John 7:16

16 Jesus answered, "What I teach is not my own. It comes 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 Jesus did nothing until halfway through the Feast. Then he went up to the temple courtyard and began to teach.
15 The Jews were amazed. They asked, "How did this man learn so much without studying?"
16 Jesus answered, "What I teach is not my own. It comes from the One who sent me.
17 Anyone who chooses to do what God wants him to do will find out whether my teaching comes from God or from me.
18 Someone who speaks on his own does it to get honor for himself. But someone who works for the honor of the One who sent him is truthful. There is nothing false about him.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica.   All rights reserved worldwide.