Note 22 at Joh 5:44: In other words, this verse is saying, "We cannot believe if we are seeking honor from people instead of seeking honor from God alone." An integral part of faith is seeking God only with our whole hearts (Mt 6:33 and Joh 15:7). If we are concerned about what people think so that we can gain their approval (or honor), we will never take a stand in faith for anything that we might be criticized for. This one thing has probably stopped as many people from receiving from God as anything else. We cannot be "people-pleasers" and please God at the same time (Heb 11:6). Satan uses persecutions (Mr 4:17, see note 7 at Mt 5:10) to steal away God's Word and thereby stop our faith. To see faith work, we must say with Paul, "Let God be true, but every man a liar" (Ro 3:4).