John7
World English Bible · Public Domain
1 After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand.
3 His brothers therefore said to him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do.
4 For no one does anything in secret while he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world.”
5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.
6 Jesus therefore said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.
7 The world can’t hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil.
8 You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled.”
9 Having said these things to them, he stayed in Galilee.
10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.
11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, “Where is he?”
12 There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others said, “Not so, but he leads the multitude astray.”
13 Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.
14 But when it was now the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught.
15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters, having never been educated?”
16 Jesus therefore answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
17 If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God or if I am speaking from myself.
18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
19 Didn’t Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?”
20 The multitude answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you?”
21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work and you all marvel because of it.
22 Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy.
23 If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath?
24 Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
25 Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, “Isn’t this he whom they seek to kill?
26 Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ?
27 However, we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.”
28 Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don’t know.
29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”
30 They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.
31 But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?”
32 The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.
33 Then Jesus said, “I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me.
34 You will seek me and won’t find me. You can’t come where I am.”
35 The Jews therefore said among themselves, “Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?
36 What is this word that he said, ‘You will seek me, and won’t find me;’ and ‘Where I am, you can’t come’?”
37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!
38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.”
39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.
40 Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, “This is truly the prophet.”
41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “What, does the Christ come out of Galilee?
42 Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
43 So a division arose in the multitude because of him.
44 Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him.
45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him?”
46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!”
47 The Pharisees therefore answered them, “You aren’t also led astray, are you?
48 Have any of the rulers or any of the Pharisees believed in him?
49 But this multitude that doesn’t know the law is cursed.”
50 Nicodemus (he who came to him by night, being one of them) said to them,
51 “Does our law judge a man unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?”
52 They answered him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”
53 Everyone went to his own house,
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John 7Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for John 7. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Christ goes to the feast of tabernacles. (1–13). His discourse at the feast. (14–39). The people dispute concerning Christ. (40–53).
vv1-13
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.
vv14-24
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.
vv25-30
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.
Key Words
ταῦτα (taûta): these things
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
περιπατέω (peripatéō): to tread all around, i.e. walk at large (especially as proof of ability); figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary)
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
Γαλιλαία (Galilaía): Galilæa (i.e. the heathen circle), a region of Palestine
γάρ (gár): properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
θέλω (thélō): to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas G1014 (βούλομαι) properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations), i.e. choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication, to wish, i.e. be inclined to (sometimes adverbially, gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to be about to; by Hebraism, to delight in
οὐ (ou): the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb; no or not
Ἰουδαία (Ioudaía): the Judæan land (i.e. Judæa), a region of Palestine
ὅτι (hóti): demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
Cross References
John 7Establishes the divine command and historical purpose behind the Feast of Tabernacles.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Detailing the sacrificial laws and duration of the Feast of Tabernacles mentioned in verse 2.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The 'one work' Jesus refers to that sparked Jewish outrage over the Sabbath.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Traces circumcision back to the covenant with the patriarch Abraham, before the law of Moses.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Mosaic command to circumcise on the eighth day, even when falling on a Sabbath.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The prophetic expectation that Christ would be born in David's town of Bethlehem.
Supported by JFB
Connects Jesus's statement about his 'time' to his escape from premature arrest.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel reaction to the apostles teaching with authority despite being uneducated, like Jesus.
Supported by JFB
Moses's command to judge righteously without showing partiality or respect of persons.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Reiterates the solemn warning that they will seek Him and die in their sins.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The prophecy of 'the Prophet' like Moses whom the crowd believes Jesus to be.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies Nicodemus as the ruler who previously came to Jesus by night.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrasts the law given through Moses with grace and truth coming through Jesus Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies the eighth day as the solemn assembly, the 'great day of the feast'.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel teaching on the internal spring of living water springing up to eternal life.
Supported by Matthew Henry