John 7:16

16 So Jesus answered them, 1"My teaching is not mine, but his 2who sent me.

John 7:16 Meaning and Commentary

John 7:16

Jesus answered them and said
Having heard them express their surprise, and state their objection:

my doctrine is not mine:
it was his, as he was God; as such, he was the author of it, it was from him, by the revelation of him; and it was of him, or he was the subject of it, as Mediator; it respected his person as God-man, his offices, as prophet, priest, and King, and his grace, righteousness; and salvation; and it was his, as preached by him as man; it came by him, and first began to be spoken by him; and was so spoken by him, as it never was before, or since: but it was not human; it was not acquired by him, as man; he did not learn it of man; he needed no human teachings; he increased in wisdom without them, from his infancy: they said right, in saying he had never learned; the spirit of wisdom and knowledge rested on high, and the treasures of them were hid in him; nor was it a device or invention of his, as man; it was not from himself as such, but it was from heaven, from his Father: wherefore he adds,

but his that sent me;
thereby intimating, that it was of God, and was communicated to him by his Father; from whom he received it, and from whom he had a commission to preach it; so that his doctrine was that wisdom which comes from above, and is pure and peaceable, divine and heavenly, and ought to be received by men.

John 7:16 In-Context

14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching.
15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?"
16 So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.
18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

Cross References 2

  • 1. John 8:28; John 12:49; John 14:10, 24; [John 3:34]
  • 2. See John 3:17
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.