Charles Ellicott Commentary John 5:22

Charles Ellicott Commentary

John 5:22

1819–1905
Anglican
Charles Ellicott
Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott Commentary

John 5:22

1819–1905
Anglican
SCRIPTURE

"For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son;" — John 5:22 (ASV)

For the Father judges no man.—Better, For not even does the Father judge any man; and if not the Father, to whom judgment belongs, then no one else but the Son to whom He has committed all judgment. To judge is the opposite of to quicken in the previous verse.

The fact that the Son has power to judge is correlative with His power to quicken whom He will. The spiritual life given to, and received by, some (John 5:24), is a separation from, and a judgment of, others. The eternal life which will be given to some, will be the eternal separation from, and exclusion of, others.

The reason why judgment is committed to the Son is given in John 5:27 as resulting from His humanity. It is stated here as resulting from His divinity. It is that this power, like the quickening power of John 5:21, should lead all to give to the Son honour equal to that which they render to the Father.

Again, this relation is urged against those who professed to honour God, and as a proof of it were seeking to kill His Son. That Sonship, expressing at once subordination and unity, necessarily involved the Fatherhood. To reject Him was to reject the Father who sent Him (John 5:30; John 5:36–37).