What prevents people from coming to Jesus for life, according to John 5:40? The Key Verse John 5:40: “yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.” Setting the Scene • Jesus is speaking to religious leaders who diligently study Scripture yet miss its central figure—Him. • Their refusal is not due to lack of information but a willful resistance. What Prevents People from Coming to Jesus, According to John 5:40 • Willful refusal – a conscious choice of the heart and will. • Spiritual pride – confidence in religious knowledge rather than humble faith (cf. John 5:39). • Misplaced trust – relying on heritage, traditions, or personal merit instead of Christ (cf. John 8:39–40). • Desire for human approval – seeking the praise of people over the glory of God (John 5:44). • Love of darkness – preferring sin and self-rule over the light of Christ (John 3:19–20). • Hardness of heart – repeated rejection that dulls sensitivity to truth (Hebrews 3:7–8). • Fear of loss – concern that following Jesus will cost status, power, or comfort (John 12:42–43). The Heart Issue Behind Refusal • Unbelief – not merely intellectual doubt but moral resistance (John 6:36). • Rebellion – a refusal to bow to Christ’s authority (Psalm 2:1–3). • Blindness – spiritual inability until God opens the eyes (John 6:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Scripture’s Consistent Witness • Isaiah 53:3 – “He was despised and rejected by men.” • Acts 7:51 – “You always resist the Holy Spirit.” • Romans 10:3 – “Seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.” Living Implications • Mere Bible knowledge, church activity, or moral effort cannot grant life; only coming to Christ does. • Pride and self-reliance must give way to humble faith (James 4:6). • The invitation remains open: “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Summary John 5:40 exposes the ultimate barrier to life in Christ: a deliberate refusal springing from pride, misplaced trust, and love of worldly approval. The remedy is a surrendered, believing heart that comes to Jesus alone for eternal life. |
    |