Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ John

[Seven in Truth]

I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. — John 5:43

Who is Jesus speaking of?

[jimwalton]

"I" - Jesus

"my Father's name" - Jesus's "Father," God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity

You ("ye") - The crowd around Him, but specifically the Jewish leaders (check v. 16 where the conversation started).

"me" - Jesus

"If another comes in his own name, you will accept him" - Leon Morris comments: "Attempts to identify this 'someone else' seem futile. An allusion to Barchochba (someone claiming to be the messiah) is implausible. Scholars identify no less than 64 messianic claimants who came after Jesus. If one figure is especially in mind, it is the antichrist."

A.T. Robertson writes, "Similar prophesies occur in Mk. 13.6, 22 ( = Mt. 24.5, 24), all general in character like Antichrist in 2 Thes. 2.8-12. There is no occasion for a reference to any somewhat contemporary individual like Barchochba (AD 134)."

Others just say this "someone else" refers to all the false messiahs that will follow Jesus. Robertson and Nichols say. "Messianic upstarts all come in their own name and always find a following. Christ probably has a false messiah in view. The people are credulous about the false messiahs, incredulous about Jesus."