Philip wanted to see God with his own eyes, and he did not realize he already had. Barnes says Philip "referred to some outward and visible manifestation of God." Gill says, "it was a corporeal sight of him he asked for," such a sight of God's glory as Moses desired (Exodus 33:18). Jesus' first question presses on the length of their time together. Barnes notes, "For more than three years Jesus had been with them." His second question presses on the request itself: why ask to see the Father when the One who reveals Him is standing in front of you?

Jesus answered His own questions: "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9). He continued, "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?" and pointed to His words and works (John 14:10). Then He invited them, "Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake" (John 14:11). The text records no reply from Philip.

Philip had been with Jesus from the beginning. Jesus found him early on and said, "Follow me," and Philip then found Nathanael and told him about Jesus (John 1:43-45). Jesus once tested him by asking, "Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" (John 6:5-6). Now, at the end, Philip still had not grasped who Jesus was.

In the Old Testament, Moses asked God, "shew me thy glory" (Exodus 33:18). Gill links Philip's request to that kind of sight. Gill explains Jesus' answer as meaning that He is the very image of the Father, "possessed of the same nature, attributes, and glory."

This question reveals something wonderful about God. People have always longed to see Him. Philip thought that one clear sight of the Father would be enough. Jesus' answer is that the Father has already been shown, in Jesus. Earlier He had said, "he that seeth me seeth him that sent me" (John 12:45), and John began his Gospel by saying that the only begotten Son "hath declared" the Father whom no man has seen (John 1:18).

Jesus' tone is not harsh but searching. Matthew Henry renders the first question, "Have I been so long time with you, now above three years intimately conversant with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?"