John 5:31-47 – Bible Study & Exploration
Testimonies About Jesus
(Verse 31-35) Jesus says something quite interesting in verse 31.
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.” (John 5:31)
Jesus is not saying His testimony is a lie. Jesus doesn’t lie. In order to understand what Jesus means by this statement, we need to refer to the law given by God to Moses to give to the people. We can find this reference in the book of Deuteronomy.
“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.” (Deuteronomy 19:15)
By examining this passage we can see that Jesus is simply referring to this law. In reference, He’s saying that according to His testimony alone, it is not credible because it requires two or witnesses. But we know that Jesus came to replace the law. We also know that Jesus is full of grace and truth. Thus, Jesus’ testimony alone is credible.
Since the Jews are strict observers of the law, Jesus presents them with a second witness. This other witness is John the Baptist who testified to the coming of Jesus.
Jesus then turns things around and testifies against the people. He says that they accepted the testimony of John the Baptist (the lamp) about the light (Jesus Christ). But now they don’t accept the light (Jesus Christ) who stands before them testifying to their blindness of the arrival of their Messiah.
Jesus Testifies Against the Religious Leaders
(Verses 36-44) By now, they’ve witnessed the incredible power of God that Jesus has performed. What Jesus is capable of is no mystery. Jesus adds the testimony that what He has to say, which they don’t believe holds much more weight than what the baptizer said, which they believed.
Jesus calls out the Pharisees and points to their studying and understanding of the scriptures. The very scripture that testifies about them yet they refuse to believe that Jesus is who He is.
It’s important we remember that the Jewish leaders prided themselves in understanding the law of Moses. Many could recite scripture from memory. It was a very difficult for them to accept what Jesus was saying about them.
Why Is Moses Their Accuser?
(Verses 45-47) Just as the scriptures they know very well testifies about them (Pharisee’s), it also testifies against them. They claim to know the law of Moses inside and out but the very law they cling to testifies against them. Because they themselves are not able to keep the law.
The law came because of sin. It was meant to expose our sin nature so we could turn to Christ for salvation. He is the ONLY WAY back to the Father. The law does not save anyone. The law convicts everyone. For no one has ever fully fulfilled the law of Moses except one, Jesus Christ.
For who the law convicts, Jesus saves.
Anyone who attempts to gain salvation through the law or any kind of works is condemned already. The wrath of God remains on them.
Again Jesus exposes their faulty theology by explaining that they believed Moses, and Moses spoke about Jesus. It would stand to reason that they would believe Jesus. But they don’t believe Jesus is the Messiah sent by God and spoken of by Moses.
Therefore, Moses is their accuser. They stand accused of not fulfilling the law and the words that Moses spoke that were given to him by God.
This is a wonderful example of the dangers of clinging to religious rituals and values in place of Christ. Religion is a dangerous place that Satan uses to lead people away from Christ towards a false gospel.
Everyone who is part of an organized religion should test the spirits of that religion. They should check if they align with biblical teaching. We live in a time when religions are choosing the things of this world and turning their backs on the scriptures.
What Jesus has to offer is much weightier than anything organized religion can offer.
Our world is filled with great deception just as Christ spoke of. Watch that you are not deceived.
John warns all of us of this danger in his first letter.
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3)