John 7

1 After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there wanted to kill him.

2 It was time for the Jewish Feast of Shelters.

3 So Jesus' brothers said to him, "You should leave here and go to Judea so your followers there can see the miracles you do.

4 Anyone who wants to be well known does not hide what he does. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world."

5 (Even Jesus' brothers did not believe in him.)

6 Jesus said to his brothers, "The right time for me has not yet come, but any time is right for you.

7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I tell it the evil things it does.

8 So you go to the feast. I will not go yet to this feast, because the right time for me has not yet come."

9 After saying this, Jesus stayed in Galilee.

10 But after Jesus' brothers had gone to the feast, Jesus went also. But he did not let people see him.

11 At the feast the Jews were looking for him and saying, "Where is that man?"

12 Within the large crowd there, many people were whispering to each other about Jesus. Some said, "He is a good man." Others said, "No, he fools the people."

13 But no one was brave enough to talk about Jesus openly, because they were afraid of the Jews.

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.

19 Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys that law. Why are you trying to kill me?"

20 The people answered, "A demon has come into you. We are not trying to kill you."

21 Jesus said to them, "I did one miracle, and you are all amazed.

22 Moses gave you the law about circumcision. (But really Moses did not give you circumcision; it came from our ancestors.) And yet you circumcise a baby on a Sabbath day.

23 If a baby can be circumcised on a Sabbath day to obey the law of Moses, why are you angry at me for healing a person's whole body on the Sabbath day?

24 Stop judging by the way things look, but judge by what is really right."

25 Then some of the people who lived in Jerusalem said, "This is the man they are trying to kill.

26 But he is teaching where everyone can see and hear him, and no one is trying to stop him. Maybe the leaders have decided he really is the Christ.

27 But we know where this man is from. And when the real Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from."

28 Jesus, teaching in the Temple, cried out, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. But I have not come by my own authority. I was sent by the One who is true, whom you don't know.

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

30 When Jesus said this, the people tried to take him. But no one was able to touch him, because it was not yet the right time.

31 But many of the people believed in Jesus. They said, "When the Christ comes, will he do more miracles than this man has done?"

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Jesus. So the leading priests and the Pharisees sent some Temple guards to arrest him.

33 Jesus said, "I will be with you a little while longer. Then I will go back to the One who sent me.

34 You will look for me, but you will not find me. And you cannot come where I am."

35 The Jews said to each other, "Where will this man go so we cannot find him? Will he go to the Greek cities where our people live and teach the Greek people there?

36 What did he mean when he said, 'You will look for me, but you will not find me,' and 'You cannot come where I am'?"

37 On the last and most important day of the feast Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.

38 If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from that person's heart, as the Scripture says."

39 Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit. The Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been raised to glory. But later, those who believed in Jesus would receive the Spirit.

40 When the people heard Jesus' words, some of them said, "This man really is the Prophet."

41 Others said, "He is the Christ." Still others said, "The Christ will not come from Galilee.

42 The Scripture says that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived."

43 So the people did not agree with each other about Jesus.

44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one was able to touch him.

45 The Temple guards went back to the leading priests and the Pharisees, who asked, "Why didn't you bring Jesus?"

46 The guards answered, "The words he says are greater than the words of any other person who has ever spoken!"

47 The Pharisees answered, "So Jesus has fooled you also!

48 Have any of the leaders or the Pharisees believed in him? No!

49 But these people, who know nothing about the law, are under God's curse."

50 Nicodemus, who had gone to see Jesus before, was in that group. He said,

51 "Our law does not judge a man without hearing him and knowing what he has done."

52 They answered, "Are you from Galilee, too? Study the Scriptures, and you will learn that no prophet comes from Galilee."

53 And everyone left and 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.