John Calvin Commentary John 5:41

"I receive not glory from men." — John 5:41 (ASV)

I receive not glory from men. He proceeds in his reproof. However, so that he might not be suspected of pleading his own cause, he begins by saying that he does not care for the glory of men. It gives him no concern or uneasiness to see himself despised. Indeed, he is too great to depend on the opinions of men, for the malignity of the whole world can take nothing from him or make the slightest infringement on his high rank.

He is so eager to refute their slander that he exalts himself above men. Afterwards, he enters freely into invectives against them and charges them with contempt and hatred of God. And though, regarding honorable rank, there is an immense distance between Christ and us, we still ought boldly to despise the opinions of men.

We ought, at least, to guard most zealously against being provoked to anger when we are despised. On the contrary, let us learn never to be inflamed with indignation, except when men do not render to God the honor due to Him. Let our souls be burned and tortured by this holy jealousy whenever we see that the world is so ungrateful as to reject God.