John 5:20 · Bible study
John 5:20 Commentary: The Father's Love & Greater Works
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Discover the affectionate love of the Father for the Son, the showing of all things, and the promise of greater works that cause wonder.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus grounds his divine authority in the Father's affectionate love and complete transparency, promising even greater demonstrations of his power.
- Key words: φιλεῖ (phileo, affectionate love), δείκνυσιν (shows, continuous revelation), μείζονα ἔργα (greater works, raising the dead and judgment).
- Main debate: Whether "showing" refers to intra-Trinitarian communication or the Son's consciousness in his incarnate state, and whether the "greater works" are physical resurrections or spiritual regeneration.
- Theological theme: The unity and love within the Trinity, and the Son's full participation in the Father's works, especially giving life and executing judgment.
- Best use: A key text for establishing Jesus' divine identity and the intimate relationship between Father and Son, useful in evangelism and teaching on Christology.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. And to your amazement, He will show Him even greater works than these.
WEB World English Bible 2000
For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
KJV King James Version 1769
For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and greater works than these will he show him, that ye may marvel.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
for the Father doth love the Son, and doth shew to him all things that He himself doth; and greater works than these He will shew him, that ye may wonder.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
For the Father loves the Son and shews him all things which he himself does; and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may wonder.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
For the Father loveth the Son and sheweth him all things which himself doth: and greater works than these will he shew him, that you may wonder.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Porque el Padre ama al Hijo, y le muestra todas las cosas que él hace; y mayores obras que éstas le mostrará, de suerte que vosotros os maravilléis.
Porque o Pai ama ao Filho, e todas as coisas que faz lhe mostra; e maiores obras que estas lhe mostrará, para que vós vos maravilheis.
Car le Père aime le Fils, et lui montre tout ce qu’ il fait; et il lui montrera des œuvres plus grandes que celles-ci, afin que vous soyez dans l’ étonnement.
Der Vater aber hat den Sohn lieb und zeigt ihm alles, was er tut, und wird ihm noch größere Werke zeigen, daß ihr euch verwundern werdet.
Want de Vader heeft den Zoon lief, en toont Hem alles, wat Hij doet; en Hij zal Hem groter werken tonen dan deze, opdat gij u verwondert.
Poiché il Padre ama il Figliuolo, e gli mostra tutto quello che Egli fa; e gli mostrerà delle opere maggiori di queste, affinché ne restiate maravigliati.
Boć Ojciec miłuje Syna i ukazuje mu wszystko, co sam czyni, i większe mu nad te sprawy pokaże, abyście się wy dziwowali.
Ибо Отец любит Сына и показывает Ему все, что творит Сам; и покажет Ему дела больше сих, так что вы удивитесь.
父 愛 子， 將自己 所做的 一切事 指給 他看， 還要將比這 更大的 事 指給 他看，叫 你們 希奇。
For the Father has love for the Son and lets him see everything which he does: and he will let him see greater works than these so that you may be full of wonder.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · John 5:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse reveals the profound intimacy within the Godhead. Vincent's Word Studies notes that "loves" here is phileō, a warmer, more instinctive affection than agapaō. The Father's love for the Son is deeply personal, not merely approving. This love is the ground for the Father "showing" the Son all that He does. Gill clarifies that this showing is not because the Son is ignorant, but because the Father consults with Him as an equal and communicates His designs. Barnes and Calvin both see the "greater works" as the works Jesus immediately specifies: raising the dead (v.21) and judging the world (v.22). Calvin adds that the phrase "that you may marvel" rebukes the hearers' dullness, though the wonder may lead to faith. As Wesley notes, the crowd did marvel when Jesus raised Lazarus. The Cambridge Bible emphasizes the moral necessity: the Father's love compels Him to show, and the Son's relationship compels Him to act accordingly.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Intra-Trinitarian Communication View: The Son sees the Father doing (v.19), and the Father shows all things as equal partners (Gill, Proverbs 8).
- Incarnational Mediation View: The showing applies to Christ's human consciousness as he carries out his mission in dependence on the Father (Calvin).
What is clear: The Father loves the Son and fully reveals his works to him; Jesus will perform works that cause wonder, demonstrating his divine authority.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The word 'loves' (φιλεῖ) | The word indicates a deep, personal affection between Father and Son. | Some emphasize it as distinct from ἀγαπάω, highlighting instinctive warmth; others downplay the distinction, noting the two verbs often overlap in the NT. |
| The Father 'showing' the Son | The Father reveals his works to the Son, demonstrating intimacy and unity. | Interpreters differ on whether this 'showing' reflects eternal communion within the Trinity (Gill), or is a communication suited to Christ's incarnate role as mediator (Calvin). |
| Greater works | These include raising the dead and judgment, as stated in vv.21-22. | Some see these primarily as physical resurrections (Lazarus, final resurrection); others emphasize spiritual quickening (regeneration) as the primary meaning. |
| That you may marvel | The purpose is to provoke wonder and amazement in the hearers. | Whether this wonder is aimed at producing saving faith (Barnes, Wesley) or at shaming unbelievers into recognition (Calvin, Cambridge) is nuanced; both may be intended. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse belongs to Jesus' extended defense after healing a paralytic at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath (John 5:1-15). The Jewish leaders opposed him for two reasons: breaking Sabbath rest and, more critically, "calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God" (5:18). In response, Jesus unfolds the nature of his relationship with the Father. Verse 19 established that the Son does nothing independently. He only does what he sees the Father doing. Verse 20 explains why this is so: the Father loves the Son and therefore shows him everything.
Vincent's Word Studies points out that "loves" here is phileō rather than the more common agapaō. Phileō denotes a warmer, instinctive affection. Closer to a parent's fondness for a child than a reasoned esteem. This choice of word underscores the intimacy of the relationship the Father shares with the Son. The verb "shows" (deiknusin) is present tense. A continuous, ongoing revealing. Gill argues that this showing is not instruction to an ignorant Son, but the communication of equal partners. The Father does nothing without consulting the Son. A truth reflected in Proverbs 8:22-31 where Wisdom rejoices before God.
The "greater works" are defined in the immediate context. Jesus goes on to describe raising the dead and granting life (v.21) and executing all judgment (v.22). These were considered exclusive divine prerogatives in Second Temple Judaism. By claiming these works, Jesus asserts his divine authority in the strongest possible terms. Calvin notes that the phrase "that you may marvel" contains a sharp edge. While wonder can lead to faith, Jesus speaks here to opponents whose astonishment may only harden them. Still, as Wesley observes, later events (like the raising of Lazarus) did produce amazement, opening a door to belief.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Greek text is stable across the major manuscript traditions.
Reception History
The verse has been central in Christian reflection on the relationship between Father and Son. Calvin notes that some early Christian writers (which he calls 'the Fathers') interpreted the Father's love as God loving Himself in the Son. A view Calvin finds too abstract, preferring to see the love directed toward Christ as the incarnate Head of the Church. Later commentators such as Gill and Barnes emphasized that the 'showing' does not imply ignorance in the Son but rather the perfect communication within the Godhead. The 'greater works' have been understood throughout church history to refer both to the miracles of resurrection in the Gospels (Lazarus, Jairus's daughter) and to the final resurrection and judgment. The phrase 'that you may marvel' has been seen as an invitation to faith. Wesley notes that the crowd did marvel when Jesus raised Lazarus. It has also been read as a rebuke to those who remain unmoved by God's power.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Bond: The Father's Affectionate Love. Jesus grounds everything in the Father's love for the Son. Not a distant approval, but an intimate fondness (phileō). This love is the source of all Jesus does.
- The Sharing: The Father Shows His Works to the Son. The Father conceals nothing from the Son. This is not about the Son's ignorance but about the perfect unity and mutual transparency within the Trinity.
- The Surprise: Greater Works That Evoke Wonder. The healing at Bethesda is only a foretaste. Jesus will do even greater works. Raising the dead, giving life, judging the world. So that all may marvel and, through wonder, come to faith.
Five-point outline
- The Motive: Love. The Father loves the Son with a deep, personal affection (phileō). This love precedes and enables everything that follows.
- The Method: Showing. The Father shows the Son all that He does. The present tense "shows" points to an ongoing, constant revealing.
- The Scope: All Things. Nothing is withheld. "All things" includes creation, redemption, judgment. The whole divine plan.
- The Magnitude: Greater Works. The healing at the pool is just the start. Jesus will raise the dead (spiritually and bodily) and execute final judgment.
- The Goal: Wonder That Leads to Faith. "That you may marvel." The amazement is meant to open eyes, not just entertain. Wonder is the beginning of wisdom (Plato, quoted by Vincent), and here it becomes the door to recognizing Jesus as the Son of God.
Illustration hooks
- Think of a parent teaching a child a family trade. Every trick, every secret revealed. The child watches, learns, then eventually does work the parent once did, sometimes even bigger projects.
- A teacher who trusts a student so completely that she shares her entire syllabus, test bank, and teaching notes. Expecting the student not just to repeat the lessons but to create new ones of his own.
- Watching a fireworks display. The first burst is impressive, but the finale is designed to leave everyone speechless. Jesus' healing at Bethesda is the opening burst. Resurrection and judgment are the finale.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If Jesus is fully God, why does he need the Father to "show" him anything? Does not that imply less-than-full knowledge?
- What "greater works" should we expect to see today? Are they the same kind of miracles, or something else?
- When I marvel at something God does, how do I know if my wonder is leading me toward faith or just passing astonishment?
Leading a Discussion
This verse sits at the heart of Jesus' defense of his divine identity. After healing a man on the Sabbath, Jesus explains that his authority comes from his unique relationship with the Father. A relationship of love, transparency, and shared purpose. The promise of "greater works" invites us to see Jesus as the one who does what only God can do.
Discussion questions
- What does Jesus say the Father does for the Son in this verse? How does that build on verse 19?
- Why do you think Jesus uses the word phileō (affectionate love) instead of agapaō here? What difference does it make?
- What "greater works" does Jesus specify in the verses that follow (vv.21-22)? Why would these be considered greater?
- How does the Father's act of "showing" relate to Jesus' statement in verse 19 that he can do nothing of himself?
- The purpose is "that you may marvel." What kind of wonder do you think Jesus is aiming for? How does it differ from mere amazement?
- In what ways have you seen Jesus do "greater works" in your own life or in the world around you?
- How can you cultivate a posture of wonder that leads to deeper faith rather than just passing surprise?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Proverbs 8:22 | “Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old. |
| Proverbs 8:31 | rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men. |
| Matthew 3:17 | Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” |
| Matthew 11:27 | All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him. |
| Matthew 17:5 | While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” |
| Luke 10:22 | Turning to the disciples, he said, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him.” |
| John 1:18 | No one has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him. |
| John 3:35 | The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke stresses that Jesus sometimes speaks as God and other times as God's ambassador, a distinction rooted in his dual human and divine natures. He warns that failing to note this distinction has led to many errors in understanding Christ's words.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that the Father reveals everything He does to the Son, which no finite being could fully grasp. This full knowledge, grounded in the Father’s infinite love for His only Son, proves Christ possesses omniscience. The greater works Jesus will show include raising the dead and judging the world.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that when Jesus says the Father loves the Son, it refers specifically to Christ as the incarnate Head of the Church, not to an abstract love within the Trinity. This love is the source of all power flowing through Christ, and the Father's works through him are intended to compel wonder even from those who are dull and resistant.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Father's love for the Son creates a moral necessity: the Son must do what the Father does, continuing on earth what He witnessed in heaven before the Incarnation. The Father will show the Son even greater works, shaming unbelievers into admiration though not necessarily to faith.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Bible notes highlight that the Father’s love for the Son is demonstrated by showing Him everything the Father does. The greater works yet to come are meant to stir wonder, pointing to the divine intimacy and purpose behind Christ’s miracles.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that when the Father shows the Son all things, it is not to inform an ignorant Son but to treat him as an equal partner in counsel. The greater works include raising the dead, which leads some to believe and others to be stunned.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB emphasizes that the Father's love for the Son means full transparency between them, with no hidden counsels. This mutual endearment produces a conscious, loving unity of will and action, not a mere mechanical oneness. The Father and Son share the royal prerogatives of life and judgment.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry stresses that Jesus's Sabbath work and his calling God his own Father are a direct claim to deity and equality with God. Yet Jesus says he can do nothing of himself, which shows not weakness but perfect unity of will with the Father. Therefore all judgment is committed to the Son, and he must be honored just as the Father is.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent draws a sharp distinction between the two Greek words for love in this passage. Agapao describes a reasoned, deliberate attachment based on the object's worth, while phileo conveys a warmer, more instinctive affection. He points out that the Bible commands us to agapao God, never phileo, because love for God requires intelligent discernment of His attributes.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses the intimate unity of Father and Son: the Father shows by doing, and the Son sees and does at the same moment. He observes that Jesus calls these deeds "works," not "wonders," because they were not astonishing to Him. The promised greater works would make people marvel, as when Lazarus was raised.