John 5:39-40 - Homilies By B. Thomas

A commendable search and a sad failure.

We have here—

I. A COMMENDABLE SEARCH . Commendable because:

1 . It is a search for the proper object. "Eternal life."

2 . It is a search for the proper object in the proper field. "The Scriptures."

3 . The chief object is sought in a praiseworthy manner. "Ye search," etc. The Scriptures, as the revelation of God's will, are worthy of the most diligent search. No search can be too minute and no effort can be too thorough. Eternal life is a pearl to be found by search. These people searched the Scriptures, and in the time and efforts they bestowed on this, they were patterns to the present age.

II. A SAD FAILURE .

1 . They failed to recognize Christ as the great Theme of the Scriptures.

2 . They failed to learn the testimony of Scripture to Christ as the Life of the world.

The very Scriptures which they searched emphatically and unitedly bear witness to Christ as the Life of the world, and as the Author and Giver of spiritual life in the soul. This witness they failed to recognize, this testimony they failed to understand.

3 . They failed to come to Christ to have life. Our Lord suggests the reasons for this.

4 . This failure is very sad. Because:

LESSONS .

1 . The chief good may be very near and yet missed. This was the case with regard to the majority of Christ's hearers, and this is the case still. It is so near, but how often missed!

2 . Much commendable search of Scripture may be made in vain. M any students of the Bible are scripturally rich but spiritually poor. "Ever learning," etc.

3 . It is not enough to search the Scriptures, but we must search them with the proper end in view —with open eyes and open hearts. We should not stop with the letter, but dive down to the spirit and drink of the living water, accept the Life—the Christ of the Bible.

4 . How little is enough to keep us from the chief good ! A want of will is sufficient. Look at the rich young man; only one thing was lacking. And look at these Jews; it was only the "will not" that stood between them and eternal life.

5 . In Christ alone eternal life is to be found.

6 . We must come to him, for it, or be without it.

7 . The importance of the subject and the Divine aids should ever decide the will in favour of Christ. To know the Scriptures and not know the Christ of the Scriptures is very sad.—B.T.