We will focus on verses 39 and 40.
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” John 5:39-40.
A few years ago, I attended a memorial service for an old Jewish friend of mine. There was a Scripture reading from the Torah by one man, the first man, while another man, the second man, looked over his shoulder carefully to make sure that the first man correctly read every word. The first man read the Scripture slowly with great care and with great reverence.
I was struck with the contrast between how the Jews handle God’s Word compared to how Christians handle God’s Word in their respective worship services. As a general observation and comparison, it seems to me that the Jews show much greater care and reverence for God’s Word than the Christians who tend to rush through the reading of the Scripture, who stumble over words, and who seem to care more about their own commentary than the actual reading of God’s Word. There is an introductory and side lesson to learn here. We, Christians, need to read God’s Word more slowly, more carefully, and with greater reverence, particularly in worship services.
But, the main lesson from this Scripture for today is that even though the Jews may show great care and reverence in the study and reading of Scripture, they do not have eternal life, because they fail to believe in Jesus.
This Scripture for today should also remind us that the primary purpose of Scripture is to point to Christ and present Him as our only Lord and Savior. Jews, Christians, and others may benefit from the Law and other teachings in Scripture, but the Law and other teachings will not bring life to them if they don’t come to Christ.
This Scripture for today is consistent with Galatians 3:21-26. “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24.
“21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.
22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.
24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:21-26.
Apostle Paul, “the poster child for the Law”, (“as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.” Philippians 3:6) said: “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,” Philippians 3:7-9.
Paul later stated about Christ: “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3. He added: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;” Colossians 2:8-10.
Come to Christ through faith by God’s grace!
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 