Charles Ellicott Commentary John 5:42

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

You have not the love of God.—The principle which excludes seeking honour from men, is the love of God. They were, they said, jealous for God’s honour.

The first precept of the Law, and the foundation of the Theocracy, was the love of God. Every Jew professed this, and bound round brow and arm the holy texts which declared it (Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Deuteronomy 11:13–21). The Pharisees made broad the phylacteries which contained these words (Matthew 23:5).

They had them without, but they did not have the principle within. There were sure marks which He had read in the heart as plain as the letters worn on the body, and therefore He knew that they did not have the love of God in them.