Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 5:39

"Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me;" — John 5:39 (ASV)

Jesus’ final witness is the Scriptures. After the destruction of the temple of Solomon in 586 B. C., the Jewish scholars of the Exile substituted the study of the Law for the observance of the temple ritual and sacrifices. They pored over the OT, trying to extract the fullest possible meaning from its words, because they believed that the very study itself would bring them life. By so doing they missed the chief subject of the OT revelation. Jesus claimed the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms (Writings) as witnesses to his person and claims . For example, they prefigured his sacrifice and marked some of the events of the Passion (12:14–15; 18:9; 19:24, 28, 36). He rebuked his hearers for their inconsistency in studying the Scriptures so diligently while rejecting his claims. 41–42 The people were incapable of both interpreting and applying the Scriptures, for as students of the Scriptures they should have known that they spoke of him. Because the Jews did not give “praise” (or “glory”; GK 1518) to Jesus, it was evident that they were spiritually unable to make the connection between the Scriptures and the Savior. But this came as no surprise to Jesus. 43–44 Jesus expressed disappointment because the people would not accept his credentials, though they would accept the personal claims of others who acted solely on their own authority. Compare, for example, the choice of Barabbas over Jesus at the final trial . Verse 44 rebukes those students of the Scriptures who are more interested in establishing their competitive reputations for scholarship than in obeying the revelation of God so as to bring his approval. 45–47 Moses, who wrote the Law, was highly revered by the Jewish nation. They would not knowingly do anything contrary to his teaching. Their obedience to him was a source of pride. In fact, their very hope in securing God’s favor and blessing lay in their relationship to Moses. Jesus told the people that the law of Moses would condemn them in their rejection of him because their failure to believe in him was essentially a rejection of Moses since Moses had prefigured him (cf. Lk 16:29-31).