John 7

1 post haec ambulabat Iesus in Galilaeam non enim volebat in Iudaeam ambulare quia quaerebant eum Iudaei interficere

2 erat autem in proximo dies festus Iudaeorum scenopegia

3 dixerunt autem ad eum fratres eius transi hinc et vade in Iudaeam ut et discipuli tui videant opera tua quae facis

4 nemo quippe in occulto quid facit et quaerit ipse in palam esse si haec facis manifesta te ipsum mundo

5 neque enim fratres eius credebant in eum

6 dicit ergo eis Iesus tempus meum nondum advenit tempus autem vestrum semper est paratum

7 non potest mundus odisse vos me autem odit quia ego testimonium perhibeo de illo quia opera eius mala sunt

8 vos ascendite ad diem festum hunc ego non ascendo ad diem festum istum quia meum tempus nondum impletum est

9 haec cum dixisset ipse mansit in Galilaea

10 ut autem ascenderunt fratres eius tunc et ipse ascendit ad diem festum non manifeste sed quasi in occulto

11 Iudaei ergo quaerebant eum in die festo et dicebant ubi est ille

12 et murmur multus de eo erat in turba; quidam enim dicebant quia bonus est alii autem dicebant non sed seducit turbas

13 nemo tamen palam loquebatur de illo propter metum Iudaeorum

14 iam autem die festo mediante ascendit Iesus in templum et docebat

15 et mirabantur Iudaei dicentes quomodo hic litteras scit cum non didicerit

16 respondit eis Iesus et dixit mea doctrina non est mea sed eius qui misit me

17 si quis voluerit voluntatem eius facere cognoscet de doctrina utrum ex Deo sit an ego a me ipso loquar

18 qui a semet ipso loquitur gloriam propriam quaerit qui autem quaerit gloriam eius qui misit illum hic verax est et iniustitia in illo non est

19 nonne Moses dedit vobis legem et nemo ex vobis facit legem

20 quid me quaeritis interficere respondit turba et dixit daemonium habes quis te quaerit interficere

21 respondit Iesus et dixit eis unum opus feci et omnes miramini

22 propterea Moses dedit vobis circumcisionem non quia ex Mose est sed ex patribus et in sabbato circumciditis hominem

23 si circumcisionem accipit homo in sabbato ut non solvatur lex Mosi mihi indignamini quia totum hominem sanum feci in sabbato

24 nolite iudicare secundum faciem sed iustum iudicium iudicate

25 dicebant ergo quidam ex Hierosolymis nonne hic est quem quaerunt interficere

26 et ecce palam loquitur et nihil ei dicunt numquid vere cognoverunt principes quia hic est Christus

27 sed hunc scimus unde sit Christus autem cum venerit nemo scit unde sit

28 clamabat ergo docens in templo Iesus et dicens et me scitis et unde sim scitis et a me ipso non veni sed est verus qui misit me quem vos non scitis

29 ego scio eum quia ab ipso sum et ipse me misit

30 quaerebant ergo eum adprehendere et nemo misit in illum manus quia nondum venerat hora eius

31 de turba autem multi crediderunt in eum et dicebant Christus cum venerit numquid plura signa faciet quam quae hic facit

32 audierunt Pharisaei turbam murmurantem de illo haec et miserunt principes et Pharisaei ministros ut adprehenderent eum

33 dixit ergo Iesus adhuc modicum tempus vobiscum sum et vado ad eum qui misit me

34 quaeretis me et non invenietis et ubi sum ego vos non potestis venire

35 dixerunt ergo Iudaei ad se ipsos quo hic iturus est quia non inveniemus eum numquid in dispersionem gentium iturus est et docturus gentes

36 quis est hic sermo quem dixit quaeretis me et non invenietis et ubi sum ego non potestis venire

37 in novissimo autem die magno festivitatis stabat Iesus et clamabat dicens si quis sitit veniat ad me et bibat

38 qui credit in me sicut dixit scriptura flumina de ventre eius fluent aquae vivae

39 hoc autem dixit de Spiritu quem accepturi erant credentes in eum non enim erat Spiritus quia Iesus nondum fuerat glorificatus

40 ex illa ergo turba cum audissent hos sermones eius dicebant hic est vere propheta

41 alii dicebant hic est Christus quidam autem dicebant numquid a Galilaea Christus venit

42 nonne scriptura dicit quia ex semine David et Bethleem castello ubi erat David venit Christus

43 dissensio itaque facta est in turba propter eum

44 quidam autem ex ipsis volebant adprehendere eum sed nemo misit super illum manus

45 venerunt ergo ministri ad pontifices et Pharisaeos et dixerunt eis illi quare non adduxistis eum

46 responderunt ministri numquam sic locutus est homo sicut hic homo

47 responderunt ergo eis Pharisaei numquid et vos seducti estis

48 numquid aliquis ex principibus credidit in eum aut ex Pharisaeis

49 sed turba haec quae non novit legem maledicti sunt

50 dicit Nicodemus ad eos ille qui venit ad eum nocte qui unus erat ex ipsis

51 numquid lex nostra iudicat hominem nisi audierit ab ipso prius et cognoverit quid faciat

52 responderunt et dixerunt ei numquid et tu Galilaeus es scrutare et vide quia propheta a Galilaea non surgit

53 et reversi sunt unusquisque in domum suam

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.