4:7,9; 5:3) and in 2 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Romans 5:5. The sense of God's love for man occurs in 1 John 3:1; 4:9,10,16; John 15:9f. of Christ's love for man. These rabbis did not love God and hence did not love Christ.