John 5:23 Meaning: Honoring the Son as We Honor the Father
that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.
That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.
that all may honour the Son according as they honour the Father; he who is not honouring the Son, doth not honour the Father who sent him.
that all may honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He who honours not the Son, honours not the Father who has sent him.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus says we must honor Him just as we honor the Father. What this means for our worship and understanding of who He is.
Context
This verse lands in the middle of a fierce argument. Jesus had just healed a man on the Sabbath, and the Jewish leaders were furious, not just about the day, but because Jesus called God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. In response, Jesus explains that everything He does is in perfect unity with the Father. The Father shows Him all things, raises the dead through Him, and has handed all judgment over to Him. Now He states the reason: so that everyone will honor the Son in the same way they honor the Father. It is a breathtaking claim that sits at the heart of John's Gospel.
Key Words
The key Greek word is timaō, meaning to fix a value or to revere. It is the same verb used for honoring the Father. Jesus does not ask for a different kind of honor, the word is identical. The connecting word kathōs means “just as” or “in the same manner.” This is not a lesser, derived honor; it is the very same reverence due to God. Then the Greek uses a double negative (mē…ou) to strengthen the denial: to fail to honor the Son is, in fact, to fail to honor the Father who sent Him. The sending does not diminish the Son's status; it reveals the Father's will that we recognize Him fully.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as a clear affirmation of Jesus’ divinity. John Wesley wrote that it demonstrates “the equality of the Son with the Father.” Calvin said the Father wishes to be acknowledged and worshipped in the Son. In Catholic and Orthodox teaching, Christ receives the same worship (latria) as the Father. While traditions may frame the relationship differently, some emphasizing the Son as mediator, others the unity of the Trinity, all agree that to refuse honor to Jesus is to miss honoring the Father entirely.
A common misunderstanding
Some think they can honor God the Father without honoring Jesus, as if Jesus were a secondary figure or a mere prophet. In fact, the verse directly states that not honoring the Son means not honoring the Father. Honoring God and honoring Christ are not two separate acts; they are one and the same.
Living This Out
This week, pay attention to how you think about Jesus. When you pray, do you address only the Father and forget the Son? When you face a decision, do you ask what Jesus would do? Honoring Jesus means treating Him as the Lord He is, listening to His words, trusting His authority, and giving Him the same weight in your life that you give to God. Let this verse sit with you and check if your daily actions reflect that He deserves the same honor as the Father.
Main takeaway: Jesus deserves the same honor we give to God the Father, for the two cannot be separated.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus is God’s Son, and He is just as important as God. When we love Jesus, we are loving God too. We can pray to Jesus and thank Him for loving us.
For ages 9, 12
This verse says Jesus deserves the same honor we give to God. That means He is not just a good teacher or a prophet, He is God the Son. Some people think they can follow God without following Jesus, but Jesus says that’s not possible. Honoring Jesus is part of honoring God, and it shows we really understand who God is.
Questions People Ask
Does this mean Jesus is equal to God?
Yes, mainstream Christianity teaches that Jesus is fully God. The verse uses the same word for honor and says “even as,” indicating equal status. The Father wants the Son to receive the same reverence He Himself receives.
Why must we honor the Son as the Father?
Because God the Father sent the Son and wants all people to recognize His authority. Honoring the Son is how we honor the Father. The verse makes the two inseparable: to honor one is to honor the other.
Can I honor God without honoring Jesus?
No, the verse directly says that not honoring the Son means not honoring the Father. The two are bound together. Attempting to honor God while ignoring Jesus is a contradiction.
What does it mean to “honor” the Son?
It means to revere, worship, obey, and value Him as Lord. It is the same kind of reverence we give to God, acknowledging His authority, trusting His words, and living in a way that shows He matters most.
Is this verse only about judgment?
No, the context includes judgment (v.22), but the purpose is broader: “that all may honor the Son.” It encompasses worship, trust, and daily allegiance, not just fear of the final day.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study