31 "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.
31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not deemed true.
31 If I were simply speaking on my own account, it would be an empty, self-serving witness.
31 "If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.
31 "If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 5:31
Commentary on John 5:30-38
(Read John 5:30-38)
Our Lord returns to his declaration of the entire agreement between the Father and the Son, and declared himself the Son of God. He had higher testimony than that of John; his works bore witness to all he had said. But the Divine word had no abiding-place in their hearts, as they refused to believe in Him whom the Father had sent, according to his ancient promises. The voice of God, accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost, thus made effectual to the conversion of sinners, still proclaims that this is the beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased. But when the hearts of men are full of pride, ambition, and the love of the world, there is no room for the word of God to abide in them.