John 5:47

But if ye beleeue not his writings, how shall ye beleeue my words? John 5:47 (KJV)

In this verse Jesus addresses the Jewish religious leaders who were challenging His authority and teachings. Earlier in John 5 He healed a man on the Sabbath, provoking controversy and giving Him a platform to explain His relationship with the Father and His authority as the Son of God. He reminds them of verse 39: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me,” referring to the Hebrew Scriptures, commonly called the Old Testament. Jesus affirms that those Scriptures testify about Him and serve as a witness to His identity as the Messiah.

He then points out that the listeners place their hope in Moses yet fail to recognize Him (verse 45). Jesus adds, “For if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me: for he wrote concerning me,” emphasizing that the writings of Moses—the Pentateuch—contain prophecies and foreshadowings of the coming Messiah, which He fulfills. By rejecting the writings of Moses, they are essentially rejecting Jesus Himself.

This passage highlights the importance of the Old Testament Scriptures and their direct connection to Jesus’ ministry. It underscores the necessity of faith in both the written Word of God and in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Jesus invites the religious leaders to re‑examine their understanding of the Scriptures and to recognize the fulfillment of prophecy in His life and teachings.

For Christians today the verse serves as a reminder of the unity between the Old and New Testaments. Both testaments together reveal God’s comprehensive plan for humanity’s redemption, with Jesus as the central figure. By studying and understanding the Old Testament we deepen our faith in Christ and grasp the continuity of God’s redemptive work throughout history.