John 7:5

5 For neither his brethren believed in him.

John 7:5 Meaning and Commentary

John 7:5

For neither did his brethren believe in him.
] At first they might take to him, and embrace him as the Messiah, and expect he would set up a temporal kingdom; in which they might hope, on account of their relation to him, according to the flesh to enjoy great honours and privileges; but finding that he was not inclined to anything of that nature, and talked in a quite different way, they grew sick of him, and rejected him, as the Messiah; so, little regard is to be had, or confidence placed, in carnal descent from, or alliance to the best of men; as to Abraham, or any other true believer, if they have not the same grace, or the same faith as such have; and which comes not by blood, or natural generation, but by the free favour of God; for it matters not, if men have known Christ, or have been allied to him after the flesh, unless they are new creatures in him; they may be the one, and not the other; even the carnal brethren of Christ, and yet not believers in him; and it is only such who are so in a spiritual sense, that are regarded by him, ( Matthew 12:49 Matthew 12:50 ) .

John 7:5 In-Context

3 And his brethren said to him, Pass from hence [Pass hence], and go into Judaea, that also thy disciples see thy works that thou doest;

4 for no man doeth any thing in huddles, and himself seeketh to be open [+forsooth no man doeth any thing in hid place, or privy, and he seeketh to be in open]. If thou doest these things, show thyself to the world.

5 For neither his brethren believed in him.

6 Therefore Jesus saith to them, My time came not yet, but your time is evermore ready.

7 The world may not hate you, soothly it hateth me; for I bear witnessing thereof, that the works of it be evil.