We have explored the kind of honor that comes
only from God. In doing so, we looked at John 5.
I want us to take another look at that same passage
of scripture, so we can better understand man’s honor,
or the “honor game” as I call it. To do so, we will go
further back, to John 5:15. This will help set the stage
for what Jesus is saying.

Prideful Men Won’t Accept Jesus

The man departed, and told the Jews that it
was Jesus, which had made him whole. And
therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and
sought to slay him, because he had done these
things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered
them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

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 (John 5:15-18).

The Pharisees wanted to kill Jesus. He had healed
a man on the Sabbath day, and had said God was His
Father. They were so filled with pride and envy, they
refused to accept Him as God’s Anointed.

Jesus Receives No Honor From Men

As we have already seen in John 5:37-38, Jesus
rebuked the self-righteous Jews for their stubbornness,
pride and unbelief. He said to them:
Ye have neither heard [the Father’s] voice at any
time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his
word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent,
him ye believe not.

He tells them in verses 39-40 that they read the
Scriptures trying to find eternal life, but refuse to
come to Him that they might have it. He says:
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think
ye have eternal life: and they are they which
testify of me. And ye will not come to me,
that ye might have life.

Then in verse 41 He goes on to say, “I receive not
honour from men.” He does not mean that He refuses
honor. He means, “God is the One honoring Me, not
men. If you want to honor God and His Word, you
must come to Me.”

Kenneth Copeland Ministries