Why would John in John ch 1 verse 18 say that no one has seen God when in Exodus ch 33 verse 11 it states that the Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend?

Answer 1

==Opinion== John means that no man can see God unless he has been changed. No man can stand in the presence of God unless his mortal body (Eyes) have been changes so that he may behold the Glory of God. Moses was given spiritual eyes so that he could see God, otherwise Moses would not have survived the Glory of God, but would have shrivelled up and died.

==Opinion== Clearly Exodus 33:11 does not mean that Moses saw God's face, for in vs. 18-23 of the same chapter, a complicated procedure is described whereby Moses is allowed to see just the back of God's glory. God specifically tells Moses, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." Exodus 33 18 Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." 19 And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." 21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen." According to Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary (Public Domain) Moses then entreats a sight of God's glory, and is heard in that also. A full discovery of the glory of God, would overwhelm even Moses himself. Man is mean, and unworthy of it; weak, and could not bear it; guilty, and could not but dread it. The merciful display which is made in Christ Jesus, alone can be borne by us. The Lord granted that which would abundantly satisfy. God's goodness is his glory; and he will have us to know him by the glory of his mercy, more than by the glory of his majesty. Upon the rock there was a fit place for Moses to view the goodness and glory of God. The rock in Horeb was typical of Christ the Rock; the Rock of refuge, salvation, and strength. Happy are they who stand upon this Rock. The cleft may be an emblem of Christ, as smitten, crucified, wounded, and slain. What follows, denotes the imperfect knowledge of God in the present state, even as revealed in Christ; for this, when compared with the heavenly sight of him. is but like seeing a man that is gone by, whose back only is to be seen. God in Christ, as he is, even the fullest and brightest displays of his glory, grace, and goodness, are reserved to another state.