16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:16-18 KJV)
The Jews want to kill Jesus
After Jesus healed the man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, the man went to tell the Jews that it was Jesus who healed him (John 5:1-15). For that reason, the Jews accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath, hated him, persecuted him, and sought to kill him. They disguised this hatred as religious zeal, blaming him for breaking the Sabbath.
In these verses, John 5:16-18, we have Christ’s discourse on the occasion of his being accused of breaking the Sabbath. It seems to be his defense before the Jews and their leaders. This happened whether on the same day or a few days later is unclear—probably the same day.
Christ justified what he did on the Sabbath day (John 5:17): He answered them. This suggests that he was charged with something. What they suggested among themselves when they sought to kill him (John 5:16), he knew and responded to: “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” At other times, in response to similar accusations, he pointed to examples like David eating the showbread, the priests offering sacrifices, and people watering their cattle on the Sabbath. But here he goes further and appeals to the example of his Father and his divine authority, waiving all other defenses. He insists on what he had said in Matthew 12:8: “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath,” and expands on it.
- He claims to be the Son of God, clearly indicated by calling God his Father. If he is the Son, then his holiness is unquestionable and his authority indisputable. He may revise the divine law as he sees fit. Surely they ought to respect the Son, the heir of all things.
- He works together with God. (1) “My Father is working until now.” God rested on the seventh day from the work of creation, which is the basis for our Sabbath rest (Exodus 20:11). But God continues to work in sustaining and governing all things, both on Sabbaths and weekdays. So when we are told to rest, it does not forbid doing things that directly glorify God—like the man carrying his bed. (2) “I am working”—not only may I work like my Father in doing good on the Sabbath, but I work with him. As God created all things through Christ, so he upholds and governs all through him (Hebrews 1:3). This gives divine legitimacy to all Christ does. He who does all is Lord of all, and thus Lord of the Sabbath. He was about to demonstrate this further by changing the day from the seventh to the first.
The Jews took offense at his doctrine (John 5:18). They sought even more to kill him. His defense became another accusation. Those who won’t be enlightened by Christ’s words will be enraged by them. Nothing irritates Christ’s enemies more than his asserting authority (Psalm 2:3-5). They sought to kill him:
- Because he had broken the Sabbath. No matter his explanation, they were determined to find him guilty. When malice presides, justice is silenced.
- Because he said God was his Father. They claimed to be jealous for God’s honor and accused Jesus of making himself equal with God—a serious crime if he were not truly so. It was Lucifer’s sin: “I will be like the Most High.” (1) This accusation was rightly inferred from his words. He called God his own Father (patera idion), indicating a unique relationship, making himself equal with God. The Jews understood what the Arians did not. (2) Yet this was wrongly charged as a crime. He was and is equal with the Father (Philippians 2:6), and so Christ does not reject the charge but instead proves it.
Christ’s discourse continues without interruption through the rest of the chapter. He explains and confirms his mission as Mediator and representative in the covenant between God and man. The honors he claims are too great for any mere creature, and the tasks too difficult for any but God. Therefore, he must be equal with the Father.
In general, he is one with the Father in all his work as Mediator. There is complete unity between them. It begins with a solemn declaration (John 5:19): “Truly, truly, I say to you.” This suggests that what he says is (1) very important and deserves serious attention; (2) completely reliable and deserves full trust; and (3) divinely revealed—things we would not know otherwise. He says two main things about his unity with the Father in work: