John 8:49 Commentary and Bible Study

The way in which the Lord deals with them is remarkable to follow. ‘Jesus answered. I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.’ Well, he did. Everything the Lord did – and this is important reasoning – honoured the Father. When he worked miracles, for example, he was honouring the Father. He was displaying the power of God, the power of the Father and the power of the Son. He was demonstrating the kindness of God in the healing of countless people. When he preached, he was constantly drawing people to the Father and showing them how they could find the Father by repentance of sin and faith. He would give the most wonderful illustrations and parables and persuasions. In every aspect of his life he honoured the Father and brought glory to him.So this is the Lord’s reasoning – I honour the Father, and you hate me for it! That is effectively what he says to them. Messiah comes, sent from the Father, non-stop honouring the Father and drawing attention to him, and you hate him. By hating the one who honours the Father, you effectively dishonour the Father. The words in our translation are elegant, but actually the Greek is somewhat more forceful. It is as though the Lord says, I honour my Father and you heap contempt upon me. But in our translation it is put elegantly – ‘Ye do dishonour me.’ You treat me shamefully and yet my whole ministry and work is to honour the Father.