Christs Expected Honour From All Men

Text: John 5:23

Giving honour is an expressive act of respect toward a worthy person. The Bible tells us to
give honour to whom honour is due. In the highest sense, God is worthy to receive the highest
honour because He is above all and His pre-eminence is undeniable. Giving true honour to God is
acknowledging who He is according to the Word of Truth.
In John 5:23, it is written, 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. (KJV)
During His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus Christ taught the people that all men should honour
Him as they honour the Father. Was Jesus really expecting honour from all men or was He telling
the people what kind of honour they should give Him?
In John 5:41, the Lord said, I receive not honour from men. (KJV) This verse may seem
conflicting with what He said in verse 23, but in reality, it was not a contradictory statement. The
Lord Jesus Christ knows who truly gives Him honour in sincerity and in truth, and He has no
pleasure in worldly honour that comes from men. Spiritual honour that comes from God is the
kind of honour He wants to receive from true believers who love Him without hypocrisy.
The Lord knows our hearts and the depth of love we have for Him. In John 5:42, the Lord
said, But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. (KJV) Jesus knows the people who
reject Him and the people who truly open their hearts for Him. True believers should give the
kind of honour that Jesus desires from them.
It is evident that men praise men, but seek not the honour that comes from God. Natural
men give honour to other men for advantage especially those who come to them in their own
names. Many people seek their own and they fail to recognize who Jesus really is. Worst of all,
their indifferent attitude toward the true identity of the Lord Jesus Christ harden their hearts so
they fail to honour Him as they ought to.
(I)
All Men Should Honour The Lord Jesus Christ As They Honour The Father
John 5:23
-He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father
Many people profess that they honour the Lord Jesus Christ, but in truth, they dont really
love Him. They profess that they honour the Father, and through their flowery words, they show
much love; but their attitude toward the Son reveals who they really are. The Lord warns the
unbelievers about such inconsistent position toward Him, and He said, He that honoureth not
the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. What a truth and an awakening rebuke
to pay attention to.
Are we giving the due honour to the Lord Jesus Christ? If a man thinks he is giving the Father
His due honour and yet doubtful to give the same honour to the Son, it only shows that he does
not really know Jesus as what Moses wrote concerning Christ. In John 5:45-47, it is written, 45 Do
not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in
whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? (KJV) Obviously, people who
disagree with the words of Jesus are the same as those who are ignorant of the writings of
Moses.
The reasons why we should honour the Son as the Father:
-The Lord Jesus said it
John 5:23

Jesus said, That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. Any
person who truly believes and loves the Lord Jesus will never question His commandment. In John
14:23, it is written, Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:
and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (KJV)
Giving Jesus His due honour is showing our unquestionable love for Him.
-For their great works sake
In John 5:17-18, it is written, 17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I
work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the
sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. (KJV) These
verses show us that the Father and the Son have done great miracle and that the Lord Jesus
Christ was the visible and physical manifestation of the invisible God.
When Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father so they may get more acquainted to Him
and be satisfied, Jesus gave them an eye-opening question and rebuke needful not only for His
early disciples, but for every generation to take note of. In John 14:9-10, the Bible says, 9 Jesus
saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he
that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you
I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (KJV) The Son is
worthy to receive honour as the Father because They are one. In John 10:30, Jesus said, I and my
Father are one. (KJV)

In raising up the dead

In John 5:21, it is written, For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even
so the Son quickeneth whom he will. (KJV) Jesus is the life and undoubtedly, He has the power to
give life. Who can give life but God? Other passages from the Bible that could unlock people from
spiritual ignorance are written in verses 25 to 26 which say, 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The
hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that
hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in
himself; (KJV) Knowing such truth from the Word of God will surely stir us to be more respectful
toward the Lord Jesus Christ because He is worthy to be honoured as the Father.

In judging men

Jesus is the Truth and His judgment is reliable. In John 5:27-30, it is written, 27 And hath
given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at
this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And
shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have
done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I
judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which
hath sent me. (KJV) We cannot imagine how humiliating it would be for those who defame Christ
during this present life when they face Him on that most dreadful Judgment Day.
In Matthew 7:22-23, the Bible says, 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity. (KJV) What a shocking pronouncement on that day. People should be very
careful of what they are doing and what they are saying against Christ today because the Lord
will judge them fairly according to their works and words.
All men must keep in mind that salvation is not of works lest any man should boast.
Salvation is by the grace of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8,9); salvation
is a gift of God. We must be reminded that Jesus left the splendour of heaven and came into the

world to save us sinner according to the Scriptures. He suffered much for us sinners, shed His
precious blood and gave His life for us. He died at Calvary and was buried, and on the third day
He arose from the grave. His resurrection is the victory of all believers because it vindicated their
needed justification. What a blessing to be in Christ!
As we proclaim the Good News and wait for Christs glorious coming, may we give Jesus our
Lord and Saviour the like honour we give to our Heavenly Father because He is worthy to receive
spiritual honour that comes from God through His peculiar people.