John 5:39-40 (ESV)
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
The Jews had the Old Testament. The modern world has the entire biblical record. Both have complete access to what God has said concerning His Son, yet there are few today—nor were there many back then—that end up at the foot of Christ in repentance and faith. Religious practices and bible study are merely academic exercises and feel-good accomplishments unless they lead you to Him.
“…it is they that bear witness about me.”
In his commentaries on the Gospel of John, John Calvin writes that, “…as we are commanded to seek Christ in the Scriptures, so he declares in this passage that our labors shall not be fruitless; for the Father testifies in them concerning his Son in such a manner that He will manifest him to us beyond all doubt. But what hinders the greater part of men from profiting is, that they give to the subject nothing more than a superficial and cursory glance. Yet it requires the utmost attention, and, therefore, Christ enjoins us to search diligently for this hidden treasure.” Countless millions have access to the “treasure map” that is the Scriptures, but most give it just a cursory glance and therefore miss the object of its focus.
“…yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”
The religious leaders were not willing, even though they had all the testimony that one could need to believe on Him. Jesus made it clear that having life is found in fulfilling the command, Come to Me. “Christ is a person, a living person, full of power to save. He has not placed his salvation in sacraments, or books, or priests, but he has kept it in himself; and if you want to have it you must come to him.” (Spurgeon) But does all of this mean it is somehow wrong to search the scriptures? Spurgeon answers that by saying, “…the more you search them the better; but still it is not the thing: it is not the saving work. You may be Bible readers and yet perish, but this can never happen if you come to Jesus by faith.”
One can know the Bible and still not know it’s Savior. There are many bible scholars teaching in universities across America that are not followers of Jesus Christ. There are non-Christians teaching college-age Christians about the Scriptures while denying the very thing that they exist to proclaim. They have the map but refuse to take hold of the treasure. Dare I say that there are even “churches” that have “pastors” in their pulpits that do the very same thing. We must all beware of the unregenerate teachers who walk in those Jewish shoes of old…those who search the scriptures yet refuse to come to Christ and be born again.
