Blindness to the Truth of the Scriptures
February 15, 2021
Commentary
Jesus knew that they would not accept His testimony alone. The Old Testament law required two or three witnesses for a man to be found guilty (Deut. 17:6). Therefore, Jesus supplied actional witnesses. His witness were (1) Himself (vv.30-31), (2) John the Baptist (vv. 33-35), (3) His works (miracles), (4) the Father (vv. 37-38), and (5) The Scriptures (v.39). The Jews were constantly searching the Scriptures, recognizing that they contained the secret of eternal life (v. 39). These same Scriptures bear testimony of Christ, yet these pious Jews were blind, unable to understanding who Christ was (v. 46). They knew the rules but missed the Savior.
Because of their hardness of heart, they rejected Christ (vv. 40-43). Christ does not receive honor (glory or praise) from men. Christ had come in the authority of His Father with mighty miracles to prove His deity, but they rejected Him. “If another shall come in his own name, him you will receive.” (v. 43b) This was proven when the Jews accepted false messiahs like Theudas, and Judas of Galilee (Acts 5:36-37). They will also accept the antichrist (II Thess. 2:8–10). The Jews could not believe, because they desired praise from each other rather than praise from God (vv. 44-47). The name Jew means “praised.” The Jews had the utmost confidence in Moses and his writings. They claimed to be Moses’ disciples (9:28), and yet they did not accept what Moses had said (Deut 18:15–18). If they had accepted Moses’ writings, they would have accepted Christ, for he wrote of Him. These religious leaders persisted in protecting tradition instead of understanding truth. It is very easy for us to become so involved in “Bible study” that we fail to see who Jesus really is and what He wants to do in our lives.
Application
“So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). It is only as I use the Word of God that I will be able to lead others to a saving knowledge of Christ. I am so glad that I do not have to go through life blind to God’s plan as revealed in His Word.
John 5:30– 47 (NET)
30 I can do nothing on my own initiative. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me.
31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies about me, and I know the testimony he testifies about me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34 (I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved.) 35 He was a lamp that was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice greatly for a short time in his light.
36 “But I have a testimony greater than that from John. For the deeds that the Father has assigned me to complete—the deeds I am now doing—testify about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You people have never heard his voice nor seen his form at any time, 38 nor do you have his word residing in you, because you do not believe the one whom he sent. 39 You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me, 40 but you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.
41 “I do not accept praise from people, 42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe, if you accept praise from one another and don’t seek the praise that comes from the only God?
45 “Do not suppose that I will accuse you before the Father. The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But if you do not believe what Moses wrote, how will you believe my words?”
Illustration: A Boys Compassion for the Lost
I once heard a story about an 11-year-old boy who bundled up on a rainy, cold Sunday afternoon to pass out tracts. His father who was a pastor said, “Son, it is very cold outside, and it is pouring down rain. The surprised son replied, “But Dad, aren’t people still going to hell even though it is raining?” The son convinced his father to let him go out alone. After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking wet. With one final tract he approached the nearest house and rang the doorbell. He rang it again and again with no response. Finally the door slowly opened and a very sad-looking woman said, “What can I do for you son?” With a smile he said, “Ma’am, I just want to tell you that Jesus really loves you, and I want to give you my last Gospel tract that will tell you all about Jesus and His great love.” The following Sunday morning the pastor asked if anyone had a testimony to share. A woman stood up and said, “Last Sunday I no longer had any hope or will to live. So I went to my attic and prepared to hang myself. As I stood on a chair with a rope tied around my neck, I was about to jump, but then I heard the doorbell ringing. I thought I would wait until it stopped, but it kept on ringing. Finally, I loosened the rope and went to answer the door. I could hardly believe my eyes! The most radiant, angelic boy I had ever seen stood there telling me that Jesus loved me. I accepted the tract he offered me and became a Christian.” (Lou Nicholes – Author and Missionary).