John 5:17
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
But Jesus answered them, My Father works till now, and I work.
American King James Version (AKJV)
But Jesus answered them, My Father works till now, and I work.
American Standard Version (ASV)
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I work.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
But his answer was: My Father is still working even now, and so I am working.
Webster's Revision
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
World English Bible
But Jesus answered them, "My Father is still working, so I am working, too."
English Revised Version (ERV)
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I work.
Clarke's John 5:17 Bible Commentary
My Father worked hitherto, and I work - Or, As my Father worketh until now, etc., καθως being understood. God created the world in six days: on the seventh he rested from all creating acts, and set it apart to be an everlasting memorial of his work. But, though he rested from creating, he never ceased from preserving and governing that which he had formed: in this respect he can keep no sabbaths; for nothing can continue to exist, or answer the end proposed by the Divine wisdom and goodness, without the continual energy of God. So I work - I am constantly employed in the same way, governing and supporting all things, comforting the wretched, and saving the lost; and to me, in this respect, there is no sabbath.
Barnes's John 5:17 Bible Commentary
My Father - God.
Worketh hitherto - Worketh "until now," or until this time. God has not ceased to work on the Sabbath. He makes the sun to rise; He rolls the stars; He causes the grass, the tree, the flower to grow. He has not suspended His operations on the Sabbath, and the obligation to "rest" on the Sabbath does not extend to Him. He created the world in six days, and ceased the work of creation; but He has not ceased to govern it, and to carry forward, by His providence, His great plans on the Sabbath.
And I work - "As God does good on that day; as he is not bound by the law which requires his creatures to rest on that day, so "I" do the same. The law on that subject may be dispensed with, also, in my case, for the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath." In this reply it is implied that he was equal with God from two circumstances:
1. Because he called God his Father, John 5:18.
2. Because he claimed the same exemption from law which God did, asserting that the law of the Sabbath did not bind him or his Father, thus showing that he had a right to impose and repeal laws in the same manner as God. He that has a right to do this must be God.
Wesley's John 5:17 Bible Commentary
5:17 My Father worketh until now, and I work - From the creation till now he hath been working without intermission. I do likewise.This is the proposition which is explained 5:19 - 30, confirmed and vindicated in 5:31 , , , .