Furthermore, the Father judges no oneThis phrase emphasizes the unique role of Jesus Christ in the divine plan. In the context of Jewish tradition, God is often seen as the ultimate judge of humanity. However, this statement highlights a shift in the New Testament, where judgment is delegated to the Son. This reflects the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son, and the trust placed in Jesus to execute judgment. It also underscores the authority and divinity of Christ, aligning with passages such as
John 3:35, where the Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.
but has assigned all judgment to the Son
This phrase indicates the comprehensive authority given to Jesus. In the cultural context of the time, a son often acted on behalf of his father, especially in matters of business or legal affairs. This cultural understanding helps illuminate the trust and authority the Father places in the Son. Biblically, this assignment of judgment to Jesus is significant because it fulfills Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah's role in judgment, such as inIsaiah 11:3-4, where the Messiah judges with righteousness. It also connects to the eschatological themes in the New Testament, where Jesus is depicted as the judge of the living and the dead, as seen inActs 10:42 and2 Timothy 4:1. This delegation of judgment underscores the belief in Jesus' divine nature and His role in the ultimate redemption and justice of the world.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The FatherRefers to God the Father, the first person of the Trinity, who is traditionally seen as the ultimate judge of humanity.
2.
The SonRefers to Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, who is given the authority to judge.
3.
JudgmentThe divine act of determining the eternal destiny of human souls, traditionally seen as a role of God the Father but here assigned to the Son.
Teaching Points
Authority of ChristJesus is not only Savior but also Judge. Recognizing His authority should lead us to live in reverence and obedience.
Divine DelegationThe Father’s delegation of judgment to the Son underscores the unity and distinct roles within the Trinity. This teaches us about the divine order and cooperation.
Assurance of JusticeKnowing that Christ, who is both just and merciful, will judge, provides assurance that justice will be perfectly executed.
Call to AccountabilityUnderstanding that we will stand before Christ should motivate us to live lives that reflect His teachings and values.
Christ’s Dual RoleJesus as both Savior and Judge highlights the importance of accepting His salvation to stand confidently in judgment.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of John 5:22?
2.How does John 5:22 emphasize Jesus' authority in judgment over humanity?
3.Why is it significant that the Father "judges no one" in John 5:22?
4.How does John 5:22 connect to Jesus' role in Revelation 20:11-15?
5.What practical steps can we take to honor Jesus' authority as Judge?
6.How should John 5:22 influence our understanding of divine justice and mercy?
7.How does John 5:22 affirm Jesus' role in divine judgment?
8.Why does the Father delegate all judgment to the Son in John 5:22?
9.What implications does John 5:22 have for understanding the Trinity?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from John 5?
11.Is Jesus the ultimate judge of humanity?
12.Is Jesus the ultimate judge of humanity?
13.Did Jesus come to judge the world?
14.What did Jesus mean by "Go and sin no more"?What Does John 5:22 Mean
FurthermoreThis linking word ties verse 22 to the flow of Jesus’ defense after healing on the Sabbath. He is not offering a side comment; He is escalating His claim. Just as the Father works (John 5:17), so the Son now steps into a role only God can fill—judgment itself. The statement presses listeners to decide whether they will honor Jesus as they honor the Father (John 5:23).
the Father judges no one• Jesus is not denying the Father’s holiness or authority; He is revealing the chosen arrangement within the Godhead for this age.
•John 3:17 reminds us, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him”. Salvation and judgment hinge on the Son’s mission.
•John 12:47–48 shows the same pattern: the Father does not condemn now; the word spoken by the Son will judge on the last day.
• The Father’s abstention from direct judgment underscores His pleasure in exalting the Son (Philippians 2:9–11).
but has assigned• “Assigned” speaks of deliberate transfer, not abdication. Authority is still God’s; He entrusts it to the Son (Matthew 28:18).
•Acts 10:42 records Peter saying that Jesus “is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead”.
• The assignment magnifies the unity between Father and Son; what the Father wills, the Son executes (John 5:19).
all judgment• Nothing is excluded—every person, motive, and deed falls under Christ’s jurisdiction (Romans 2:16).
•2 Corinthians 5:10 affirms, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ”.
• This total scope answers any doubt about partial or shared oversight; the Son’s authority is comprehensive.
to the Son• By placing judgment in Jesus’ hands, the Father makes reverence for the Son a test of reverence for Himself (John 5:23).
• The Son’s humanity assures perfect empathy (Hebrews 4:15); His deity assures perfect justice (Revelation 19:11).
•Acts 17:31 declares, “He has set a day when He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed”, underscoring both His humanity and divine commissioning.
summaryJohn 5:22 unveils a divine handoff: the Father, in perfect harmony with the Son, delegates every aspect of final judgment to Jesus. This delegation exalts Christ, compels honor toward Him, and guarantees that the One who loved us enough to die for us will also render the final verdict on every life.
(22)
For the Father judgeth no man.--Better,
For not even doth the Father judge any man; and if not the Father, to whom judgment belongs, then none other but the Son to whom He hath committed all judgment. To judge (comp.
John 5:29) is the opposite of to quicken in the previous verse. The fact that the Son hath power to judge is correlative with His power to quicken whom He will. The spiritual life given to, and received by, some (
John 5:24), is a separation from, and a judgment of, others. The eternal life which shall be given to some, shall be the eternal separation from, and exclusion of, others. The reason why judgment is committed to the Son is given in
John 5:27 as resulting from His humanity. It is stated here as resulting from His divinity. It is that this power, like the quickening power of
John 5:21, should lead all to give to the Son honour equal to that which they render to the Father. Again, this relation is urged against those who professed to honour God, and as a proof of it were seeking to kill His Son. That Sonship, expressing at once subordination and unity, necessarily involved the Fatherhood. To reject Him was to reject the Father who sent Him. (Comp.
John 5:24;
John 5:30;
John 5:36-37.) . . .
Verse 22. - That
οὕς θέλει is the point of connection with what follows, and that the Son quickeneth whom he willeth, is more clear,
seeing that (
γὰρ)
the Father even judges no man; judges no man apart from the Son. "Pater non judicat solus nec sine filio, judicat tamen (ver. 45;
Acts 17:31;
Romans 3:6)" (Bengel). The word
κρίνει does not mean exclusively either "condemn" or "acquit," but the exercise of judicial functions which will either acquit or condemn. As in
John 3:17, the "condemnation" is rather
inferred than asserted. Moreover, we are there told that the Son was not sent into the world for the purpose of judgment, but for the larger purposes of salvation, and "to give eternal life." Nevertheless, "life" to some is judgment to others, and judgment even unto death is the obverse of the gift of life when the conditions of life are not found, in
John 1:39 Christ declares that one solemn
consequence of his coming was
εἰς κρίμα, "unto judgment" - to reveal the final decisions of the Judge. How, then, shall we reconcile these apparently incongruous statements? Judgment unquestionably results from the rejection of the proffer of mercy. The judgment rests on those who say, "We see." Their sin remaineth. Those who are not willing to be made whole remain unhealed. Those who love darkness rather than light abide in the darkness. This is the judgment, but this judicial process was (not the end, but) the consequence of his mission. The Father's ordinary providence, which is always passing judgment upon the lives of men, is now placed in the hands of "the Son."
Howbeit he hath given the whole judgment -
i.e.the judgment in all its parts -
to the Son. He has made the entire juridical process which brings to light the essential tendencies of human hearts, issue from the reception given by man to the Son. The whole question of right against wrong, of life
versus death, acquittal against condemnation, is determined by the attitude of men towards the Son. In many passages this plenipotentiary endowment of "the Son" with functions, powers, authorities, is expressed by this same word (
δέδωκε), "he hath given" (ver. 36;
John 3:35;
John 6:37, 39;
John 10:29;
John 17:2, 4). Meyer limits the meaning of
κρίνει to "condemnation," and Slier includes in it the separation of sin from the life of believers; but surely the judgment of the world is effected by the light that shines upon it, and the essence of the judgment (
κρίσις) is the discrimination which infailibly follows the revelation of the Father through the Son.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Furthermore,γὰρ(gar)Conjunction
Strong's 1063:For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.theὁ(ho)Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.FatherΠατὴρ(Patēr)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962:Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.judgesκρίνει(krinei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2919:Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.no one,οὐδένα(oudena)Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3762:No one, none, nothing.butἀλλὰ(alla)Conjunction
Strong's 235:But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.has assignedδέδωκεν(dedōken)Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1325:To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.allπᾶσαν(pasan)Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.judgmentκρίσιν(krisin)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2920:Decision; by extension, a tribunal; by implication, justice.to theτῷ(tō)Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.Son,Υἱῷ(Huiō)Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5207:A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.
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NT Gospels: John 5:22 For the Father judges no one (Jhn Jo Jn) 
