JOHN 7

JOHN 7 KJV

How the world thinks (John 7:1–9). Because He was doing the Father’s will, Jesus lived on a divine timetable (John 7:30; John 2:4; John 8:20; John 13:1), and so should we (Psalms 31:14–15). The world does not understand this and will give you advice contrary to God’s will. Live on God’s schedule and you will always have God’s help.

How the world decides (John 7:10–36). This discussion reveals the confusion and unbelief of the people. Some were for Him because of His miracles, while others opposed Him because He broke the Sabbath laws. Some waited to see what their leaders would do (John 7:26), and their leaders wanted to kill Him. They were judging by appearances (John 7:24) and going astray.

What the world needs (John 7:37–53). One ritual during the Feast of Tabernacles was the pouring out of water in the temple. It was a reminder that God gave Israel water in the wilderness. Water for drinking pictures the Holy Spirit who is given to those who trust Christ. The world is thirsty and can find its thirst quenched only by coming to Christ.

Life

Life is a key theme in John’s gospel; he uses the word nearly fifty times. Jesus is the life (John 14:6), the light of life (John 1:4; John 8:12), and the bread of life (John 6:48); and He gives the water of life (John 7:37-39). Jesus laid down His life so that we might have life (John 10:14-18, 27–30).

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1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

John 7:1
The Jews here means the religious authorities, not the people in general (John 5:18). Many common people had responded to Jesus with joy (see Mark 12:37).

John 7:1–10
Mary bore other children, with Joseph as their natural father (Matthew 13:55-56; Mark 6:1–6), so Jesus would have been their half-brother. It seems incredible that His brothers could have lived with Him all those years and not realized the uniqueness of His person. Certainly they knew about His miracles (see John 7:3-4) since everybody else did. Having been in the closest contact with Him, they had the best opportunity to watch Him and test Him, yet they were still unbelievers.

2 Now the Jew’s feast of tabernacles was at hand.

John 7:2
The Feast of Tabernacles was one of the three great Jewish religious festivals (Passover and Pentecost were the other two). It was called the Feast of Tabernacles because for seven days the people lived in makeshift shelters or lean-tos made of branches and leaves. The feast commemorated the days when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and lived in tents (see Leviticus 23:40–43). The festival was in September-October, about six months after the events of John 6.

3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

John 7:3-4
Jesus’ brothers argued, “If You are really working miracles and thus claiming to be the Messiah, do not hide in obscure Galilee. If you are doing miracles at all, then do them in Jerusalem at the Feast to convince the whole nation.” These words were sarcastic, as John 7:5 explains.

4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.

John 7:6
Earlier, Jesus had told His mother, “My hour has not yet come” (see John 2:4; compare John 12:23). Here He told His brothers also that the time for manifesting Himself to the world had not yet come. Jesus mentioned on several occasions that the time for Him to be publicly manifested on the Cross was in the future (John 2:4; John 7:6, 8, 30; John 8:20). Jesus was exercising caution because He knew that the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Him. Though they were “religious” leaders, they were a part of “the world” that hated Jesus because He exposed their evil works. By His character and His ministry, He revealed the shallowness and emptiness of their futile religious system; He called the people back to the reality of life in God. History reveals that the “religious system” often persecutes the very prophets of God who are sent to save it!

7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

John 7:7
The world cannot hate you: The world was not about to hate Jesus’ brothers, because they were part of it.

8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come.

John 7:8
Jesus was certainly not lying or being evasive; rather, He was exercising sensible caution. In our Lord’s actions, we see a beautiful illustration of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The Father had a plan for His Son, and nothing could spoil that plan. Jesus did not tempt the Father by rushing to the feast, nor did He lag behind when the proper time had come for Him to attend the feast. It requires spiritual discernment to know God’s timing.

9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.

10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?

12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.

13 Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

John 7:13
The Jews is a reference to the Jewish leaders, especially the members of the council (John 1:19).

14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.

John 7:14
The middle of the feast would have been the fourth day of the seven-day feast. During the first half of the festival Jesus remained in seclusion (John 7:10). During the second half He began to teach publicly. This is the first mention in the Gospel of John of Jesus teaching in the temple.

15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

John 7:15
Having never studied means never having attended a rabbinical school. Similar bewilderment was later expressed regarding Jesus’ disciples (see Acts 4:13).

16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

John 7:16
not Mine, but His: Jesus’ statement indicates that He did not receive His teaching from the rabbis, nor did He fabricate it. Instead His teaching came directly from God.

17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

John 7:18
If we really seek God’s will, then we will not worry over who gets the glory. All truth is God’s truth, and God alone deserves the glory for what He has taught us. No teacher or preacher can take the credit for what can come only from God. If he does go after the glory, then it is proof that his teaching is self-generated and not received from God. This is the origin of many cults and church splits—somebody “invents” a doctrine, takes credit for it, and uses it to divide God’s people.

John 7:18-19
is true: The test of a teacher is whether or not he delivers God’s message. Jesus gave God’s message; so did Moses. The religious leaders were breaking Moses’ law by seeking to kill Jesus.

19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.

22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.

John 7:22-23
Circumcision began with Abraham (see Genesis 17:10). The Law of Moses required infants to be circumcised on the eighth day (see Leviticus 12:3). The Jews obeyed this law, even if the eighth day fell on the Sabbath. Jesus asked why the leaders were angry with Him for making a man completely well on the Sabbath.

23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?

John 7:25
Once again, the people could not see the truth because they were blinded by what they thought were dependable facts. Jesus had met this same kind of resistance in the synagogue in Capernaum (John 6:42). Even the learned teachers—the “builders”—would not be able to identify the cornerstone, even though they had studied the God-given blueprints for centuries (Acts 4:11)!

26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?

27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.

John 7:27
The Jewish people seem to have expected the Messiah to appear suddenly from nowhere. They reasoned that since they knew where Jesus came from, He could not be the Messiah. They were ignorant of the Scriptures, for Micah had predicted the Messiah would come from Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2).

28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

John 7:28-29
Cried out signifies a loud cry of strong emotion. You … know Me … where I am from: Jesus reminded the leaders that they knew His origin. Their problem was that they did not know God, who sent Jesus. He explained to them that He knew God, was from God, and was sent by God.

29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.

John 7:29
Jesus boldly asserted that He not only knew the Father, but was sent by Him! He was once again claiming to be God! He was not simply born into this world like any other human; He was sent to earth by the Father. This means that He existed before He was born on the earth.

30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.

John 7:30
take Him: Because of Jesus’ public claims of divine origin (John 7:29), the religious leaders sought to arrest Him. because His hour had not yet come: John passes over the immediate reason they were unable to arrest Him and gives the ultimate explanation (see John 2:4). God is sovereign and He alone sets the time. As with Jesus, so with us; no one can touch us without the Father’s consent (see John 10:29).

31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?

John 7:31
In contrast to the leaders, many of the Jewish people believed because of the miracles Jesus performed (John 20:30-31).

32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.

John 7:32
to take Him: The Jewish leaders decided earlier that they wanted to kill Christ (see John 5:16), but this is the first real attempt on His life.

33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.

John 7:33
a little while longer: Jesus’ time on earth was limited; soon He would be crucified and then ascend to the Father. His life was not determined by the Jewish religious leaders (John 7:32), but by the Father.

34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.

John 7:34-35
you cannot come: Christ would be in heaven; the people would not be able to come to Him there. Where does He intend to go: The Jewish leaders did not comprehend what Jesus meant. They could only think of one of the various places where Jews had been scattered.

35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?

36 What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

John 7:37–39
On each day of the feast, the people came with palm branches and marched around the great altar. A priest took a golden pitcher filled with water from the Pool of Siloam, carried it to the temple, and poured it on the altar as an offering to God. This dramatic ceremony was a memorial of the water that flowed from the rock when the Israelites traveled through the wilderness. On the last day of the feast, the people marched seven times around the altar in memory of the seven circuits around the walls of Jericho. Perhaps at the very moment that the priest was pouring water on the altar, Jesus’ voice rang out: If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. The last day of the feast would be the seventh day, a very special day on which the priests would march seven times around the altar, chanting Psalm 118:25. It would be the last time they would draw the water and pour it out. No doubt just as they were pouring out the water, symbolic of the water Moses drew from the rock, Jesus stood and shouted His great invitation to thirsty sinners. Jesus was not suggesting a shallow “taste test” but rather the deep personal commitment of the person to truth. The Jews depended on education and authorities and received their doctrine secondhand, but Jesus insisted that we experience the authority of truth personally. The Jewish leaders were attempting to kill Jesus, yet at the same time they claimed to understand God’s truth and obey it. This proves that an enlightened and educated mind is no guarantee of a pure heart or a sanctified will. Some of the world’s worst criminals have been highly intelligent and well-educated people.

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

John 7:38
as the Scripture has said: The reference is not to a single passage, but to the general emphasis of such passages as Deuteronomy 18:15; Isaiah 58:11; Zechariah 14:8 (see also Numbers 24:7). In contrast to the small amount of water poured out each day during the feast, there will be a river of water coming out of those who believe in Christ. Not only will they be satisfied themselves, but they will also become a river so that others may drink and be satisfied (John 7:39).

John 7:38-39
Water for drinking is one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. (Water for washing is a symbol of the Word of God; see John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26.) Just as water satisfies thirst and produces fruitfulness, so the Spirit of God satisfies the inner person and enables us to bear fruit. At the feast, the Jews were reenacting a tradition that could never satisfy the heart. Jesus offered them living water and eternal satisfaction!

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 7:39
John explains that Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit who would satisfy personal thirst and produce a perennial fountain for the satisfaction of others. The Holy Spirit would come after Jesus’ crucifixion and ascension. Jesus prepared His disciples for this in the Upper Room (John 14:16–20; John 15:26-27; John 16:7–15).

40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

John 7:40–42
Moses predicted that the Prophet, the seed of David, would come (see Deuteronomy 18:15, 18; 2 Samuel 7:14–16). These people knew that the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2). However, they did not know that Jesus had been born there. They thought He was from Galilee (see John 7:41; Matthew 16:13-14). They knew the Scripture, but they did not take the time to know the Messiah (John 5:39).

41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

43 So there was a division among the people because of him.

44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?

48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?

49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.

John 7:49
this crowd …is accursed: The Pharisees accused the people of being ignorant of the Law and thus under God’s curse (see Deuteronomy 28:15). The irony of the situation was that it was the Pharisees, not the crowds, who were under God’s wrath because they had rejected His Son (John 3:36).

50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)

John 7:50-51
Nicodemus made a plea for justice (John 3:2; John 12:42-43), but his plea was rejected.

51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

John 7:52
no prophet has arisen out of Galilee: Actually, the prophets Jonah, Hosea, Nahum, and perhaps Elijah, Elisha, and Amos were from Galilee or close to it. The leaders challenged Nicodemus to search the prophecies to see if he could find any statement that a prophet would come out of Galilee. Of course, Jonah was from Galilee, and Jesus said that Jonah was a picture of Himself in death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 12:38–41). Perhaps Nicodemus read Isaiah 9:1-2 (see Matthew 4:12–16) and began to trace the great messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. If he did, then he became convinced that Jesus of Nazareth was the very Son of God.

53 And every man went unto his own house.

John 7:53—8:11
The record of the incident with the woman caught in adultery is not found in some of the ancient manuscripts; where it is found, it is not always in this location in John’s gospel. Most scholars seem to agree that the passage is a part of inspired Scripture, regardless of where it is placed.