words vs. works = Barclay notes that, “A word is something about which a man can argue; but a deed is something about which there is no argument.”

“know” = ginosko = to learn to know, to get a knowledge of, to understand.

” that ye may know, and believe” (KJV) in most manuscripts reads “that ye may know, and understand”. The verb for “know” and for “understand” is the same, but the tense is different. The first is in the aorist tense and would read “may come to know” while the second is in the present and would read “and keep on knowing”. “Jesus is looking for them to have a moment of insight and then to remain permanently in the knowledge that that moment has brought them.” (Morris)

Jesus’ method of teaching was not one of haste nor one of aggressiveness. He was content to sow the seed and wait for it to grow. He trusted faith to work in the hearts of men to produce a crop and did not try to coerce men to believe. Jesus generally allows men to gradually find their own way to right conclusions. He guides them and gives them enough evidence along the way so that they can come to know Him, but He allows the evidence to do its work.