John 7

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Jesus at the Feast of Booths

1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because ¹the Jews^[a] were seeking to kill him.

2 Now ²the Jews' Feast of ³Booths was at hand.

3 ⁴So his brothers^[b] said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing.

4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, ⁵show yourself to the world."

5 ⁶For not even ⁷his brothers believed in him.

6 Jesus said to them, ⁸"My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.

7 The world cannot hate you, but ⁹it hates me because I testify about it that ¹⁰its works are evil.

8 You go up to the feast. I am not^[c] going up to this feast, for ¹¹my time has not yet fully come."

9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

10 But after ¹²his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.

11 ¹³The Jews ¹⁴were looking for him at the feast, and saying, "Where is he?"

12 And there was much ¹⁵muttering about him among the people. ¹⁶While some said, "He is a good man," others said, "No, ¹⁷he is leading the people astray."

13 Yet ¹⁸for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up ¹⁹into the temple and began teaching.

15 The Jews therefore ²⁰marveled, saying, "How is it that this man has learning,^[d] when he has never studied?"

16 So Jesus answered them, ²¹"My teaching is not mine, but his ²²who sent me.

17 ²³If anyone's will is to do God's^[e] will, ²⁴he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I ²⁵am speaking on my own authority.

18 The one who speaks on his own authority ²⁶seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

19 ²⁷Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. ²⁸Why do you seek to kill me?"

20 The crowd answered, ²⁹"You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?"

21 Jesus answered them, "I did ³⁰one work, and you all marvel at it.

22 ³¹Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but ³²from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.

23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, ³³are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well?

24 ³⁴Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."

Can This Be the Christ?

25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, "Is not this the man whom ³⁵they seek to kill?

26 And here he is, ³⁶speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that ³⁷the authorities really know that this is the Christ?

27 But ³⁸we know ³⁹where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, ⁴⁰no one will know where he comes from."

28 So Jesus proclaimed, ⁴¹as he taught in the temple, ⁴²"You know me, and you know where I come from? But ⁴³I have not come of my own accord. ⁴⁴He who sent me is true, ⁴⁵and him you do not know.

29 ⁴⁶I know him, for I come ⁴⁷from him, and ⁴⁸he sent me."

30 ⁴⁹So they were seeking to arrest him, but ⁵⁰no one laid a hand on him, ⁵¹because his hour had not yet come.

31 Yet ⁵²many of the people believed in him. They said, ⁵³"When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?"

Officers Sent to Arrest Jesus

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd ⁵⁴muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent ⁵⁵officers to arrest him.

33 Jesus then said, ⁵⁶"I will be with you a little longer, and then ⁵⁷I am going to him who sent me.

34 ⁵⁸You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come."

35 The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? ⁵⁹Does he intend to go to ⁶⁰the Dispersion among ⁶¹the Greeks and teach the Greeks?

36 What does he mean by saying, ⁶²'You will seek me and you will not find me,' and, 'Where I am you cannot come'?"

Rivers of Living Water

37 ⁶³On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ⁶⁴"If anyone thirsts, let him ⁶⁵come to me and drink.

38 Whoever believes in me, ⁶⁶as^[f] the Scripture has said, ⁶⁷'Out of his heart will flow rivers of ⁶⁸living water.'"

39 Now ⁶⁹this he said about the Spirit, ⁷⁰whom those who believed in him were to receive, ⁷¹for as yet the Spirit had not been ⁷²given, ⁷³because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Division Among the People

40 When they heard these words, ⁷⁴some of the people said, "This really is ⁷⁵the Prophet."

41 Others said, "This is ⁷⁶the Christ." But some said, ⁷⁷"Is the Christ to come from Galilee?

42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes ⁷⁸from the offspring of David, and comes ⁷⁹from Bethlehem, the village ⁸⁰where David was?"

43 So there was ⁸¹a division among the people over him.

44 ⁸²Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

45 ⁸³The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?"

46 The officers answered, ⁸⁴"No one ever spoke like this man!"

47 The Pharisees answered them, ⁸⁵"Have you also been deceived?

48 ⁸⁶Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?

49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed."

50 ⁸⁷Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them,

51 ⁸⁸"Does our law judge a man without first ⁸⁹giving him a hearing and learning what he does?"

52 They replied, ⁹⁰"Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that ⁹¹no prophet arises from Galilee."

The Woman Caught in Adultery

53 [[They went each to his own house,

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What Do We Learn about the Intentionality of Jesus from John 7?

John 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

Christ goes to the feast of tabernacles. (1-13) His discourse at the feast. (14-39) The people dispute concerning Christ. (40-53)

Verses 1-13 The brethren or kinsmen of Jesus were disgusted, when they found there was no prospect of worldly advantages from him. Ungodly men sometimes undertake to counsel those employed in the work of God; but they only advise what appears likely to promote present advantages. The people differed about his doctrine and miracles, while those who favoured him, dared not openly to avow their sentiments. Those who count the preachers of the gospel to be deceivers, speak out, while many who favour them, fear to get reproach by avowing regard for them.

Verses 14-24 Every faithful minister may humbly adopt Christ's words. His doctrine is not his own finding out, but is from God's word, through the teaching of his Spirit. And amidst the disputes which disturb the world, if any man, of any nation, seeks to do the will of God, he shall know whether the doctrine is of God, or whether men speak of themselves. Only those who hate the truth shall be given up to errors which will be fatal. Surely it was as agreeable to the design of the sabbath to restore health to the afflicted, as to administer an outward rite. Jesus told them to decide on his conduct according to the spiritual import of the Divine law. We must not judge concerning any by their outward appearance, but by their worth, and by the gifts and graces of God's Spirit in them.

Verses 25-30 Christ proclaimed aloud, that they were in error in their thoughts about his origin. He was sent of God, who showed himself true to his promises. This declaration, that they knew not God, with his claim to peculiar knowledge, provoked the hearers; and they sought to take him, but God can tie men's hands, though he does not turn their hearts.

Verses 31-36 The discourses of Jesus convinced many that he was the Messiah; but they had not courage to own it. It is comfort to those who are in the world, but not of it, and therefore are hated by it and weary of it, that they shall not be in it always, that they shall not be in it long. Our days being evil, it is well they are few. The days of life and of grace do not last long; and sinners, when in misery, will be glad of the help they now despise. Men dispute about such sayings, but the event will explain them.

Verses 37-39 On the last day of the feast of tabernacles, the Jews drew water and poured it out before the Lord. It is supposed that Christ alluded to this. If any man desires to be truly and for ever happy, let him apply to Christ, and be ruled by him. This thirst means strong desires after spiritual blessings, which nothing else can satisfy; so the sanctifying and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit, were intended by the waters which Jesus called on them to come to Him and drink. The comfort flows plentifully and constantly as a river; strong as a stream to bear down the opposition of doubts and fears. There is a fulness in Christ, of grace for grace. The Spirit dwelling and working in believers, is as a fountain of living, running water, out of which plentiful streams flow, cooling and cleansing as water. The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit we do not expect, but for his more common and more valuable influences we may apply. These streams have flowed from our glorified Redeemer, down to this age, and to the remote corners of the earth. May we be anxious to make them known to others.

Verses 40-53 The malice of Christ's enemies is always against reason, and sometimes the staying of it cannot be accounted for. Never any man spake with that wisdom, and power, and grace, that convincing clearness, and that sweetness, wherewith Christ spake. Alas, that many, who are for a time restrained, and who speak highly of the word of Jesus, speedily lose their convictions, and go on in their sins! People are foolishly swayed by outward motives in matters of eternal moment, are willing even to be damned for fashion's sake. As the wisdom of God often chooses things which men despise, so the folly of men commonly despises those whom God has chosen. The Lord brings forward his weak and timid disciples, and sometimes uses them to defeat the designs of his enemies.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 91

1. John 5:18; John 8:37, 40; John 11:53
2. John 5:1; John 6:4
3. See Leviticus 23:34
4. ver. 5, 10; See Matthew 12:46
5. [John 14:22; John 18:20]
6. [Matthew 13:57; Mark 3:21]
7. ver. 3, 10
8. [ver. 8, 30]; See John 2:4
9. John 15:18, 24
10. John 3:19; [Colossians 1:21; 1 John 3:12]
11. See John 2:4
12. ver. 3, 5
13. ver. 1
14. John 11:56
15. ver. 32
16. [ver. 40-43]
17. ver. 47
18. John 19:38; John 20:19; [John 9:22; John 12:42]
19. ver. 28
20. [ver. 46; Luke 2:47; Luke 4:22; Acts 4:13]
21. John 8:28; John 12:49; John 14:10, 24; [John 3:34]
22. See John 3:17
23. [John 8:31, 32; John 14:21, 23]
24. [John 8:43; Psalms 25:9; Daniel 12:10; Philippians 3:15]
25. See John 5:30
26. John 5:41; John 8:50
27. ver. 23; See John 1:17
28. ver. 1
29. John 8:48, 52; John 10:20; [Matthew 11:18; Mark 3:22; Luke 7:33]
30. ver. 23; John 5:2-9
31. Leviticus 12:3
32. Genesis 17:10
33. John 5:16; See Matthew 12:2
34. John 8:15; [Isaiah 11:3; 2 Corinthians 10:7]; See Deuteronomy 1:16, 17
35. ver. 1
36. John 18:20
37. ver. 48
38. [John 6:42; John 8:14, 19; John 9:29]
39. John 19:9
40. [ver. 42]
41. ver. 14
42. [See ver. 27 above]
43. John 8:42; [John 5:43]
44. See John 8:26
45. John 8:19; John 15:21; [John 4:22; John 8:55]
46. John 8:55; See Matthew 11:27
47. John 6:46; John 9:16, 33; [John 1:14]
48. See John 3:17
49. ver. 44; John 10:39; [Matthew 21:46]
50. John 8:20
51. ver. 6
52. John 8:30; John 10:42; John 11:45; John 12:11; [John 2:23; John 12:42; Matthew 21:11]
53. Matthew 12:23
54. ver. 12
55. ver. 45, 46
56. John 12:35; John 13:33; John 14:19; John 16:16-19
57. John 16:5
58. John 8:21; John 13:33
59. [John 8:22]
60. James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1; [Isaiah 11:12; Zephaniah 3:10]
61. John 12:20
62. ver. 34
63. Leviticus 23:36; Numbers 29:35; Nehemiah 8:18
64. Isaiah 55:1; See John 4:14
65. See John 6:35
66. [Isaiah 12:3; Ezekiel 47:1]
67. John 4:14; [Proverbs 18:4]
68. See John 4:10
69. Isaiah 44:3; [1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:14]
70. Joel 2:28; Acts 2:16-18; [John 1:33; John 20:22; Luke 24:49]
71. Acts 2:4, 33
72. John 3:34; Luke 11:13
73. John 14:16, 17; John 16:7
74. See ver. 31
75. John 1:21; John 6:14; See Matthew 21:11
76. ver. 26
77. [ver. 52; John 1:46]
78. [Psalms 89:3, 4]; See Matthew 1:1
79. Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1, 5; Luke 2:4
80. 1 Samuel 16:1
81. John 9:16; John 10:19; [ver. 12]
82. ver. 30
83. ver. 32
84. See Matthew 7:29
85. ver. 12
86. 1 Corinthians 1:20, 26; 1 Corinthians 2:8; [John 12:42]
87. John 3:1; John 19:39
88. Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15; [Acts 23:3]
89. Deuteronomy 1:16; Proverbs 18:13
90. ver. 41
91. [2 Kgs. 14:25 with Josh. 19:13]