John Calvin Commentary John 5:18

"For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only brake the sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God." — John 5:18 (ASV)

For this reason, therefore, the Jews sought the more to slay him. This defense was so far from lessening their fury that it enraged them even more.

He was not unaware of their malice, wickedness, and hardened stubbornness; instead, he intended first to benefit a few of his disciples who were then present, and second, to make a public display of their incurable malice.

By his example, he has taught us that we should never yield to the fury of wicked men but should strive to maintain the truth of God as far as necessity requires, even if the whole world should oppose and grumble.

Nor is there any reason why Christ's servants should be offended that they do not benefit all people as they wish, since Christ himself did not always succeed; and we should not be surprised if, to the degree that God's glory is more fully displayed, Satan rages more fiercely in his members and instruments.

Because he not only had broken the Sabbath. When the Evangelist says that the Jews were hostile to Christ because he had broken the Sabbath, he speaks according to the opinion they had formed, for I have already shown that the situation was quite the opposite.

The principal cause of their anger was that he called God his Father. And certainly, Christ intended that it should be understood that God was his Father in a special sense, so as to distinguish himself from the common status of other people.

He made himself equal to God, when he claimed for himself continuation in working; and Christ is so far from denying this that he confirms it more clearly. This refutes the folly of the Arians, who recognized that Christ is God but did not think that he is equal to the Father, as if in the one and simple essence of God there could be any inequality.