17 But he answered[a] them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 18 So on account of this the Jews were seeking even more to kill him, because he not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God his own Father, thus[b] making himself equal with God.

The Authority of the Son

19 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing from himself except what he sees the Father doing. For whatever that one does, these things also the Son does likewise.

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Footnotes

  1. John 5:17 Some manuscripts have “Jesus answered”
  2. John 5:18 Here “thus” is supplied as a component of the participle (“making”) which is understood as result

17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father(A) is always at his work(B) to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him;(C) not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.(D)

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself;(E) he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

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