John 7

1 Jesus later traveled throughout Galilee. He didn't want to travel in Judea because Jews there wanted to kill him.

2 The time for the Jewish Festival of Booths was near.

3 So Jesus' brothers told him, "Leave this place, and go to Judea so that your disciples can see the things that you're doing.

4 No one does things secretly when he wants to be known publicly. If you do these things, you should let the world see you."

5 Even his brothers didn't believe in him.

6 Jesus told them, "Now is not the right time for me to go. Any time is right for you.

7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I say that what everyone does is evil.

8 Go to the festival. I'm not going to this festival right now. Now is not the right time for me to go."

9 After saying this, Jesus stayed in Galilee.

10 But after his brothers had gone to the festival, Jesus went. He didn't go publicly but secretly.

11 The Jews were looking for Jesus in the crowd at the festival. They kept asking, "Where is that man?"

12 The crowds argued about Jesus. Some people said, "He's a good man," while others said, "No he isn't. He deceives the people."

13 Yet, no one would talk openly about him because they were afraid of the Jews.

14 When the festival was half over, Jesus went to the temple courtyard and began to teach.

15 The Jews were surprised and asked, "How can this man be so educated when he hasn't gone to school?"

16 Jesus responded to them, "What I teach doesn't come from me but from the one who sent me.

17 Those who want to follow the will of God will know if what I teach is from God or if I teach my own thoughts.

18 Those who speak their own thoughts are looking for their own glory. But the man who wants to bring glory to the one who sent him is a true teacher and doesn't have dishonest motives.

19 Didn't Moses give you his teachings? Yet, none of you does what Moses taught you. So why do you want to kill me?"

20 The crowd answered, "You're possessed by a demon! Who wants to kill you?"

21 Jesus answered them, "I performed one miracle, and all of you are surprised by it.

22 Moses gave you the teaching about circumcision (although it didn't come from Moses but from our ancestors). So you circumcise a male on a day of worship.

23 If you circumcise a male on the day of worship to follow Moses' Teachings, why are you angry with me because I made a man entirely well on the day of worship?

24 Stop judging by outward appearance! Instead, judge correctly."

25 Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem said, "Isn't this the man they want to kill?

26 But look at this! He's speaking in public, and no one is saying anything to him! Can it be that the rulers really know that this man is the Messiah?

27 However, we know where this man comes from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."

28 Then, while Jesus was teaching in the temple courtyard, he said loudly, "You know me, and you know where I come from. I didn't decide to come on my own. The one who sent me is true. He's the one you don't know.

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

30 The Jews tried to arrest him but couldn't because his time had not yet come.

31 However, many people in the crowd believed in him. They asked, "When the Messiah comes, will he perform more miracles than this man has?"

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd saying things like this about him. So the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest Jesus.

33 Jesus said, "I will still be with you for a little while. Then I'll go to the one who sent me.

34 You will look for me, but you won't find me. You can't go where I'm going."

35 The Jews said among themselves, "Where does this man intend to go so that we won't find him? Does he mean that he'll live with the Jews who are scattered among the Greeks and that he'll teach the Greeks?

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

37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus was standing [in the temple courtyard]. He said loudly, "Whoever is thirsty must come to me to drink.

38 As Scripture says, 'Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.'"

39 Jesus said this about the Spirit, whom his believers would receive. The Spirit was not yet evident, as it would be after Jesus had been glorified.

40 After some of the crowd heard Jesus say these words, they said, "This man is certainly the prophet."

41 Other people said, "This man is the Messiah." Still other people asked, "How can the Messiah come from Galilee?

42 Doesn't Scripture say that the Messiah will come from the descendants of David and from the village of Bethlehem, where David lived?"

43 So the people were divided because of Jesus.

44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but they couldn't.

45 When the temple guards returned, the chief priests and Pharisees asked them, "Why didn't you bring Jesus?"

46 The temple guards answered, "No human has ever spoken like this man."

47 The Pharisees asked the temple guards, "Have you been deceived too?

48 Has any ruler or any Pharisee believed in him?

49 This crowd is cursed because it doesn't know Moses' Teachings."

50 One of those Pharisees was Nicodemus, who had previously visited Jesus. Nicodemus asked them,

51 "Do Moses' Teachings enable us to judge a person without first hearing that person's side of the story? We can't judge a person without finding out what that person has done."

52 They asked Nicodemus, "Are you saying this because you're from Galilee? Study [the Scriptures], and you'll see that no prophet comes from Galilee."

53 Then each of them went home.

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.