John 16:3 Meaning: Why Persecutors Think They Serve God
They will do these things because they have not known the Father nor me.
And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
And these things will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
and these things they will do to you, because they did not know the Father, nor me.
and these things they will do because they have not known the Father nor me.
Meaning in one sentence
In John 16:3, Jesus explains that persecution comes from not knowing the Father and Him.
Context
Jesus is speaking to his closest friends on the night before he dies. The mood is heavy. He has just told them that the world will hate them, that they will be thrown out of synagogues, and that some will kill them thinking they are doing God a service. Then he gives the root cause in one short sentence. He wants them to understand: what looks like religious devotion can actually be spiritual blindness. This is not a new problem. It runs all through the Gospel of John. People who claimed to know God rejected the very One God sent.
Key Words
The word translated not known is the Greek verb ginōskō. It means more than knowing facts about someone. It means knowing from experience, personally, relationally. The verse uses the aorist tense, pointing to a refusal that has become settled. These people had the chance to know God as Father and Jesus as the sent Son. They saw his works, heard his words, but they would not enter into that knowledge.
Notice also the double object: the Father nor me. Jesus ties himself tightly to the Father. To fail to know one is to fail to know the other. And the word for Father (patēr) is not just a title. It speaks of tender care, authority, and love. When a person does not know God as Father, they are left with a cold image of God, one that can be used to justify cruelty. That is what Jesus exposes here.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions agree that this verse identifies the source of persecution. John Calvin (Reformed) wrote that ignorance of God is the only reason unbelievers rage against the disciples, not to excuse them but to strengthen believers to despise their blind fury. In the Wesleyan tradition, John Wesley called this verse the true root of persecution in all its forms. Baptist commentator John Gill noted that this ignorance does leave room for mercy, as the apostle Paul also acted ignorantly before his conversion. The Cambridge Bible (Anglican) adds that the verb implies opportunity: they had the chance to see that God is love and Jesus came to save, but they refused. All traditions point to the tragedy of sincere people doing great harm because they do not truly know God.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse as Jesus excusing persecution because the persecutors are ignorant. In fact, Jesus is naming the cause, not removing the guilt. He wants the disciples to see that their opponents are not simply evil but blind, driven by a failure to recognise God as Father and Jesus as Saviour. That understanding comforts the disciples and invites prayer, not fear or resentment.
Living This Out
This week, think of someone who opposes you or misunderstands your faith. Before you react, ask yourself: do they truly know the Father and Jesus, or are they acting out of a picture of God that is cold and distant? Let that question turn your anger into compassion. And examine your own heart. Do you know God as Father, not just as an idea? A real, living knowledge of God changes how you treat people, especially those who hurt you.
Main takeaway: Persecution flows from ignorance of God, not from genuine devotion; true knowledge of the Father and Jesus leads to love, not harm.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus told his friends that some people would be mean to them because those people didn't know God or Jesus. When we know God loves us, we can be kind even when others are not kind to us.
For ages 9, 12
Jesus warned his followers that people would hurt them and even think they were doing right. He said it's because those people didn't really know God the Father or Jesus. That doesn't make the hurt okay, but it helps us understand. It also reminds us to really get to know God, not just know about him. When we truly know God as our loving Father, we won't use religion to hurt others.
Questions People Ask
What does 'they have not known the Father nor me' mean in John 16:3?
It means the persecutors lacked a real, personal, relational knowledge of God the Father and Jesus. They had information about God, but they did not recognise him as a loving Father or Jesus as the sent Saviour. This ignorance is the root of their harmful actions.
Does John 16:3 excuse the persecutors because they didn't know?
No. Jesus is not excusing them; he is explaining the cause. Ignorance is the source of the problem, not a justification. He wants the disciples to understand that the persecution comes from blindness, not from genuine service to God. This helps the disciples respond with pity and prayer, not fear.
What is the Greek word for 'known' in John 16:3 and why does it matter?
The Greek word is ginōskō, which means experiential knowledge, not just intellectual awareness. It implies relationship and recognition. The verse uses the aorist tense, showing a settled state of not knowing. This matters because it shows the persecutors had opportunity but refused to enter into a real relationship with God.
How does John 16:3 comfort Christians facing persecution?
It shows that the opposition comes from ignorance, not from truth. The persecutors are blind, not righteous. This frees the believer from being intimidated by their confidence or authority. It also invites the believer to pray for those who persecute them, knowing that ignorance can be healed, as it was for Paul.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study