John 7

1 After this, Jesus went from place to place in Galilee. He did not go about in Judaea, because the Jews were looking for a chance to put him to death.

2 But the feast of the Jews, the feast of tents, was near.

3 So his brothers said to him, Go away from here into Judaea so that your disciples may see the works which you do.

4 Because no man does things secretly if he has a desire that men may have knowledge of him. If you do these things, let yourself be seen by all men.

5 For even his brothers had no belief in him.

6 Jesus said to them, My time is still to come, but any time is good for you.

7 It is not possible for you to be hated by the world; but I am hated by it, because I give witness that what it does is evil.

8 Go you up to the feast: I am not going up now to the feast because my time has not fully come.

9 Having said these things to them, he still kept in Galilee.

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

11 At the feast the Jews were looking for him and saying, Where is he?

12 And there was much discussion about him among the mass of the people. Some said, He is a good man; but others said, No, he is giving people false ideas.

13 But no man said anything about him openly for fear of the Jews.

14 Now in the middle of the feast Jesus went up to the Temple and was teaching.

15 Then the Jews were surprised and said, How has this man got knowledge of books? He has never been to school.

16 Jesus gave them this answer: It is not my teaching, but his who sent me.

17 If any man is ready to do God's pleasure he will have knowledge of the teaching and of where it comes from--from God or from myself.

18 The man whose words come from himself is looking for glory for himself, but he who is looking for the glory of him who sent him--that man is true and there is no evil in him.

19 Did not Moses give you the law? Even so, not one of you keeps the law. Why have you a desire to put me to death?

20 The people said in answer, You have an evil spirit: who has any desire to put you to death?

21 This was the answer of Jesus: I have done one work and you are all surprised at it.

22 Moses gave you circumcision--not that it comes from Moses, but from the fathers--and even on the Sabbath you give a child circumcision.

23 If a child is given circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?

24 Let not your decisions be based on what you see, but on righteousness.

25 Then some of the people of Jerusalem said, Is not this the man whose death is desired?

26 And here he is talking openly and they say nothing to him! Is it possible that the rulers have knowledge that this is truly the Christ?

27 However, it is clear to us where this man comes from: but when the Christ comes no one will have knowledge where he comes from.

28 Then, when he was teaching in the Temple, Jesus said with a loud voice, You have knowledge of me and you have knowledge of where I come from; and I have not come of myself; but there is One who has sent me; he is true, but you have no knowledge of him.

29 I have knowledge of him because I came from him and he sent me.

30 Then they had a desire to take him: but no man put hands on him because his hour was still to come.

31 And numbers of the people had belief in him, and they said, When the Christ comes will he do more signs than this man has done?

32 This discussion of the people came to the ears of the Pharisees; and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent servants to take him.

33 Then Jesus said, I will be with you a little longer and then I go to him who sent me.

34 You will be looking for me, and you will not see me: and where I am you may not come.

35 So the Jews said among themselves, To what place is he going where we will not see him? will he go to the Jews living among the Greeks and become the teacher of the Greeks?

36 What is this saying of his, You will be looking for me and will not see me, and where I am you may not come?

37 On the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus got up and said in a loud voice, If any man is in need of drink let him come to me and I will give it to him.

38 He who has faith in me, out of his body, as the Writings have said, will come rivers of living water.

39 This he said of the Spirit which would be given to those who had faith in him: the Spirit had not been given then, because the glory of Jesus was still to come.

40 When these words came to their ears, some of the people said, This is certainly the prophet.

41 Others said, This is the Christ. But others said, Not so; will the Christ come from Galilee?

42 Do not the Writings say that the Christ comes of the seed of David and from Beth-lehem, the little town where David was?

43 So there was a division among the people because of him.

44 And some of them had a desire to take him; but no man put hands on him.

45 Then the servants went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, Why have you not got him with you?

46 The servants made answer, No man ever said things like this man.

47 Then the Pharisees said to them, Have you, like the others, been given false ideas?

48 Have any of the rulers belief in him, or any one of the Pharisees?

49 But these people who have no knowledge of the law are cursed.

50 Nicodemus--he who had come to Jesus before, being himself one of them--said to them,

51 Is a man judged by our law before it has given him a hearing and has knowledge of what he has done?

52 This was their answer: And do you come from Galilee? Make search and you will see that no prophet comes out of Galilee.

53 [And every man went to his house;

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.