Justin Houtz

Exodus 23, John 5

DateVersionReading Plan
March 14, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Exodus 23

Observation

Exod. 23:5 – If a donkey is found to be lying down under the weight of its burden, it is not to be left there with the burden but rescued. “Both the donkey and its pack are to be rescued; one does not have the right to take, sell, or leave the donkey’s load, even as compensation for the good deed of rescuing the animal.” (FSB)

Exod. 23:8 – No one was to take a bribe as it blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those in the right. Money has a corrupting effect even among those of upstanding character and has the potential to subvert virtuous causes.

Exod. 23:14-17 – The LORD commands that feasts were to be kept to Him three times a year. The feasts were 1) the Feast of Unleavened Bread, 2) The Feast of Harvest (also called Pentecost and the Feast of Weeks) and 3) The Feast of Ingathering (also called the Feast of Tabernacles).

Exod. 23:20 – The LORD through Moses told the people that He was sending an angel before them to guard them on the way and bring them to the place He had prepared. According the BBC, the angel was the Lord Himself being sent “before the Israelites, to lead them to the Promised Land and to drive out the heathen inhabitants.”

Application

Laws continue to be given in this chapter that show God’s justice but also that He is to remain central in all things: in worship, commemoration and remembrance of His provision. Having recently seen His work in their rescue from the Egyptians, it was paramount that they be given the means for both themselves and future generations to remember what He had done and live in obedience to Him. The human condition being so prone to forget, it is crucial to regularly return and reflect on the promises of God; all that have been fulfilled already and those to be fulfilled at the return of Christ.

John 5

Observation

John 5:18 – The Pharisees were seeking to kill Jesus because by calling God His own Father, He was making Himself equal to God. The BBC, quoting J. Sidlow Baxter, provides more detail on the claims of Jesus being one with the Father:

He claims equality in seven particulars: (1) Equal in working: “What things soever he (the Father) doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (v. 19). (2) Equal in knowing: “For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth” (v. 20). (3) Equal in resurrecting: “For as the Father raiseth up the dead … so the Son quickeneth whom he will” (v. 21 with vv. 28, 29). (4) Equal in judging: “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (v. 22 with v. 27). (5) Equal in honour: “That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father” (v. 23). (6) Equal in regenerating: “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me … is passed from death unto life” (vv. 24, 25). (7) Equal in self-existence: “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself” (v. 26).

John 5:24 – Jesus’ words to the Jews here are remarkable. Jesus tells them that whoever hears His word and believes in Him who sent Him has eternal life, that this person does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life. The BBC provides helpful clarification on “believes him who sent me”:

“And believes in Him who sent Me.” It is a matter of believing God. But does that mean that a person is saved simply by believing God? Many profess to believe in God, yet they have never been converted. No, the thought here is that one must believe God, who sent the Lord Jesus Christ into the world. What must he believe? He must believe that God sent the Lord Jesus to be our Savior. He must believe what God says about the Lord Jesus, namely, that He is the only Savior and that sins can only be put away through His work on Calvary.

John 5:39-40 – Jesus confronted the Jews for thinking that eternal life came through searching the Scriptures. He made clear that that the Scriptures bore witness about Him and yet they refused to come to Him. The BBC gives insight as to the motive behind the refusal:

The real reason people do not accept the Savior is not because they cannot understand the gospel, or find it impossible to believe on Jesus. There is nothing about the Lord Jesus that makes it impossible for them to trust Him. The real fault lies in man’s own will. He loves his sins more than he loves the Savior. He does not want to give up his wicked ways.

Application

The only way for the power and punishment of sin to be fully vanquished is by rightful belief and receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior. The gift of salvation is exclusively found in the repentance of sin and placing one’s faith solely in Christ; in His full deity and sinless humanity, in His Personhood within the Trinity, in His perfect obedience to the Father, in His propitiatory death on the cross and in His final defeat of sin, satan and death in resurrection. These are the core tenets of the gospel and how wonderful it is to be given opportunity in this chapter of John’s Gospel to reflect on these glorious truths.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that You have given Your law the way in which we can strive to live in a manner that honors and glorifies You. Thank You that by Your Word, we can be refreshed in the truth of who You are, Your mighty works, the value of Your creation, the favor You show Your people and the gift of salvation You have given by Your Son.

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