39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.
40 And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.
41 I receive not honor from men.
42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43 I am come in My Father’s name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44 How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me.
47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?
Search the Scriptures (v.39) — an appeal and a command
You think (v.39) — not in a doubtful sense. Jesus was pointing out the flaws in their faith.
search (in Greek)(v.39) = like a hunter tracking his quarry
Scriptures testify of Christ (v.39) — prophecies, types, priestly functions (John 1:45). Philip searched the Scriptures and believed.
Ye will not come (v.40) = You do not will to come
Jesus didn’t say these things to gain their regard, but for their own good.
In My Father’s name (v.43) — as His personal representative
if another shall come in his own name (v.43) — During the first century after Christ, dozens of false messiahs came to the Jews and all gained large followings. This is also a prophecy of the Antichrist (Revelation 13). Antichrist must be Jewish because Jews would accept no other as Messiah.
The rabbis thought knowledge of the Scripture, in itself, brought life. Paul counters this in Galatians 3:21: Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
The Scriptures exist to testify of Christ.
They honored Moses and studied his writings, but Jesus said those very writings accuse them because they testify of Him (Deuteronomy 18:15-18; Luke 24:44; 2 Corinthians 3:15).
If there is one thing those Jews thought they believed, it was Moses and his writings. They contended earnestly for the law: they venerated the name of Moses above almost all of their national heroes. They would have been ready to die for what Moses taught. And yet here is the Son of God solemnly declaring that these Jews did not believe Moses, and furnishing proof by showing that if they had really believed Moses’ writings they had believed in Christ, of whom Moses wrote. How terribly deceptive is the human heart! — Pink, page 283-284.