SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:44
¿Cmo podis vosotros creer, pues tomis la gloria los unos de los otros? Y no buscis la gloria que de slo Dios es.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 5:44
Verse 44. How can ye believe, which receive honour, &c.] The grand obstacle to the salvation of the scribes and Pharisees was their pride, vanity, and self-love. They lived on each other's praise. If they had acknowledged Christ as the only teacher, they must have given up the good opinion of the multitude; and they chose rather to lose their souls than to forfeit their reputation among men! This is the ruin of millions. They would be religious, if religion and worldly honour were connected; but as the kingdom of Christ is not of this world, and their hearts and souls are wedded to the earth, they will not accept the salvation which is offered to them on these terms-Deny thyself: take up thy cross, and follow ME. It is no wonder that we never find persons making any progress in religion who mix with the world, and in any respect regulate their conduct by its anti-Christian customs, maxims, and fashions.
From God only?] Or, from the only God-para tou monou qeou. Two of the ancient Slavonic versions read, From the only begotten Son of God.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 44. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another ? etc.] As the Scribes and Pharisees did, who were ambitious of honour and respect from one another, as well as from the common people; doing all they did to be seen of men, and to gain applause among them: choosing the uppermost rooms at feasts, and chief places in the synagogues, and delighting in the pompous title of Rabbi, Rabbi; and were in expectation of the temporal kingdom of the Messiah, when they hoped to be advanced to places of great honour and profit; and all this was an hinderance to them from believing in Christ, who appeared in such an abject form, and made so mean a figure; whose doctrine was so unsuitable to their carnal minds, and whose followers were so poor and contemptible; and besides it was made a law among them, that those who professed him to be the Messiah, should be cast out of the synagogue: hence many who were convinced that he was the Messiah, durst not confess him, lest they should lose their honour and respect among men, which they preferred to the praise of God: and seek not the honour that cometh from God only ; or from the only God, as the Vulgate Latin; or from the one God, as the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions render it: the honour that comes from him is, that of being born of him; of being a son or daughter of his, having that new name, which is better than that of sons and daughters of the greatest princes on earth; of being made all glorious within, and clothed with gold of Ophir, with raiment of needlework, with the robe of righteousness, and garments of salvation; of being translated into the spiritual kingdom of Christ, and made kings and priests unto God by him; of being set on the same throne with Christ, having on a crown of life and righteousness, and enjoying a kingdom and glory; being heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; which honour all the saints have, or shall have, and which these men cared not for.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 39-44 - The Jews considered that eternal life was revealed to them in their Scriptures, and that they had it, because they had the word of God in their hands. Jesus urged them to search those Scriptures with mor diligence and attention. "Ye do search the Scriptures," and ye do wel to do so. They did indeed search the Scriptures, but it was with a vie to their own glory. It is possible for men to be very studious in the letter of the Scriptures, yet to be strangers to its power. Or, "Searc the Scriptures," and so it was spoken to them in the nature of a appeal. Ye profess to receive and believe the Scripture, let that be the judge. It is spoken to us as advising or commanding all Christian to search the Scriptures. Not only read them, and hear them, but searc them; which denotes diligence in examining and studying them. We mus search the Scriptures for heaven as our great end; For in them ye thin ye have eternal life. We must search the Scriptures for Christ, as the new and living Way, that leads to this end. To this testimony Chris adds reproofs of their unbelief and wickedness; their neglect of his and his doctrine. Also he reproves their want of the love of God. But there is life with Jesus Christ for poor souls. Many who make a grea profession of religion, yet show they want the love of God, by their neglect of Christ and contempt of his commandments. It is the love of God in us, the love that is a living, active principle in the heart which God will accept. They slighted and undervalued Christ, becaus they admired and overvalued themselves. How can those believe, who make the praise and applause of men their idol! When Christ and his followers are men wondered at, how can those believe, the utmost of whose ambition is to make a fair show in the flesh!
Greek Textus Receptus
πως 4459 ADV-I δυνασθε 1410 5736 V-PNI-2P υμεις 5210 P-2NP πιστευσαι 4100 5658 V-AAN δοξαν 1391 N-ASF παρα 3844 PREP αλληλων 240 C-GPM λαμβανοντες 2983 5723 V-PAP-NPM και 2532 CONJ την 3588 T-ASF δοξαν 1391 N-ASF την 3588 T-ASF παρα 3844 PREP του 3588 T-GSM μονου 3441 A-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM ου 3756 PRT-N ζητειτε 2212 5719 V-PAI-2P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
44. Ye believe. Again the emphatic ye, the reason for the emphasis being given in the succeeding clause.Which receive (lambanontev). Literally, receiving (as ye do): seeing that ye receive.
Seek not the honor that cometh from God only (kai thn doxan thn monou Qeou ou zhteite). The Rev. gives it capitally, following the Greek order: and the glory that cometh from the only God ye seek not. Not God only, which entirely overlooks the force of the definite article; but the only God. Compare 1 Tim. vi. 15, 16; John xvii. 3; Rom. xvi. 27.
