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John 5:17
ESV But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
NIV In his defense Jesus said to them, 'My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.'
NASB But He answered them, 'My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.'
CSB Jesus responded to them, "My Father is still working, and I am working also."
NLT But Jesus replied, 'My Father is always working, and so am I.'
KJV But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

What does John 5:17 mean?

Jesus has already angered local religious leaders by healing a man on the Sabbath. This, according to traditional views, violated the command not to work on the Sabbath day (John 5:10). Rather than investigating the power which allowed Jesus to perform a miracle, the Pharisees are criticizing Jesus for breaking their customs regarding the Sabbath. This, it seems, is something Jesus plans to provoke these hypocrites over, deliberately (Matthew 12:1–8;9–14). John 5:16 indicated that these men were persecuting Jesus because of His choice to ignore their added rules and regulations (Matthew 15:3–9).

Here, Jesus begins a defense of His ministry with an appeal to His Father. This is part of the New Testament's clear presentation of Jesus as divine. And, those who heard His words understood this claim all too well. Here, Jesus claims not only that God is His Father, but that He is working just as God is working. As verse 18 will show, the people of Jerusalem understood exactly what He was implying.
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