31 'If I testify concerning myself, my testimony is not true; 32 another there is who is testifying concerning me, and I have known that the testimony that he doth testify concerning me is true; 33 ye have sent unto John, and he hath testified to the truth. 34 'But I do not receive testimony from man, but these things I say that ye may be saved; 35 he was the burning and shining lamp, and ye did will to be glad, for an hour, in his light. 36 'But I have the testimony greater than John's, for the works that the Father gave me, that I might finish them, the works themselves that I do, they testify concerning me, that the Father hath sent me. 37 'And the Father who sent me Himself hath testified concerning me; ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor His appearance have ye seen; 38 and His word ye have not remaining in you, because whom He sent, him ye do not believe. 39 'Ye search the Writings, because ye think in them to have life age-during, and these are they that are testifying concerning me; 40 and ye do not will to come unto me, that ye may have life; 41 glory from man I do not receive, 42 but I have known you, that the love of God ye have not in yourselves. 43 'I have come in the name of my Father, and ye do not receive me; if another may come in his own name, him ye will receive; 44 how are ye able—ye—to believe, glory from one another receiving, and the glory that 'is' from God alone ye seek not? 45 'Do not think that I will accuse you unto the Father; there is who is accusing you, Moses—in whom ye have hoped; 46 for if ye were believing Moses, ye would have been believing me, for he wrote concerning me; 47 but if his writings ye believe not, how shall ye believe my sayings?'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 5:31-47
Commentary on John 5:30-38
(Read John 5:30-38)
Our Lord returns to his declaration of the entire agreement between the Father and the Son, and declared himself the Son of God. He had higher testimony than that of John; his works bore witness to all he had said. But the Divine word had no abiding-place in their hearts, as they refused to believe in Him whom the Father had sent, according to his ancient promises. The voice of God, accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost, thus made effectual to the conversion of sinners, still proclaims that this is the beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased. But when the hearts of men are full of pride, ambition, and the love of the world, there is no room for the word of God to abide in them.
Commentary on John 5:39-44
(Read John 5:39-44)
The Jews considered that eternal life was revealed to them in their Scriptures, and that they had it, because they had the word of God in their hands. Jesus urged them to search those Scriptures with more diligence and attention. "Ye do search the Scriptures," and ye do well to do so. They did indeed search the Scriptures, but it was with a view to their own glory. It is possible for men to be very studious in the letter of the Scriptures, yet to be strangers to its power. Or, "Search the Scriptures," and so it was spoken to them in the nature of an appeal. Ye profess to receive and believe the Scripture, let that be the judge. It is spoken to us as advising or commanding all Christians to search the Scriptures. Not only read them, and hear them, but search them; which denotes diligence in examining and studying them. We must search the Scriptures for heaven as our great end; For in them ye think ye have eternal life. We must search the Scriptures for Christ, as the new and living Way, that leads to this end. To this testimony Christ adds reproofs of their unbelief and wickedness; their neglect of him and his doctrine. Also he reproves their want of the love of God. But there is life with Jesus Christ for poor souls. Many who make a great profession of religion, yet show they want the love of God, by their neglect of Christ and contempt of his commandments. It is the love of God in us, the love that is a living, active principle in the heart, which God will accept. They slighted and undervalued Christ, because they admired and overvalued themselves. How can those believe, who make the praise and applause of men their idol! When Christ and his followers are men wondered at, how can those believe, the utmost of whose ambition is to make a fair show in the flesh!
Commentary on John 5:45-47
(Read John 5:45-47)
Many trust in some form of doctrines or some parties, who no more enter into the real meaning of those doctrines, or the views of the persons whose names they bear, than the Jews did into those of Moses. Let us search and pray over the Scriptures, as intent on finding eternal life; let us observe how Christ is the great subject of them, and daily apply to him for the life he bestows.