John 12:47 - Printer Friendly

ESV: If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

NIV: "If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

NASB: If anyone hears My teachings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

CSB: If anyone hears my words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

NLT: I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.

KJV: And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

NKJV: And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

Taken out of context, this verse can be misunderstood to mean that Jesus will never judge sin, or that all people will be saved, regardless of whether or not they believe in Him. However, in the prior verses, Jesus specifically said that those who did not believe in Him were "in darkness" (John 12:44–46). This corresponds to other statements Jesus has made about His role in our salvation (John 8:12). As part of those teachings, Jesus has made it clear that those who do not accept Him by faith cannot be saved (John 3:36). Later, when speaking to the disciples, He will explicitly state that no one can come to God except through Christ (John 14:6). This proclamation highlights the fact that the words and deeds of Christ are the very words and will of God the Father (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15).

The birth, life, and death of Jesus Christ as a man was His "first coming" to earth. The comment made here by Jesus is a reminder that His role in this first coming is not the final or literal judgment of sin. His purpose is to establish the means by which mankind can be saved (John 12:27–32). The book of Hebrews reminds us that when Jesus returns, His role will be exactly the opposite (Hebrews 9:27–28). In that second coming, Jesus will arrive to administer judgment, not to offer forgiveness (Revelation 19:11–21).

The following verse reiterates this idea: there is in fact a judge who will separate those who have believed in Christ from those who have not (John 3:16–18).

John 12:44–50 is the last public statement Jesus makes prior to His crucifixion. This is a sincere ''plea'' to the people. In relatively few words, Jesus summarizes His purpose, and states that He alone provides the means of salvation. From this point forward, Jesus will focus His efforts on preparing the disciples for what comes next. Those lessons, leading up to Jesus' arrest and crucifixion, make up the bulk of the next few chapters of the gospel of John.

Jesus is treated to an honorary dinner at the home of Lazarus, whom He has recently raised from death. At this dinner, Lazarus' sister, Mary, anoints Jesus with expensive oil. Jesus then enters Jerusalem to great fanfare, stoking fears that His popularity will attract the anger of the Roman Empire. That anger even inspires a murder plot against Lazarus. After being approached by non-Jewish seekers, Jesus offers a final plea for people to understand His ministry. In effect, these are the last public words spoken by Jesus in the gospel of John.

In the prior chapter, Jesus spectacularly raised Lazarus from death in front of a crowd of witnesses. This inspired local religious leaders to commit to having Him killed. Here, after a celebratory dinner where Jesus is anointed with oil, He will fulfill prophecy by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, celebrated with shouts of ''Hosanna'' and a massive crowd. This leads to a group of curious non-Jews approaching Him. Christ then offers a final plea for belief in Him and His message. After this, His ministry will turn to preparing the disciples for His impending death and resurrection. The next several chapters of the gospel of John are almost entirely made up of his teachings to these men.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.