John Calvin Commentary John 5:22

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

For the Father judgeth no man (John 5:22). He now states more clearly the general truth: that the Father governs the world in the person of the Son and exercises dominion by His hand. For the Evangelist uses the word judgment, in keeping with the idiom of the Hebrew language, as denoting authority and power. We now perceive the substance of what is stated here: that the Father has given the Son a kingdom, so that He may govern heaven and earth according to His pleasure.

But this might appear very absurd: that the Father, by surrendering His right to govern, would remain unemployed in heaven like a private person. The answer is easy. This is said with respect to both God and men, for no change took place in the Father when He appointed Christ to be supreme King and Lord of heaven and earth. For He is in the Son and works in Him.

But since, when we wish to rise to God, all our senses immediately fail, Christ is placed before our eyes as a living image of the invisible God. Therefore, there is no reason why we should toil in vain exploring the secrets of heaven, since God provides for our weakness by showing Himself to be near in the person of Christ.

On the other hand, whenever the inquiry relates to the government of the world, to our own condition, to the heavenly guardianship of our salvation, let us learn to direct our eyes to Christ alone, as all power is committed to Him (Matthew 28:18). In His face, God the Father—who would otherwise have been hidden and distant—appears to us so that the unveiled majesty of God does not swallow us up by its inconceivable brightness.