Now we understand that You know all thingsThis phrase reflects the disciples' growing recognition of Jesus' divine omniscience. In the context of the Gospel of John, Jesus has repeatedly demonstrated His knowledge of people's thoughts and circumstances (e.g.,
John 2:24-25,
John 4:17-19). This acknowledgment by the disciples is significant as it shows their increasing faith and understanding of Jesus' divine nature. The concept of God knowing all things is rooted in the Old Testament, where God's omniscience is a key attribute (
Psalm 139:1-4).
and that You have no need for anyone to question You.
Here, the disciples express their belief that Jesus' wisdom and authority are self-evident, requiring no external validation. This statement can be seen as a response to Jesus' earlier teachings and actions, which have consistently revealed His divine authority (John 5:19-30). In the cultural context of the time, rabbis and teachers were often questioned to test their knowledge and authority. The disciples' statement indicates their recognition that Jesus transcends human teaching and understanding.
Because of this, we believe that You came from God.”
This declaration of faith is a pivotal moment for the disciples, affirming their belief in Jesus' divine origin. Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus has made claims about His relationship with the Father (John 5:36-37,John 8:42). The disciples' confession aligns with the prologue of John, which states that Jesus is the Word made flesh, sent from God (John 1:14). This belief is foundational to Christian doctrine, emphasizing Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14,Micah 5:2).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Jesus ChristThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is speaking to His disciples, revealing His divine knowledge and origin.
2.
The DisciplesThe immediate audience of Jesus' words, they are expressing their growing understanding and belief in Jesus' divine nature.
3.
The Upper RoomThe setting for this discourse, where Jesus is preparing His disciples for His impending departure and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
4.
God the FatherImplicit in the disciples' declaration, acknowledging Jesus' divine origin and mission.
5.
The Event of RevelationThis moment is part of a larger discourse where Jesus is revealing deep spiritual truths to His disciples.
Teaching Points
Understanding Jesus' OmniscienceRecognize that Jesus, being fully God, possesses complete knowledge. This should encourage us to trust in His wisdom and guidance in our lives.
Faith in Jesus' Divine OriginThe disciples' confession is a model for our own faith. We are called to believe in Jesus as the Son of God who came to reveal the Father to us.
The Importance of RevelationJust as the disciples grew in understanding through Jesus' teaching, we too should seek to grow in our knowledge of God through Scripture and the Holy Spirit.
Trust Without QuestioningThe disciples acknowledge that Jesus needs no questioning, which challenges us to trust in His plans and purposes, even when we do not fully understand them.
Living Out Our BeliefOur belief in Jesus' divine nature should impact our daily lives, influencing our decisions, actions, and interactions with others.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of John 16:30?
2.How does John 16:30 affirm Jesus' divine knowledge and authority in your life?
3.What does "You know all things" reveal about Jesus' omniscience and your trust?
4.How can John 16:30 strengthen your faith during times of doubt?
5.Connect John 16:30 with other scriptures affirming Jesus' divine nature and wisdom.
6.How can acknowledging Jesus' omniscience in John 16:30 impact your daily decisions?
7.How does John 16:30 affirm Jesus' divine knowledge and authority?
8.Why do the disciples believe Jesus knows all things in John 16:30?
9.What is the significance of the disciples' belief in John 16:30?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from John 16?
11.What does 'The Holy Spirit guides into all truth' mean?
12.Did Jesus know everything? (John 21:17 vs. Mark 13:32)
13.What does the title "God the Son" mean?
14.Who is the Second Person of the Trinity?What Does John 16:30 Mean
Now we understand that You know all things• The disciples have been puzzled by Jesus’ words about His death and resurrection (John 16:17-19), yet His precise knowledge of their unspoken questions suddenly convinces them.
• By saying “You know all things,” they are acknowledging Jesus’ omniscience—a divine attribute also affirmed inJohn 2:24-25 andJohn 21:17 (“Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You”).
• Their insight grows from partial to clearer faith, showing how Jesus patiently leads believers into fuller understanding (John 14:26;Colossians 2:3).
and that You have no need for anyone to question You• Jesus’ answers come before the questions are voiced, proving His authority and self-sufficiency as Teacher (Matthew 7:28-29).
•John 5:34 records Jesus saying, “I do not receive testimony from man,” echoing this thought that He requires no human verification.
• The leaders who tried to trap Him “dared not ask Him any further question” (Luke 20:40), an historical snapshot of how His wisdom silences opposition. Believers can therefore rest in the certainty that His word stands without revision or correction.
Because of this, we believe that You came from God.• The disciples connect Jesus’ omniscience with His divine origin. Because He knows all things and needs no questioning, He must be the One sent from the Father (John 3:13; 6:38).
• Peter had already confessed, “We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God” (John 6:69); here the group echoes that conviction.
• Faith is not blind but grounded in observable truth: fulfilled prophecy, perfect insight, and flawless authority. Their confession anticipates Jesus’ prayer inJohn 17:8, “They accepted them and truly understood that I came from You.”
• Genuine belief always pivots on who Jesus is—God’s Son come in the flesh (1 John 4:15)—and expresses itself through trust and obedience.
summaryJohn 16:30 captures a breakthrough moment for the disciples: recognizing Jesus’ omniscience, they see His unquestionable authority and confess His divine origin. Their declaration models how observing Christ’s perfect knowledge and self-sufficiency leads to confident faith that He truly “came from God.”
(30)
Now are we sure that thou knowest all things.--Comp.
John 16:19;
John 16:23. The "now" is emphatic, as in the previous verse. They see in His present knowledge of their thoughts, and in the light which has come to them from the statements of
John 16:28, the fulfilment of the promise which He has made for the future (
John 16:23). They think that the day has already come when they shall ask Him nothing, for He knows all things, and communicates to them the fulness of truth.
By this we believe that thou camest forth from God.--They had believed this before (John 16:27), but here, as frequently, St. John remembers the development of their faith. (Comp. Note onJohn 2:11.) They find, in His knowledge of their thoughts (John 16:19), and in the full solution which He gives to their difficulties, ground for a new faith; and upon this new proof of His divinity they have a new faith in Him. (Comp. the instance of Nathanael's faith at the end of John 1) . . .
Verse 30. -
Now know we that thou knowest all things. He had answered their unutterable yearning. That which stirred them very deeply on many occasions was this proof that nothing in their hearts was hidden from him. Nathanael was one of them, and now he saw "angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of man." "Thou knowest all things."
The idea in their minds does not embrace the full range of human inquiry, nor the depths of Deity, but all the things which are in their hearts to ask him. Their word is true even if in their intention they fall short of ascribing omniscience to their Lord.
And thou hast no need that any one should put to thee these inquiries. Thou hast sounded the depths of our hearts, and found out the unutterable and unuttered within us. When we were afraid to ask thee concerning "the little while," thou didst discern our unspoken yearning, and now thou art so establishing thy Divine claim upon our reverence and affection, that we can trust thee to give us all needful illumination when we most require it.
In this fact, in this consideration just stated, we find our justification and the cause of our faith.
We believe that thou earnest forth from (
ἀπό)
God (
ἀπό differs from the solemnity of the
παρά or the
ἐκ of Ver. 28. Though Lange makes the
ὅτι equivalent to "because," yet generally John gives to the
ὅτι which follows a verb after
ἐν τούτῳ the sense of "that," thus introducing the object of the verb, though in one place,
1 John 4:13, both constructions are seen in the same sentence. The objective force of "that" is to be preferred here). We believe that thy whole ministry and message is a revelation of God, a coming near to us of the Father. Thy name is "Immanuel, God with us." A question arises whether the disciples in this gush of faith said more than they really meant, and deserved reproof, or whether they had reached an elevation of thought from which they never would absolutely recede.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Nowνῦν(nyn)Adverb
Strong's 3568:A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.we understandοἴδαμεν(oidamen)Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1492:To know, remember, appreciate.thatὅτι(hoti)Conjunction
Strong's 3754:Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.You knowοἶδας(oidas)Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1492:To know, remember, appreciate.all thingsπάντα(panta)Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.and thatκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.You haveἔχεις(echeis)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2192:To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.noοὐ(ou)Adverb
Strong's 3756:No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.needχρείαν(chreian)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5532:From the base of chraomai or chre; employment, i.e. An affair; also occasion, demand, requirement or destitution.forἵνα(hina)Conjunction
Strong's 2443:In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.anyoneτίς(tis)Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100:Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.to questionἐρωτᾷ(erōta)Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2065:Apparently from ereo; to interrogate; by implication, to request.You.σε(se)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.Because ofἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.this,τούτῳ(toutō)Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778:This; he, she, it.we believeπιστεύομεν(pisteuomen)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 4100:From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.thatὅτι(hoti)Conjunction
Strong's 3754:Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.You cameἐξῆλθες(exēlthes)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1831:To go out, come out. From ek and erchomai; to issue.fromἀπὸ(apo)Preposition
Strong's 575:From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.God.”Θεοῦ(Theou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.
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NT Gospels: John 16:30 Now we know that you know all (Jhn Jo Jn) 
