John 5:41–47 - 41 “I do not receive glory from men; 42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43 “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? 45 “Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. 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?”
What does today’s passage say?
In today's passage, Jesus reveals several reasons why the religious leaders failed to believe in Him. First, He explains that He has no interest in praise from people, but He knows these leaders lack genuine love for God in their hearts (vv. 41-42). Next, Jesus notes the irony that they reject Him, who came in God's name, yet they gladly follow others who promote themselves with no divine authority. Their focus on getting approval from each other blocks them from accepting the truth (vv. 43-44). Finally, Jesus states that, if they truly believed Moses' writings, they would believe Jesus, because Moses wrote about Him (vv. 45-47).
How can I apply John 5:41-47 to my life?
In a world filled with social media influencers, self-proclaimed experts, and people seeking fame, Jesus' words in this passage speak straight to our hearts. Religious leaders in Jesus' day faced the same temptations we battle today - the pull to look good in front of others, follow popular teachers, and treat God's Word as optional. They studied Scripture but missed its main message about Jesus. They wanted respect from people more than they wanted a real relationship with God. They rejected Jesus while staying open to following others who told them what they wanted to hear. These issues have not changed. People still chase after human approval instead of God's love. They follow charismatic personalities rather than studying Scripture for themselves. They pick parts of the Bible they like while avoiding teachings that challenge them to change. Jesus shows us a better way. He points out these problems so we can avoid the same mistakes and build our faith on a solid foundation. Here are some basic principles from this passage that we should apply to our lives:
1. Choose God's Love Over Human Praise (vv. 41-42): Jesus points out that the religious leaders sought praise from others instead of having genuine love for God. People often say they want to please God, but their actions tell a different story. Some chase social status at church while others post spiritual content online just to look good. The religious leaders of Jesus' day mastered this game - they knew exactly how to dress, what to say, and which rules to follow to win everyone's respect. But God saw right through their act. Today, this same problem shows up everywhere. A businessman joins the church board to boost his reputation. A teenager posts Bible verses on Instagram but lives differently at school. A ministry leader makes decisions based on what will keep people happy rather than what will honor God. The rush of getting likes, comments, and praise feels good for a moment, but it leaves us empty inside. Living this way turns our spiritual life into a performance where we are always "on stage." God offers us something better. He invites us to stop the exhausting work of keeping up appearances and start experiencing His real love. When we choose to live for His approval instead of chasing human praise, we discover authentic faith. This means making choices that might not win applause from others but bring joy to God's heart. True satisfaction comes when we care more about God's view of us than our social media following or reputation in the community (1 Thessalonians 2:4-6, Galatians 1:10, John 12:42-43).
Food for thought: In what areas of your life do you find yourself seeking human approval more than God's approval? What specific changes could you make this week to focus more on pleasing God than impressing others?
2. Accept Jesus Rather Than Following False Teachers (vv. 43-44): Jesus reveals how the religious leaders rejected Him while staying open to following others who claimed authority. This spiritual blindness still traps people today in dangerous ways. Some pastors build personal kingdoms instead of pointing people to Jesus, gathering followers who hang on their every word. Others mix popular self-help ideas with bits of Scripture, creating a feel-good message that sounds right but leads people away from truth. Meanwhile, social media "prophets" and spiritual influencers pop up daily, promising special revelations and insider knowledge. When someone claims to have secret wisdom or demands personal loyalty, warning bells should ring. Jesus never asked people to follow Him blindly - He backed up His claims with evidence and truth. False teachers often show up wearing smooth smiles and speaking comfortable words that tickle our ears. They know exactly what people want to hear, and they package their message to appeal to our natural desires. Yet their teachings pull us away from simple faith in Jesus Christ. God calls us to test everything against His Word and stay focused on Jesus alone. Following Christ means saying no to impressive personalities who draw attention to themselves, no matter how magnetic or convincing they seem. True spiritual leadership always leads people toward Jesus, not toward the leader. When we anchor our faith firmly in Christ, we develop wisdom to spot counterfeit guides who would lead us astray (2 Peter 2:1-3, 1 John 4:1-3, Acts 20:29-31).
Food for thought: What qualities help you tell the difference between true and false spiritual teachers? How can you keep Jesus at the center of your faith instead of following popular religious personalities?
3. Trust the Scriptures that Testify of Jesus (vv. 45-47): Jesus confronts the religious leaders with their failure to believe the very Scriptures they claimed to follow. Many people today treat the Bible like an ancient book of good advice, picking the parts they like while ignoring clear teachings that make them uncomfortable. Some read Scripture with one eye on the text and another on how to make it fit their preferred lifestyle. God gave us His Word as more than just a religious handbook - it points directly to Jesus and shows us the path to eternal life. The Bible stands as our most reliable guide, yet people chase after spiritual experiences, self-help books, and pop psychology instead of studying what God has already said. When troubles hit, they turn to social media influencers or the latest trending philosophy rather than searching the Scriptures for answers. This approach leaves them building their life on shifting sand. Opening the Bible means facing truth that might challenge our comfortable ideas or expose areas where we need to change. Yet doing this brings stability and growth that no other source can provide. Following Jesus requires more than just owning a Bible or knowing some favorite verses - it means letting God's Word shape our beliefs, guide our decisions, and transform our daily actions. Those who take time to read, understand, and apply Scripture find their faith growing stronger while gaining wisdom for life's challenges. The same Scriptures that pointed to Jesus centuries ago still reveal Him clearly today, showing us how to know Him better and live in ways that honor God (2 Timothy 3:14-17, Hebrews 4:12-13, Psalms 119:105).
Food for thought: How much time do you spend reading and studying the Bible compared to other sources of guidance in your life? What practical steps can you take to better understand and apply Scripture's teachings about Jesus?
The religious leaders of Jesus' day made three critical errors that blocked their path to genuine faith. They chased after human approval instead of seeking God's love. They stayed open to following false teachers while rejecting Jesus Himself. They studied Scripture but missed its central message about Christ. These same obstacles trip up many people today. Social media pressure tempts us to perform our faith for others rather than living it authentically for God. Popular speakers and spiritual influencers compete for our attention, sometimes drawing us away from simple trust in Jesus. Even Bible study can become an academic exercise that fails to change our hearts or bring us closer to God. Jesus calls us to a different approach. He wants us to find our worth in God's love rather than human praise. He invites us to follow Him directly instead of chasing after trending teachers. He urges us to read Scripture as more than just an ancient text - to see it as God's living message pointing straight to Him. When we avoid these common pitfalls and keep our focus on Jesus, our faith grows stronger and more authentic each day.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that You would strip away the masks I wear to impress others and show me what true devotion to You looks like. There are too many times where I have chosen the easy path of people-pleasing instead of standing firm in my faith. Break through my natural desire to look good in others' eyes. I pray that You would plant Your truth so deeply in my heart that I stop measuring my worth by others' approval. When I feel pulled toward false teaching that sounds good but leads nowhere, stop me in my tracks. Give me a burning desire to dig into Your Word - not just to gain head knowledge, but to truly know Jesus better. Some days I struggle to open my Bible, choosing instead to fill my mind with other voices. Change that in me, Lord. Help me see Scripture as my lifeline to knowing You, not just another book on my shelf. I pray that You would transform how I think about Your Word, so I stop treating it like a buffet where I pick what I like and leave the rest. Make me bold enough to follow Your truth even when it costs me friendships or popularity.
I pray these things in the most precious name of Jesus, Amen.
John 5:44 - “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?”
With His Blessings,
Pastor Corby
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