“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”
My Notes
What Does John 5:22 Mean?
Jesus reveals a stunning delegation of authority: the Father judges no man but has committed all judgment to the Son. The Father — the ultimate authority — has transferred the judicial function entirely to Jesus.
"All judgment" is comprehensive. Not some cases. Not certain categories. All judgment. Every evaluation of every person in every era is committed to the Son.
The reason (v.23): that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. The delegation of judgment ensures that the Son receives the same honor as the Father. Honoring the Son is honoring the Father. Dishonoring the Son is dishonoring the Father.
The verse establishes Jesus as the universal judge — the one before whom every person will stand. The judgment seat is his. The verdicts are his. The authority is complete.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does the Father committing ALL judgment to the Son mean for Jesus' authority?
- 2.How is it both sobering and comforting that your judge is also your savior?
- 3.What does honoring the Son 'even as they honour the Father' mean practically?
- 4.How does Jesus' humanity qualify him as the judge of all humanity?
Devotional
The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. All judgment. Every evaluation. Every verdict. Every account — committed to Jesus. The Father has handed the gavel to the Son.
That is both sobering and comforting. Sobering because every person will be judged by Jesus — the one who knows the heart, who lived in a body, who experienced every temptation. Comforting because the judge is also the savior — the one who died for the very people he will judge.
All judgment unto the Son. The delegation is total. The Father did not keep a portion. He committed all of it. Jesus is not a junior judge handling minor cases. He holds the complete judicial authority of the universe.
That all men should honour the Son. The judgment authority is designed to produce honor. When you stand before Jesus the judge, you will honor him — voluntarily now or inevitably then. The honor is the purpose of the authority.
The judge before whom you will stand is the same person who washed feet, wept at graves, and died on a cross. He is not an impersonal tribunal. He is a person who knows what it is like to be human. And every judgment he renders will be from that place of knowing.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
For the Father judgeth no man,.... That is, without the Son; which is another proof of their equality: for that he does…
Judgeth no man - Jesus in these verses is showing his “equality with God.” He affirmed Joh 5:17 that he had the same…
The Father judgeth no man - This confirms what he had said before, Joh 5:17, Joh 5:19, that the Father acts not without…
We have here Christ's discourse upon occasion of his being accused as a sabbath-breaker, and it seems to be his…
For the Father judgeth no man Rather, For not even doth the Father (to Whom judgment belongs) judge any man. The Son…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture