49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.
49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment--what to say and what to speak.
49 I'm not making any of this up on my own. The Father who sent me gave me orders, told me what to say and how to say it.
49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.
49 I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 12:49
Commentary on John 12:44-50
(Read John 12:44-50)
Our Lord publicly proclaimed, that every one who believed on him, as his true disciple, did not believe on him only, but on the Father who sent him. Beholding in Jesus the glory of the Father, we learn to obey, love, and trust in him. By daily looking to Him, who came a Light into the world, we are more and more freed from the darkness of ignorance, error, sin, and misery; we learn that the command of God our Saviour is everlasting life. But the same word will seal the condemnation of all who despise it, or neglect it.