John 5:41-42

Jesus did not appeal to the testimony of humans to determine His own identity (John 5:35) nor did he receive the praise (Gr. doxa) of people for this purpose. Jesus’ criticisms of His hearers did not arise from wounded pride. He said what He did to win the Father’s praise, not man’s. Jesus’ critics, in contrast, behaved to receive praise from one another (cf. John 5:44). Jesus knew them well, but they did not know Him. Love for God did not motivate them as it did Him.

"The Jews worked out their pattern of religion and tried to fit God into it. They did not seek first the way of God and then try to model their religious practices on it. They succumbed to the perennial temptation of religious people." [Note: Morris, p. 294.]