Most
certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live.
John 5:24-25
John 5 [15.] The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.” For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God. Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires. For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.
John 5 [24.] “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself. He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice, and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.
John 5 [31.] “If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid. It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true. You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved. He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me. The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. You don’t have his word living in you; because you don’t believe him whom he sent.
Meaning:
Jesus has just declared that the Son gives life to whom he desires and that the Father has given all judgment to the Son (John 5:21-22). In these two verses he applies those truths directly to his hearers. Life and judgment are not only matters for the end of the world; they are decided now, by how people respond to his word.
- “Most certainly I tell you”
This solemn opening, literally “Amen, amen,” runs through John’s Gospel. The prophets spoke in Yahweh’s name; Jesus speaks on his own authority.
- “He who hears my word, and believes him who sent me”
Hearing means receiving Jesus’ word and responding to it. Faith in Jesus is at the same time faith in the Father who sent him, because the Son speaks the Father’s words. Jesus describes his followers in the same way elsewhere: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them” (John 10:27-28).
- “Has eternal life”
Jesus speaks in the present tense. Eternal life is not only a future reward after death but a present possession, a new quality of life that begins now through knowing God and continues forever. It is a gift: “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
- “Doesn’t come into judgment”
Jesus has just said the Father has entrusted all judgment to him. Here he promises that whoever believes will not come under condemnation. He had told Nicodemus, “He who believes in him is not judged” (John 3:18). Paul echoes this: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). The verdict of condemnation has been removed.
- “Has passed out of death into life”
The change has already happened. Before faith, a person is spiritually dead, separated from God. Paul writes that God, “even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4-5). John uses the same words in his letter: “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers” (1 John 3:14). In Jesus’ parable the father says of his returning son, “this, my son, was dead, and is alive again” (Luke 15:24).
- “The hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice”
“Comes, and now is” points both to the present and the future. Now, through his word, the spiritually dead hear his voice and live. Jesus will soon speak of a future hour when “all that are in the tombs will hear his voice, and will come out” (John 5:28-29). The raising of Lazarus, when Jesus called a dead man out of his tomb with a loud voice, would picture both truths, and Jesus there declared, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
The Significance of John 5:24-25
- Assurance for believers
Those who trust Christ can know they have eternal life. This assurance rests not on feelings but on his promise.
- The urgency of hearing
If life is received by hearing his word, then listening to Jesus is the most important thing we can do.
Cross-References:
John 3:18: “He who believes in him is not judged.” Freedom from condemnation.
Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” The believer’s security.
Ephesians 2:4-5: “Even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” From death to life.
1 John 3:14: “We know that we have passed out of death into life.” Evidence of new life.
Conclusion: In John 5:24-25 Jesus promises that whoever hears his word and believes the Father who sent him has eternal life now, will not come into judgment, and has already passed from death into life. He announces that the hour has come when the spiritually dead hear the voice of the Son of God and live. These verses offer believers firm assurance and call everyone to listen to Jesus’ life-giving word.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible