John 8:19,55
Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also…

John 15:21,23
But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me…

John 17:3,25
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent…

because they have not known
The lack of knowledge here is not merely intellectual but relational and spiritual. In biblical terms, "knowing" often implies a deep, intimate relationship. The religious leaders of the time, despite their extensive knowledge of the Scriptures, failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. This highlights a recurring biblical theme where spiritual blindness prevents individuals from understanding God's truth, as seen in passages like Isaiah 6:9-10 and Matthew 13:13-15.

the Father
The Father refers to God, the first person of the Trinity. In the cultural and religious context of first-century Judaism, God was known as Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. However, Jesus emphasizes a personal relationship with God as Father, which was a radical concept at the time. This relational aspect is central to Jesus' teaching and is a key theme throughout the Gospel of John, as seen in John 1:18 and John 14:6-7.

or Me
"Me" refers to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The rejection of Jesus by many of His contemporaries was a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such as Isaiah 53:3, which speaks of the Messiah being despised and rejected. Jesus' identity as the Son of God and the promised Messiah is a cornerstone of Christian faith, and recognizing Him is essential for salvation, as stated in John 14:6. The failure to know Jesus is equated with not knowing the Father, underscoring the unity of the Father and the Son in the Godhead.

• Jesus has just warned in John 16:2, “They will put you out of the synagogues; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.”

• “These things” points to tangible acts of opposition—expulsion, slander, even martyrdom—as seen later in Acts 8:1-3 and Acts 12:1-3.

• The Lord speaks plainly so His followers can anchor their courage in His foreknowledge, echoing Matthew 5:11-12 where persecution is portrayed as a cause for rejoicing.

• By stating this upfront, Jesus removes the element of surprise; hardship will come, yet it remains within God’s sovereign plan (Romans 8:28).

• The word signals causation: hostility has a spiritual root, not merely social or political.

• Luke 23:34 records Jesus saying from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” underscoring ignorance as a chief cause of sin.

• First Corinthians 2:8 affirms, “None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

• Recognizing the true “because” helps believers respond with grace rather than retaliation (Romans 12:17-21).

• The verb “known” describes personal, relational knowledge, not mere awareness. John 8:19: “You do not know Me or My Father….”

• Spiritual blindness keeps people from recognizing God’s character (2 Corinthians 4:4).

• Lack of knowledge leads directly to misguided zeal, illustrated by Saul of Tarsus before his conversion (Acts 9:1-2).

• This line also clarifies that persecution often flows from ignorance, not informed rejection.

• Jesus links rejection of His followers to ignorance of God Himself. John 15:21: “They will treat you like this because of My name, for they do not know the One who sent Me.”

• True knowledge of the Father produces love (1 John 4:7-8); absence of that knowledge produces hatred (John 3:19-20).

• The statement underscores the unity between Father and Son; to miss One is to miss Both (John 14:9-10).

• Jesus personalizes the indictment: opposition to disciples stems from failure to recognize Him as Messiah.

• John 1:10-11 notes, “He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, but His own did not receive Him.”

• Acts 3:17 shows Peter saying, “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders,” linking ignorance of Christ to sinful action.

• Knowing Jesus is eternal life (John 17:3); not knowing Him explains hostility toward those who bear His name.

John 16:3 reveals the root of persecution: ignorance of God the Father and of Jesus Christ. Hostility toward believers is neither random nor unstoppable; it springs from spiritual blindness that fails to recognize God’s character and His Son’s lordship. Understanding this equips Christ’s followers to endure suffering with confidence, compassion, and unwavering trust in the One who foreknew every trial and remains sovereign over all.

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