Bible Strands
John 5:45
Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, in whom you have put your hope.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses Jewish leaders who have just attempted to kill him after his healing miracle. He states directly that he will not bring charges against them before the Father, but that Moses will serve as their accuser.
The words — The Greek κατηγορήσω (katēgorēsō) literally means "will accuse" or "I will prosecute." It is paired with μὴ (mē), a strong negative particle, to command the audience not to assume Jesus will bring legal charges against them.
The thread — This theme of divine accusation through written revelation echoes Romans 3:19, where the law silences every mouth, and Galatians 3:10, which declares that reliance on law works brings a curse.
Why it lands — The text demands readers examine whether their hope rests in human approval or in the written witness that points to Christ. It requires abandoning self-justification and accepting the standard of the revealed word.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
Cross-references
- Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
- Galatians 3:10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
- Romans 2:12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
- 2 Corinthians 3:7 Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,
- John 9:28 Then they heaped insults on him and said, “You are His disciple; we are disciples of Moses.
- Romans 10:5 For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.”
- Matthew 19:7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
- John 7:19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps it. Why are you trying to kill Me?”
- Romans 2:17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;
- John 8:5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?”