Matthew Poole and continuators on John 5:19

19 Then answered Jesus, and said unto them, Verily, Verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do , For whatsoever things he doth, these also doth the Son likewise .

Consider Christ as God; so, he can do nothing but what the Father doth; that is, nothing that respected Created Beings: For it is a known Rule, That the works of the Trinity out of it self are not divided; whatsoever one Person doth, the others do; tho to denote the order of the Trinities working, some works are most ordinarily ascribed to the Father (such are the works of Creation and Providence.) Some to the Son, as Redemption; some to the Holy Spirit, as Sanctification; yet they are not so ascribed to any Person, but that other Scriptures justifie the co-operation of all three Persons. Consider the Son as the Messias; so also it is true, That the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do. Nor is this any diminution to the Glory of Christ, nor doth it speak any Impotency in him; from whence the Arrians and Socinians would conclude his Inferiority to his Father; but rather his Perfection, that he did onely what pleased the Father: So that Phrase [What he seeth the Father do] is to be Interpreted. And that term [can do nothing] signifies no more than, he doth, or will do nothing. See such an usage of the Phrase, Gen. 19.22. Luke 16.2. Iohn 12.39. From this he leaveth them easily to conclude, that what he had done, in Curing this Impotent Man upon the Sabbath-day, was the Fathers work, tho by him. For whatsoever the Father doth, or willeth, the same doth the Son likewise. From hence will appear an easie Solution to the difficulty arising upon the first view of the words, viz. How these words can prove Christ equal with the Father, when they rather prove the contrary; because he can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doth. Some seek a Solution in the words cannot; he that cannot do those things which God cannot do, is equal with God. Some seek it in the word see; which they say, signifieth here an identity of Nature and Will. Some seek the Solution in the word do, which, they say, signifieth to will ▪ and consent to. The best Solution is to be taken from those words [of himself] the Son hath done many things which he did not see the Father do, but he did them not of himself. Our Saviours meaning is plainly this: The Son neither willeth, nor can do any thing, but what the Father willeth, and doth in him: Therefore he is one in Essence with the Father, and equal to him.

The Son doth those things which the Father doth; and as the Messias he doth those things which the Father willeth to be done.

Marginal references: Ver. 30. Chap. 8.38. and 9.4.