The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that the Jews are people who incurred Allah's wrath because they knew the truth but did not apply it. The Christians are people who went astray because they acted without knowledge.
Lessons
Combining knowledge and action guarantees safety from the path of those who incurred Allah's wrath as well as those who went astray.
Warning against the path adopted by the Jews and Christians and calling to adhere to the straight path, which is Islam.
Both the Jews and the Christians have gone astray and have incurred Allah's wrath; however, incurring Allah's wrath is the Jews' most distinct characteristic, whereas the Christians' most distinct characteristic is their misguidance.
Explanation in Arabic
أَخْبَرَ النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أنَّ اليهودَ قومٌ غَضِبَ اللهُ عليهم؛ لأنهم عرفوا الحقَّ ولم يعملوا به.
والنصارى قومٌ ضلال؛ لأنهم عَمِلوا بغير علم.
الجَمْعُ بين العلم والعمل نجاةٌ من سبيل المغضوب عليهم والضالين.
التحذير من سبيل اليهود والنصارى، ولزوم الصراط المستقيم الذي هو الإسلام.
كل من اليهود والنصارى ضال مغضوب عليه، لكن أَخَصُّ أوصافِ اليهود الغضبُ، وأَخَصُّ أوصاف النصارى الضلال.
Scholars’ grades
The 2 scholars cited do not give the same grade: each one is shown below.
Scholar
Grade
Applies to
Work
Al-Albanid. 1420 AH
Good (hasan)Hasanصحيح
The hadith
No. 2954
Ahmad Shakird. 1377 AH
AuthenticSahih
The hadith
No. 2954
Grades of other versions (4)
AuthenticAl-Albaniصحيح — صحيح الجامع (8202)
Ibn al-Qattanهو] من رواية سماك بن حرب [حاله] حال من يترك حديثه — الوهم والإيهام (4/51)