John 7

Jesus goes to Jerusalem

1 After this Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He didn't want to travel in Judea, because the Jewish authorities wanted to kill him.

2 When it was almost time for the Jewish Festival of Booths,

3 Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave Galilee. Go to Judea so that your disciples can see the amazing works that you do.

4 Those who want to be known publicly don't do things secretly. Since you can do these things, show yourself to the world."

5 His brothers said this because even they didn't believe in him.

6 Jesus replied, " For you, anytime is fine. But my time hasn't come yet.

7 The world can't hate you. It hates me, though, because I testify that its works are evil.

8 You go up to the festival. I'm not going to this one because my time hasn't yet come."

9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.

10 However, after his brothers left for the festival, he went too—not openly but in secret.

11 The Jewish leaders were looking for Jesus at the festival. They kept asking, "Where is he?"

12 The crowds were murmuring about him. "He's a good man," some said, but others were saying, "No, he tricks the people."

13 No one spoke about him publicly, though, for fear of the Jewish authorities.

Jesus teaches in the temple

14 Halfway through the festival, Jesus went up to the temple and started to teach.

15 Astonished, the Jewish leaders asked, "He's never been taught! How has he mastered the Law?"

16 Jesus responded, " My teaching isn't mine but comes from the one who sent me.

17 Whoever wants to do God's will can tell whether my teaching is from God or whether I speak on my own.

18 Those who speak on their own seek glory for themselves. Those who seek the glory of him who sent me are people of truth; there's no falsehood in them.

19 Didn't Moses give you the Law? Yet none of you keep the Law. Why do you want to kill me?"

20 The crowd answered, "You have a demon. Who wants to kill you?"

21 Jesus replied, " I did one work, and you were all astonished.

22 Because Moses gave you the commandment about circumcision (although it wasn't Moses but the patriarchs), you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.

23 If a man can be circumcised on the Sabbath without breaking Moses' Law, why are you angry with me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath?

24 Don't judge according to appearances. Judge with right judgment."

25 Some people from Jerusalem said, "Isn't he the one they want to kill?

26 Here he is, speaking in public, yet they aren't saying anything to him. Could it be that our leaders actually think he is the Christ?

27 We know where he is from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."

28 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he exclaimed, " You know me and where I am from. I haven't come on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don't know him.

29 I know him because I am from him and he sent me."

30 So they wanted to seize Jesus, but they couldn't because his time hadn't yet come.

31 Many from that crowd believed in Jesus. They said, "When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man does?"

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about Jesus, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent guards to arrest him.

33 Therefore, Jesus said, " I'm still with you for a little while before I go to the one who sent me.

34 You will look for me, but you won't find me, and where I am you can't come."

35 The Jewish opposition asked each other, "Where does he intend to go that we can't find him? Surely he doesn't intend to go where our people have been scattered and are living among the Greeks! He isn't going to teach the Greeks, is he?

36 What does he mean when he says, ‘You will look for me, but you won't find me, and where I am you can't come'?"

37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, " All who are thirsty should come to me!

38 All who believe in me should drink! As the scriptures said concerning me, Rivers of living water will flow out from within him."

39 Jesus said this concerning the Spirit. Those who believed in him would soon receive the Spirit, but they hadn't experienced the Spirit yet since Jesus hadn't yet been glorified.

40 When some in the crowd heard these words, they said, "This man is truly the prophet."

41 Others said, "He's the Christ." But others said, "The Christ can't come from Galilee, can he?

42 Didn't the scripture say that the Christ comes from David's family and from Bethlehem, David's village?"

43 So the crowd was divided over Jesus.

44 Some wanted to arrest him, but no one grabbed him.

45 The guards returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked, "Why didn't you bring him?"

46 The guards answered, "No one has ever spoken the way he does."

47 The Pharisees replied, "Have you too been deceived?

48 Have any of the leaders believed in him? Has any Pharisee?

49 No, only this crowd, which doesn't know the Law. And they are under God's curse!"

50 Nicodemus, who was one of them and had come to Jesus earlier, said,

51 "Our Law doesn't judge someone without first hearing him and learning what he is doing, does it?"

52 They answered him, "You are not from Galilee too, are you? Look it up and you will see that the prophet doesn't come from Galilee."

Pharisees test Jesus

53 They each went to their own homes,

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or Whoever is thirsty should come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, just as the scriptures said, rivers of living water will flow out from within them.