John 7:16

16 So Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not mine, but [is] from the one who sent me.

John 7:16 Meaning and Commentary

John 7:16

Jesus answered them and said
Having heard them express their surprise, and state their objection:

my doctrine is not mine:
it was his, as he was God; as such, he was the author of it, it was from him, by the revelation of him; and it was of him, or he was the subject of it, as Mediator; it respected his person as God-man, his offices, as prophet, priest, and King, and his grace, righteousness; and salvation; and it was his, as preached by him as man; it came by him, and first began to be spoken by him; and was so spoken by him, as it never was before, or since: but it was not human; it was not acquired by him, as man; he did not learn it of man; he needed no human teachings; he increased in wisdom without them, from his infancy: they said right, in saying he had never learned; the spirit of wisdom and knowledge rested on high, and the treasures of them were hid in him; nor was it a device or invention of his, as man; it was not from himself as such, but it was from heaven, from his Father: wherefore he adds,

but his that sent me;
thereby intimating, that it was of God, and was communicated to him by his Father; from whom he received it, and from whom he had a commission to preach it; so that his doctrine was that wisdom which comes from above, and is pure and peaceable, divine and heavenly, and ought to be received by men.

John 7:16 In-Context

14 {Now when the feast was already half over}, Jesus went to the temple [courts] and began to teach.

15 Then the Jews were astonished, saying, "How does this man {possess knowledge}, [because he] has not been taught?"

16 So Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not mine, but [is] from the one who sent me.

17 If anyone wants to do his will, he will know about my teaching, whether it is from God or I am speaking from myself.

18 The one who speaks from himself seeks his own glory. But the one who seeks the glory of the one who sent him--this one is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him.