Scripture to Read: John 5:45–47
The Jews in Jesus’ day thought that being a descendant of Abraham automatically put them in right standing with God, no matter how they lived their lives. God had given His Law to the Israelites through Moses, and we can see the Gospel of our Lord throughout the first five Books of the Bible. So, that is why Jesus challenged the Jews by telling them in John 5:45–46, “Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.” Jesus told them that Moses had written about Him in the Bible's first five Books (the Pentateuch). Jesus said that Moses was the one who accused them because if they had believed in the Scriptures that God led Moses to write, then they would have believed everything Jesus had said and done so far. Jesus said this because He knew that in every Hebrew family, from ages 5–10, every Hebrew child was taught the Bible's first five Books (the Pentateuch). Then, from ages 10–13, those Hebrew children would study the Mishnah (the Hebrew commentary of the Pentateuch). So, these Jews knew God’s Word, but as Jesus said in John 5:47, But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” Though these Jews knew God’s Word, they never believed (trusted in, clung to, or relied on) God’s Word. Knowing God and His Word is never enough. Faith must be applied for lives to change!
Challenge & Application
• What was Jesus’ challenge to the Jews, and why was His challenge appropriate for them?
• When we consider all the biblical resources available today, how could our Lord challenge us?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!