John 7:18

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.

John 7:18 Meaning and Commentary

John 7:18

He that speaketh of himself
. What he himself has devised, and is a scheme of his own; for which he has no divine warrant and commission:

seeketh his own glory;
honour and applause from men; as did the Scribes and Pharisees, who taught for doctrines the commandments of men, the traditions of the elders, their own glosses upon the law, and their own decisions and determinations: and as did the false teachers, who had nothing else in view but themselves, their worldly interest, or vain glory; these suited their doctrines to the minds and lusts of men, in order to gain their point:

but he that seeketh his glory that sent him;
that gave him in commission what he should say and speak, and his only; as did Christ, and so his apostles after him:

the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him;
he is an upright and faithful man, and what he says is truth; he brings true doctrine along with him, and there is no fraud or imposture in him; nor any insincerity "in his heart", as the Syriac and Persic versions render it; nor any dishonesty in his conduct; he is no cheat or deceiver; was he, he would seek his own glory and interest; but as he appears to be a man of no design, his doctrine is to be depended on and received; and such was Christ.

John 7:18 In-Context

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.
19 Has not Moses given you the law, and none of you carries out the law? Why do you seek to kill me?"
20 The crowd replied, "You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.