Strength of Moses

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 11, 1916

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 43, No. 27.

Strength of Moses

CHRIST, in His teaching, presents Moses and the prophets as furnishing the strongest evidences that can be adduced for the inspiration of the Scriptures. On one occasion He said to the higher critics of His day: “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?” John 5: 45-47.

Of a similar import to the foregoing are the concluding words of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, which read: “Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, Father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16: 29-31.

According to this teaching of Christ, greater is the evidence presented in the writings of Moses and the prophets than would be the miracle of an individual rising from the dead. Men might be led to think that if they should see an individual rise from the dead, they would have the strongest evidence that could be adduced on which to rest their faith; but Christ impresses upon us the fact that Moses and the prophets furnish the strongest possible evidence. We may rest our faith upon them securely, for the great Teacher, Jesus Christ Himself, regarded them as of highest importance.