John 5:39

“Search the Scriptures, etc.] The writings of Moses, and the prophets, which were of divine inspiration and authority, and are often appealed unto by Christ, and his apostles, for the truth of what they delivered; and were the standard of faith, and the test of doctrines; and therefore to be searched diligently into, for finding divine knowledge and improvement in it, and for the trial of doctrines. The words may be rendered in the indicative, as an assertion, “ye do search the Scriptures”: the Jews had the sacred oracles committed to them, and these they read, not only their kings, princes, and judges, but the common people, who brought up their children to the reading of them, and…”

“Search the scriptures, &c.--"In the Scriptures ye find your charter of eternal life; go search them then, and you will find that I am the Great Burden of their testimony; yet ye will not come to Me for that life eternal which you profess to find there, and of which they tell you I am the appointed Dispenser." (Compare Act 17:11-12). How touching and gracious are these last words! Observe here (1) The honor which Christ gives to the Scriptures, as a record which all have a right and are bound to search--the reverse of which the Church of Rome teaches; (2) The opposite extreme is, resting in the mere Book without the living Christ, to direct the soul to whom is its main use and chiefest glory.”

“Search the scriptures - The word translated “search” here means to “search diligently” or “search anxiously.” It was applied to miners, who search for precious metals - who look anxiously for the “bed” of the ore with an intensity or anxiety proportionate to “their sense” of the value of the metal. Compare the notes at Job 28:3. It is applied by Homer to a lioness robbed of her whelps, and who “searches” the plain to “trace out” the footsteps of the man who has robbed her. It is also applied by him to dogs tracing their game by searching them out by the scent of the foot. It means a diligent, faithful, anxious investigation The word may be either in the indicative or imperative mood. In our…”

“Search the Scriptures - A plain command to all men. In them ye are assured ye have eternal life - Ye know they show you the way to eternal life. And these very Scriptures testify of me. John 5:40”

“5:39-40 Jesus’ fourth witness was the Scriptures. The Old Testament pointed to the Messiah, and Jesus fulfilled its prophecies (see Luke 24:25-27).”

“Luk 24:27, Luk 24:44 Search: Joh 5:46, Joh 7:52; Deu 11:18-20, Deu 17:18, Deu 17:19; Jos 1:8; Psa 1:2, Psa 119:11, Psa 119:97-99; Pro 6:23, Pro 8:33, Pro 8:34; Isa 8:20, Isa 34:16; Jer 8:9; Mat 22:29; Mar 12:10; Luk 16:29, Luk 16:31; Act 8:32-35, Act 17:11; Rom 3:2; Col 3:16; Ti2 3:14-17; Pe2 1:19-21 ye think: Deu 32:47; Psa 16:11, Psa 21:4, Psa 36:9, Psa 133:3; Dan 12:2; Mat 19:16-20; Luk 10:25-29; Heb 11:16, Heb 11:35 they which: Joh 5:32, Joh 5:36, Joh 1:45; Deu 18:15, Deu 18:18; Act 26:22, Act 26:23, Act 26:27; Rom 1:2; Pe1 1:10, Pe1 1:11; Rev 19:10 John 5:40”