E H1 7:1-10. In Galilee. H2 7:11-11:54-. In Jerusalem.
H1 J 1. Galilee. Walk in.
K 2-8. Feast of Tabernacles.
J 9. Galilee. Continuance in.
K 10. Feast of Tabernacles.28 A.D.
John 7)
1 After these things (see 6:1. Marking a new subject) Jesus was walking in Galilee: for He did not desire to walk in Jewry (a Jews' district), because the Jews (i.e. the hostile party) were seeking to kill Him. (Thus is introduced the 3rd subject of the Lord's ministry.)
K L 2-4. The Lord's brethren. Their advice given.
K 5. Parenthetic remark concerning them.
L 6-8. The Lord's brethren. Their advice rejected.
2 Now the Jew's feast (see 2:1) of booths-making was near. (Deut. 16:16, 13:10. Zech. 14:16,18,19. Only direct reference to this feast in N.T.)
3 His brethren (cp. 2:12 and Mrk 3:21,31) therefore said to Him, "Depart from here, and go into Judaea, in order that Your disciples also may be spectators of the works that You do.
4 For there is no one that does any thing in secret, and he himself seeks to be known openly (lit. in plain language). If You do these things, shew Yourself to the world."
5 (For not even Hid his brethren believe in Him.)
L N v 6-. Himself.
w -6. His brethren.
O 7-. Brethren: not hated.
O -7. Himself: hated.
N w 8-. His brethren.
v -8. Himself.6 Therefore Jesus said to them, "My seasonal moment is not yet come (the Lord's death was accomplished by Himself. See 10:17,18. Luke 9:31. Until that hour [the right hour] came, H e was immune . At length it was "at hand" [Matt. 26:45]; and came, according to His Word [12:23,27; 13:1; 17:1. Cp. Mark 14:41]):
but your own time is always ready.
7 The world is not able to hate you;
but Me it hates, because I bear witness concerning it, that the works thereof are evil.
8 Go you all up to this feast:
I go not up yet to the feast: for My time has yet not been fulfilled."
9 When He had said these things to 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.
H1 P 7:11-8:59. At the Feast of Tabernacles.
Q 9:1-10:21. Subsequent events.
P 10:22-39. At the Feast of Dedication.
Q 10:39-11:54-. Subsequent events.
P R1 7:11-13. The Lord. Immune.
S1 7:14-30-. Colloquy with Jews.
R2 7:30-31. The Lord. Immune.
S2 7:32-43. Colloquy with Pharisees and others.
R3 7:44-8:1. The Lord. Immune.
S3 8:2-20-. Colloquy with Scribes and Pharisees.
R4 8:-20. The Lord. Immune.
S4 8:21-59-. Colloquy with Scribes and Pharisees.
R5 8:-59. The Lord. Immune.
11 Then the Jews sought Him in the feast, and said, "Where is He?" (= that man. Emphatic.)
12 And there was much murmuring among the crowds concerning him: for some were saying, "He is a good man:" others said, "Nay; but He leads astray the crowd." (Cp. Mark 13:5,6. i Tim. 4:1. Jude 13.)
13 Howbeit no man spake openly of Him on account of fear of the Jews.
S1 T1 14. The Lord. Teaching.
U1 15. Jews. Marvel.
T2 16-19. The Lord. Answer.
U2 20. Jews. Accusation.
T3 21-24. The Lord. Answer.
U3 25-27. Jews. Objection.
T4 28,29. The Lord. Answer.
U4 30-. Jews. Action.14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.
15 And the Jews were wondering, saying, "How does this this Man know letters (Gr. pl. of gramma. Fig. put for what is written. Hence, used of general literature such as the Talmudical wittings [here, and in Acts 26:24]. Cp. our term "man of letter", and see Acts 4:13), having not learned?" (This Man didn't attend our seminary. How could He possibly know the Scriptures so well? The Word of God was standing before them teaching the words commanded.)
16 Jesus answered them, and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His that sent Me. (The 1st of 7 declarations that the Lord spoke only the Father's word)
17 If, (expresses a hypothetical but possible condition, contingent on circumstances which the future will show) any one desire to do His will, he shall get to know of the teaching, whether it be from God, or whether I speak of Myself. (Jesus wasn't making up words of His own mind as false prophets do. The Word of God was His witness.)
18 He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but He that seeks the glory of Him that sent, He is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. (Jesus didn't need to boast of Himself or seek the glory of men. His glory was given of God long ago, and the Word stands in witness of His glory. It is very important for us to hold these simple truths in our hearts. Why? See 2 Tim. 3:1.)
19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you does the law? Why do seek to kill Me?"
20 The people answered and said, "You have a demon: who goes about to kill you?"
21 Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work, and you all were wondering.
22 Moses for this cause has given you circumcision (the Law was not given by Moses, but based on Gen. 17:9-14); (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers (that is, Abraham);) and you on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are you angry at Me (Gr. cholao from chole = bile), because I have made a man entirely (in contrast with one member) sound (in contrast with wound) on the sabbath day?
24 Judge not according to the sight (i.e. objective or outward appearance), but judge the righteous judgment."
25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, "Is not this He, whom they are seeking to kill?
26 And, lo, He speaks openly, and they say nothing to Him. The rulers have not ascertained, have they truly, that this is the very Messiah?
27 And yet we know this one where He is: but whenever Messiah may come, no one knows how He may come." (The Rabbis taught that He would come from Bethlehem and then be hid, but none knew where.)
28 Then cried aloud Jesus in the temple as He was teaching, saying, "You both know Me, and you know where I am: and I am not come of Myself, but He that sent Me is true, whom you know not.
29 But I know Him: for I am from beside Him, and He has sent Me." (This is all said openly and publicly.)
30 Then they were seeking to arrest him:
but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. (Divine will of God protected Him. Divine intervention.)
31 And many of the people believed on Him, and said, "When Christ shall have come, will He do more miracles than these which this Man has done?
S2 V1 32. Pharisees. Among themselves.
W1 33,34. The Lord. Answering their thoughts.
V2 35,36. Jews. Among themselves.
W2 37-39. The Lord. Anticipating the people's thoughts.
V3 40-43. The people. Among themselves.32 The Pharisees (see Acts 15:5) heard murmuring such things concerning Him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him.
33 Then said Jesus to them, "Yet a little while am I with you, and then I withdraw to Him that sent Me.
34 You will seek Me, and shall not find Me: and where I am (the formula of Divine eternal existence. See 6:35, and cp. 8:58), there you cannot come."
35 Then said the Jews to themselves, "Where is He about to go, that we shall not find Him? (He's at the right hand of God) will He go to the dispersed (Gr. Diaspora = the Dispersion. 10 Northern tribes - Caucasians, because they traveled over the Caucasus mountains) of the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? (So called from the Latin gentiles = nations [as distinguished by race]; hence, used of nations, as distinct from the one nation Israel [Gen. 12:2. Cp. 14:1,9]; Heb. = goyim. In N.T. days, Greece being the great dominating nation in arms, literature, and language, the word Hellenes became the N.T. word for all non-Jews, Hellen, the son of Deucalion, being the legendary ancestor of the Greek nation [Homer, Iliad]. Hellen had been already used in the Sept. Version, of the "Philistines" [Isa. 9:12], and of "the sons of Jovan" [Zech. 9:13. 1 Macc. 8:18. 2 Macc. 4:36. Hellenes in the N.T. never means Jews, but is always distinguished from them.On the other hand, the Gr. Hellenistes = Hellenized, as speaking Greek, is used of those who were Jews by birth, but spoke Greek)
36 What manner of saying is this that He said, 'You shall seek Me, and shall not find me: and where I am, there you cannot come?'"
37 Now on the last day (see Lev. 23:34-36.), the great day of the feast (Feast of Tabernacles. This was His Birthday. See "Christmas"), Jesus stood and cried, saying, "If any man thirst, let him come to Me, and let him drink,
38 That believes on Me, according as the scripture has said [concerning Me], out of His belly (fig., for the whole person, for emphasis = Himself. Here referring to Messiah [the Giver], not to the believer [the receiver]. He is, and will be, the Source of all spiritual blessing "as the Scripture has said": Isa. 12:3; 55:1; 58:11. Ezek. 47:1. Joel 3:18. Zech. 13:1; 14:3.) shall flow rivers of living water." (Salvation, the "Rock" had arrived.)
39 (But this spake He of the Spirit (referring to the gift of pneuma hagion [in the next clause], of which He was the Giver, and believers the recipients.), which they that believe on Him should receive (and which would be "in him" [the reliever] "springing up" in him, not flowing out as a river from him, for the supply of others.): for the Holy Spirit (Pneuma Hagion. It denotes the gift given by the the Giver and received by the believer, as promised in Acts 1:5 and fulfilled in Acts 2:4.) was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (i.e. ascended)
40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, "Of a truth this is the Prophet." (Deut. 18:15)
41 Others said, "This is the Christ." But others said, "What, does Christ come out of Galilee? (They forgot His birthplace.)
42 Has not the scripture said (is that not what it says?), That Christ comes of the seed of David (Ps. 110; 132. Isa. 11:1,10. Jer. 23:5, &c.), and out of the town of Bethlehem (see Mic. 5:2), where David was?"
43 Therefore there arose a division (the 1st of 3 instances) among the people on account of Him. (Not only in the 3 noted above, but also to the present day.)
R2 X 44. The Lord. Immune.
Y1 x1 45-. Return of officers.
y1 -45. Pharisees' Question.
x2 46. Answer of officers.
y2 47-49. Pharisees' Question.
x3 50,51. Protest of Nicodemus.
y3 52. Pharisees' Question.
X 7:53-8:1. The Lord. Immune.44 And some of them desired to take Him; but no man laid hands on Him.
45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees;
and they said to them, "Why have you not brought Him?"
46 The officers answered, "Never man spoke thus, as this Man."
47 Then answered them the Pharisees, "Have you also been led astray? (Referring to action rather than thought.)
48 Have any of the rulers (members of the Sanhedrin) or of the Pharisees believed on Him? (Answer - yes)
49 But this people who knows not the law are laid under a curse. (Stupid - Kenites opinion.)
50 Nicodemus (see 3:2 and 9:39) said to them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
51 Doth our law judge any man, except it has heard him, and know what he does? (Our Constitution the same)
52 They answered and said to him, "Are you also of Galilee? Search [the Scriptures] (as in 5:39), and see (if they had looked, they would have found that Jonah and Hosea arose out of Galilee, and perhaps Elijah, Elisha, and Amos. They [i.e. the Kenites] were sorry scholars.): for out of Galilee arises no prophet."
53 And every man went unto his own house. (The party broken up.)