John 7:18

18 He that speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but he that seeks the glory of him that has sent him, he is true, and unrighteousness is not in him.

John 7:18 Meaning and Commentary

John 7:18

He that speaketh of himself
. What he himself has devised, and is a scheme of his own; for which he has no divine warrant and commission:

seeketh his own glory;
honour and applause from men; as did the Scribes and Pharisees, who taught for doctrines the commandments of men, the traditions of the elders, their own glosses upon the law, and their own decisions and determinations: and as did the false teachers, who had nothing else in view but themselves, their worldly interest, or vain glory; these suited their doctrines to the minds and lusts of men, in order to gain their point:

but he that seeketh his glory that sent him;
that gave him in commission what he should say and speak, and his only; as did Christ, and so his apostles after him:

the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him;
he is an upright and faithful man, and what he says is truth; he brings true doctrine along with him, and there is no fraud or imposture in him; nor any insincerity "in his heart", as the Syriac and Persic versions render it; nor any dishonesty in his conduct; he is no cheat or deceiver; was he, he would seek his own glory and interest; but as he appears to be a man of no design, his doctrine is to be depended on and received; and such was Christ.

John 7:18 In-Context

16 Jesus therefore answered them and said, My doctrine is not mine, but [that] of him that has sent me.
17 If any one desire to practise his will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is of God, or [that] I speak from myself.
18 He that speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but he that seeks the glory of him that has sent him, he is true, and unrighteousness is not in him.
19 Has not Moses given you the law, and no one of you practises the law? Why do ye seek to kill me?
20 The crowd answered [and said], Thou hast a demon: who seeks to kill thee?
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.