41 "I do not receive honor from men.
I got stuck right away with Jesus’ statement that he doesn’t accept honor from men. Intuitively, my first reaction was that he was referring to flattery. This seems to be the best understanding from the context. However, it is odd that the ESV and NAS translate, the word as glory, NKJV and KJV as honor, NLT as approval, and NIV as praise. The reason I see this as odd is that we are commanded to praise God and give him glory (Ps 29:1-2, 135:1). Previously, Jesus said that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father (John 5:23). So why would Jesus say he doesn’t accept it. Perhaps it is a poor translation as the word can also be translated as “opinion, estimation in which one is held, repute; in NT, always good opinion, hence reputation, praise, honour, glory”[1] If Jesus used it in this manner then it fits with the context that he isn’t building his reputation or what people think.
42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.
As the Holy Spirit informs him, Jesus is quite aware of the attitudes and thoughts of people on various occasions. Just as is recorded in Mark 2:8, “Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts” (NIV), Jesus knew that for all their pomp and bluster, the Jews who were confronting him didn’t know or truly love God. It reminds me of Jesus condemnation of the church in Ephesus where he says they have lost their first love (Rev 2:4). There are too many of us in churches that believe we are honoring Jesus but don’t have a true love for him.
43 I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?
Jesus goes well past the positions of the Old Testament prophets in stating his authority. They would claim to have seen vision or God’s word to assert their position (Isa 1:1, Amos 1:1). Jeremiah said that the word of the Lord came to him (Jer 1:2) and elaborated on his call (Jer 1:4-8). Not only does Jesus speak with authority but claims that God is his Father. It is amazing that the Jews didn’t object to this at this time.
Apparently, a lot of the Jews had been drawn away and enticed to rebel against Rome prior to Jesus’ appearance. Gamaliel warned the Sanhedrin to be wary of persecuting the Apostles and referred to two previous self-proclaimed Messiahs who failed to make good on their promises (Acts 5:34-37). This was an era when the expectation of the Messiah brought people out of the woodwork, but none claimed to come from the Father.
Then it also appears that they were all patting themselves on the back for not falling for the false Messiahs, most likely claiming that they knew all along they were false based on their knowledge of the Scriptures. It seems that they only declared their knowledge after the efforts to rid them of Rome failed.
Jesus points out a very serious problem they have and is also rampant among unbelievers as well as Christians. We give approval to those who shouldn’t have it and we seek approval from those who are not worth giving it. What Paul told the Romans is very apropos for our culture today. It extends to everyone from politicians and even pastors.
Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them (Rom 1:32 NIV).
If we focused on getting our approval from God, we wouldn’t have either problem. We can only be free from honoring or seeking honor from the wrong sources by seeking God’s approval.
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ (Gal 1:10 NIV).
45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you — Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"
I’m not sure how the final judgment will go but it is interesting that Jesus says he isn’t the one that will accuse people who have a Bible. Instead, the light that they had will accuse them. For the Jews, it is the Old Testament and even just the first five books. For others it is those who have had a Bible sitting on the shelf and has barely glanced at it. There will even be some who have studied the Bible diligently and have still never had a relationship with Jesus. For those who have belonged to a Christian church all their lives and even read their Bibles but never surrendered their lives to Jesus, the following verses should wake them up so that they will not be accused of faking their relationship with Jesus.
Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers” (Matt 7:21-23 NIV)!
[1]George Abbott-Smith, “NT:1391,” in A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. (Third Edition.) (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1922).
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