John 5:38 Meaning: Having God's Word Abiding in You
You don’t have his word living in you, because you don’t believe him whom he sent.
And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he sent, him ye believe not.
and His word ye have not remaining in you, because whom He sent, him ye do not believe.
and ye have not his word abiding in you; for whom he hath sent, him ye do not believe.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus reveals that knowing Scripture isn't the same as having God's word living in your heart. True belief leads to receiving the One the Father sent.
Context
John 5 finds Jesus in a heated dispute with Jewish leaders. He had just healed a man on the Sabbath, and the authorities were furious. In his defense, Jesus names several witnesses: John the Baptist, his own works, and the Father himself. Then he turns to the Scriptures. The Jews prided themselves on knowing God's written word, but Jesus makes a startling claim: they don't have that word living and remaining in them. How can that be? Because the Scriptures point to him, and they refuse to believe the One the Father sent. This verse gets to the heart of what it means to truly receive God's word. It is not just about study or memorization. It is about letting the word lead you to the Person it reveals.
Key Words
Three Greek words work together here. Logos (word) is not a book on a shelf. It is God's living message, the truth that breathes and moves. Menonta (abiding) is a present participle, it describes something that takes up residence and stays. This is not a quick glance at a verse; it is a deep, permanent indwelling. And pisteuo (believe) is more than mental agreement. It means to entrust yourself to someone. So Jesus says: you haven't let God's living truth make its home in you, because you won't entrust yourselves to the One he sent. The two are tied together. You cannot claim to hold God's word in your heart while rejecting its central message.
How Christians Read This Verse
Adam Clarke (Methodist) observed that the Jews had the Scriptures in their mouths but not in their hearts. John Calvin (Reformed) added that rejecting Christ proves the word has no place in them, for the whole Law points to him. John Gill (Baptist) suggested Jesus refers specifically to the prophecies about the Messiah that the Jews failed to internalize. Across these traditions, the point holds: devotion to Scripture that does not lead to faith in Christ is empty. The word can only truly abide where it finds a heart open to the One it testifies about.
A common misunderstanding
A common misunderstanding is that this verse condemns intense Bible study. In fact, Jesus is not criticizing their study. He is exposing the gap between studying and truly receiving. The Jews searched the Scriptures diligently (v. 39), but they missed the Person those Scriptures reveal. The word can only abide in you when it leads you to the One it speaks of.
Living This Out
This week, when you open your Bible, try a simple shift. Do not just ask 'What does this passage mean?' Ask 'How does this lead me to trust Jesus more?' The goal is not more knowledge, it is a deeper relationship with the One the Father sent. Let his word live in you, not just as information, but as the voice of the One you believe in.
Main takeaway: God's word truly lives in you when it moves you to receive and trust his Son.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God's word is like a seed that can grow in your heart. When you believe in Jesus, that seed takes root and stays. You don't just hear the words, you let them change you.
For ages 9, 12
It is possible to memorize Bible verses and go to church but still miss the whole point. Jesus said the Scriptures are all about him. So when you read your Bible, look for Jesus. Let his word live inside you by asking 'What does this teach me about trusting my Savior?'
Questions People Ask
What does 'his word abiding in you' mean?
It means God's message takes up permanent residence in your heart, not just passing through your mind. Adam Clarke compared it to hiding God's word in your heart as David did in Psalm 119:11. It is a deep, living indwelling that shapes your whole life.
How can someone search the Scriptures but not have the word abiding in them?
Jesus addresses exactly this in verse 39. The Jews studied the Scriptures diligently, thinking they contained eternal life. But they missed that the Scriptures point to Jesus himself. You can know the words without knowing the Word they reveal. The word abides only when it leads you to faith in the One sent by the Father.
Does this verse say Bible study is wrong?
Not at all. Jesus himself quoted Scripture often. The problem is not study itself but study that stops short of belief. The goal of Scripture is to bring you to Christ. If your study does not deepen your trust in him, then something is missing.
Who is 'him whom he sent'?
Jesus is speaking of himself. Throughout John 5, he makes clear that the Father sent him into the world. To believe in 'him whom he sent' is to receive Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God.
What is the connection between having God's word abiding and believing in Jesus?
Jesus presents them as two sides of the same coin. You cannot have God's word living in you and reject the one that word points to. Calvin said that rejecting Christ proves the word has no place in you, because the whole Law and Prophets lead to him. Belief in Jesus is the evidence that the word has truly taken root.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study