John 5:31

John 5:31 (KJV) says: If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

This verse is part of a conversation between Jesus and the Jews who were questioning His authority and claims. In the preceding verses, Jesus had performed a miraculous healing on the Sabbath, which caused controversy among the religious leaders.

In this particular statement, Jesus is addressing the legal requirement for witness testimony in Jewish law. According to Jewish law, a person’s testimony about themselves was not considered valid or reliable. This principle is found in Deuteronomy 19:15, which states, "One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established."

Jesus, being aware of this legal requirement, acknowledges that if He were to testify about Himself, His testimony alone would not be accepted as valid evidence. He recognizes the importance of having multiple witnesses to establish the truth.

Later in the same chapter, Jesus goes on to provide several witnesses that testify to His identity and authority. He mentions John the Baptist as a witness (John 5:32-35), His own works (miracles) as a witness (John 5:36), the Father who sent Him as a witness (John 5:37), and the Scriptures as a witness (John 5:39-40).

Jesus’ point in this verse is not to deny His own testimony but to emphasise the need for corroborating witnesses to validate His claims. He wants the Jews to consider the evidence presented rather than solely relying on His self-proclamation.

Overall, John 5:31 serves as a reminder of the importance of having reliable witnesses and multiple testimonies to establish the truth. It also highlights the various witnesses that testify to the identity and authority of Jesus as the Son of God.