John 5:37–38

The third particular testimony, is that of the Father, which is neither to be understood of that in the Scriptures, of which verse 39. nor yet of any internal revelation of Christ, as Matth. 16.17. But of his immediate testimony to Christ; that as he had described him of old to be such a one as he was found, Isa. 42.1, 2, &c. and chap. 53. Zech. 9.9, &c. and elsewhere; so he had given him an immediate testimony at his Baptisme, Matth. 3.17. as afterward in his transfiguration, Matth. 17.5. of which 2 Pet. 1.17. That which is subjoyned in the end of verse 37. may be looked on, as pointing at the unusualnesse of such a manifestation of God, they never having heard a voice from heaven in their time, nor seene any visible signe, (not to represent Gods essence, but to assure them of his presence,) but when God owned Christ by a voice from heaven, and when the likenesse of a Dove, was the signe of the spirits coming on him; and therefore this testimony was the more to be regarded. But the following verse, and Christs way of subjoyning reproofs to his testimonies, leads us rather to understand it, as a reproof of their ignorance of the Father, of whom they glorified so much; For, whereas they were much puffed up, and might readily oppose this unto that immediate testimony given unto Christ, that they were the people, whose fathers had heard the voice of God, Exod. 20.18, 19, 22. Deut. 4.12. and with whose Prophet Moses, God had spoken familiarly, and given him a very neare manifestation of himself, Num. 12.8. (not in a bodily way, Deut. 4.12. but spiritual and intellectual of his back-parts, Exod. 34.6.) Christ sheweth them, that all this was nothing to them, they neither had, nor looked like any such manifestations, but were deaf and blinde to them, verse 37. And whereas they might object, that though such manifestations were gone, yet they had the Word, which was delivered by the Ministry of Moses, to their fathers, and in them, to their successors and children: Christ answers, that it had not its due place with them, since they beleeved not in him, verse 38. Doctrine 1. God is so faithful to them whom he employes in his work, that they shall not want his testimony and approbation; to beare them out against all opposition and contradiction of men; Of this, his carriage toward his Sonne, is a special instance, and a pledge to his own, of what they may expect in their own measure: the Father which hath sent me, hath borne witnesse of me. 2. The Fathers immediate testimony of Christ, is especially to be taken notice of, as being a witnesse above all doubt, 1 John 5.9, 10. and shewing that Christ is famous and excellent in heaven, whatever esteeme men have of him on earth; Therefore, that the Father himself, hath borne witnesse of him, is superadded as greater then the testimony of his works, which yet was a greater witnesse then that of John, verse 36. And indeed, the presence of the glorious Trinity made that witnesse most solemne, and the opening of heaven, shewed that, through him, heaven was propitious to sinners on earth. 3. Men may be ready to delude themselves, because of great things of God manifested to the Church and Nation whereof they are, and to their progenitors, who yet themselves come farre short, and are nothing like these things; for, so did the Jewes upon what Moses and their fathers had found, when yet saith he, ye have neither heard his voice at any time, not seen his shape, that is, not onely had they none of these extraordinary manifestations, which are not usual in declining times, but they had not knowledge of God like to that, which may be attained; which is a clear, solid and satisfactory knowledge of God, as of one whom we know by seeing and hearing. This they wanted, and so proved that they were not Moses disciples, nor looked like that people whose progenitors had seene so much of God 4. The Word of God is sufficiently able to compense and make up the want of any extraordinary manifestation; for, so is implyed here in that which Christ meets with, that they had the Word from their progenitors, to make up the want of those manifestations; Which Christ doth not refute, seeing the Word is the ordinary and sure way for attaining the knowledge of God, See 2 Pet. 1.17, 18, 19. 5. It is not enough to prove men to be in a good estate, that they have the Word, unlesse by faith it get accesse into the heart, and it be fastened and kept there, as a treasure, and as seed to bring forth fruit; And this may be wanting in them who pretend to much estimation of the Word; for, so saith Christ unto the Jewes, ye have not his Word abiding in you, it must be an engraffed Word, where it doth any good, James 1.21. 6. Where Christ is not beleeved in, and received as sent of the Father, there the Word is not rooted, nor is there any saving knowledge of it: And particularly, the Jewes who did not, or yet do not receive Christ now exhibited under the New Testament, nor are led by the Old Testament to him, they have not one word savingly of it; for, this is the reason of the former chalenge, for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.