John 7:16

16 Jesus answered, "The things I teach are not my own, but they come from him 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 When the feast was about half over, Jesus went to the Temple and began to teach.
15 The Jews were amazed and said, "This man has never studied in school. How did he learn so much?"
16 Jesus answered, "The things I teach are not my own, but they come from him who sent me.
17 If people choose to do what God wants, they will know that my teaching comes from God and not from me.
18 Those who teach their own ideas are trying to get honor for themselves. But those who try to bring honor to the one who sent him speak the truth, and there is nothing false in them.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.