Paragraph 5:45–47

Moses had written in the Scriptures that God would send another prophet like him. He also wrote that the people must believe and obey that other prophet. In this paragraph, Jesus implied that he was that other prophet, but the people refused to accept him.

5:45a

Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: In this clause, Jesus was referring to the last judgment. He was indicating that it was not he who would tell God that the religious leaders were wrong. He was implying that someone would accuse them, but it would not be him.

Here are other ways to translate this clause (a “tribunal” is a legal court):

Don’t think that I will stand before the Father and say you are wrong. (New Century Version)
-or-
Do not imagine that I shall be your accuser at the Father’s tribunal. (Revised English Bible)

Do not think that I will accuse you: The Jewish leaders were not to think this because it was not true. In some languages it may be more natural to leave the phrase Do not think implicit. For example:

Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. (New Living Translation (2004))

you: The pronoun you is plural and refers to the Jewish leaders.

before the Father: The word Father refers to God the Father. In some languages it is more natural to say “my Father.” For example:

to my Father (Good News Translation)

5:45b

Your accuser is Moses, in whom you have put your hope: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Your accuser is Moses is the most important part of Jesus’ argument. The Jewish leaders had been saying that they followed Moses, but Jesus said that they were disobeying Moses. Moses had told them to believe in him, that is, in Jesus. So Moses was their real accuser. For example:

Moses, the one you trust, is already accusing you. (God’s Word)
-or-
The one who says you are wrong is Moses, the one you hoped would save you. (New Century Version)

Your accuser is Moses: In some languages it is more natural to change the noun accuser into a verb phrase. For example:

Moses will accuse you! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The one who accuses you is Moses (NET Bible)

in whom you have put your hope: Moses was the one the Jewish leaders hoped would bring them eternal life. He wrote the first five books of the Old Testament. The Jewish leaders hoped that if they obeyed what he wrote, God would approve of them and give them eternal life. See the note on 5:39b. But Jesus said that Moses is the one who will accuse them of sin. This clause is emphasized. For example:

Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. (New Living Translation (2004))

your hope: The Greek phrase the Berean Standard Bible translates as your hope refers to the religious leaders’ hope. They hoped that they would obtain God’s favor and blessing if they obeyed Moses’ law. In some languages it may be natural to translate hope as a verb. For example:

the one you hoped would save you (New Century Version)
-or-
the one you trust (God’s Word)

General Comment on 5:45a–b

In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of 5:45a–b. For example:

You have put your hope in Moses, yet he is the very one who will accuse you. (Contemporary English Version)

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