John 5:42
“But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus sees the absence of God's love in the hearts of those who refuse him.
Context
This is the final judgment: the refusal to come to Jesus reveals that one does not love God.
What Does John 5:42 Mean?
Jesus looks at the people before him and sees something invisible to the human eye: the state of their love. They do not love God. If they did, they would recognize him in the Son. God is love, and to love God is to desire what God desires - our own redemption and restoration. Those who truly love God want what God wants. Jesus, being God's dearest desire for humanity, would be the object of that love. The absence of love for Jesus reveals the absence of love for God. This is not Jesus being harsh but profoundly honest. A marriage that has lost love is already broken, even if the couple continues living together. A heart that does not love God is already separated from him, regardless of what rituals it performs.
The hope embedded in this verse is that love can be rekindled. Jesus looks at the lovelessness not with contempt but as a doctor names a disease - the first step toward healing is seeing it clearly.
Application
Do I love God? Not in sentiment, but in the orientation of my whole self - what I trust, what I obey, where I turn in need. Jesus sees, and invites us to love him.