John — Chapter 7
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1After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.
3His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
4For 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.
5For neither did his brethren believe in him.
6Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
7The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
8Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
9When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.
10But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
11Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
12And 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.
13Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
14Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
15And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
16Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
17If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
18He 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.
19Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
20The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
21Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.
22Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
23If 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?
24Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
25Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?
26But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
27Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.
28Then 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.
29But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.
30Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
31And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?
32The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.
33Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.
34Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.
35Then 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?
36What 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?
37In 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.
38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
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.)
40Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
41Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
42Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
43So there was a division among the people because of him.
44And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
45Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
46The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
47Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?
48Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
49But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
50Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
51Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
52They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
53And every man went unto his own house.
1And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judaea, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2Now the feast of the Jews, the feast of tabernacles, was at hand.
3His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may behold thy works which thou doest.
4For no man doeth anything in secret, and himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou doest these things, manifest thyself to the world.
5For even his brethren did not believe on him.
6Jesus therefore saith unto them, My time is not yet come; but your time is always ready.
7The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that its works are evil.
8Go ye up unto the feast: I go not up unto this feast; because my time is not yet fulfilled.
9And having said these things unto them, he abode [still] in Galilee.
10But when his brethren were gone up unto the feast, then went he also up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.
11The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
12And there was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him: some said, He is a good man; others said, Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray.
13Yet no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
14But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
15The Jews therefore marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
16Jesus therefore answered them and said, My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me.
17If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or [whether] I speak from myself.
18He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
19Did not Moses give you the law, and [yet] none of you doeth the law? Why seek ye to kill me?
20The multitude answered, Thou hast a demon: who seeketh to kill thee?
21Jesus answered and said unto them, I did one work, and ye all marvel because thereof.
22Moses hath given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers); and on the sabbath ye circumcise a man.
23If a man receiveth circumcision on the sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken; are ye wroth with me, because I made a man every whit whole on the sabbath?
24Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
25Some therefore of them of Jerusalem said, Is not this he whom they seek to kill?
26And lo, he speaketh openly, and they say nothing unto him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is the Christ?
27Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when the Christ cometh, no one knoweth whence he is.
28Jesus therefore cried in the temple, teaching and saying, Ye both know me, and know whence I am; and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
29I know him; because I am from him, and he sent me.
30They sought therefore to take him: and no man laid his hand on him, because his hour was not yet come.
31But of the multitude many believed on him; and they said, When the Christ shall come, will he do more signs than those which this man hath done?
32The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him; and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to take him.
33Jesus therefore said, Yet a little while am I with you, and I go unto him that sent me.
34Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, ye cannot come.
35The Jews therefore said among themselves, Whither will this man go that we shall not find him? will he go unto the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
36What is this word that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me; and where I am, ye cannot come?
37Now on the last day, the great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.
38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.
39But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet [given]; because Jesus was not yet glorified.
40[Some] of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, This is of a truth the prophet.
41Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, What, doth the Christ come out of Galilee?
42Hath not the scripture said that the Christ cometh of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?
43So there arose a division in the multitude because of him.
44And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
45The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why did ye not bring him?
46The officers answered, Never man so spake.
47The Pharisees therefore answered them, Are ye also led astray?
48Hath any of the rulers believed on him, or of the Pharisees?
49But this multitude that knoweth not the law are accursed.
50Nicodemus saith unto them (he that came to him before, being one of them),
51Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth?
52They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
53And they went every man unto his own house:
1After this Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He stayed out of Judea because the Jewish leaders wanted to kill him.
2Now the Jewish Feast of Shelters was near.
3So Jesus’ brothers advised him, “Leave here and go to Judea so your disciples may see your miracles that you are performing.
4For no one who seeks to make a reputation for himself does anything in secret. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
5(For not even his own brothers believed in him.)
6So Jesus replied, “My time has not yet arrived, but you are ready at any opportunity!
7The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I am testifying about it that its deeds are evil.
8You go up to the feast yourselves. I am not going up to this feast because my time has not yet fully arrived.”
9When he had said this, he remained in Galilee.
10But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then Jesus himself also went up, not openly but in secret.
11So the Jewish leaders were looking for him at the feast, asking, “Where is he?”
12There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some were saying, “He is a good man,” but others, “He deceives the common people.”
13However, no one spoke openly about him for fear of the Jewish leaders.
14When the feast was half over, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach.
15Then the Jewish leaders were astonished and said, “How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?”
16So Jesus replied, “My teaching is not from me, but from the one who sent me.
17If anyone wants to do God’s will, he will know about my teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from my own authority.
18The person who speaks on his own authority desires to receive honor for himself; the one who desires the honor of the one who sent him is a man of integrity, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
19Hasn’t Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law! Why do you want to kill me?”
20The crowd answered, “You’re possessed by a demon! Who is trying to kill you?”
21Jesus replied, “I performed one miracle and you are all amazed.
22However, because Moses gave you the practice of circumcision (not that it came from Moses, but from the forefathers), you circumcise a male child on the Sabbath.
23But if a male child is circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses is not broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?
24Do not judge according to external appearance, but judge with proper judgment.”
25Then some of the residents of Jerusalem began to say, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?
26Yet here he is, speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to him. Do the ruling authorities really know that this man is the Christ?
27But we know where this man comes from. Whenever the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.”
28Then Jesus, while teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “You both know me and know where I come from! And I have not come on my own initiative, but the one who sent me is true. You do not know him,
29but I know him because I have come from him and he sent me.”
30So then they tried to seize Jesus, but no one laid a hand on him because his time had not yet come.
31Yet many of the crowd believed in him and said, “Whenever the Christ comes, he won’t perform more miraculous signs than this man did, will he?”
32The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things about Jesus, so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.
33Then Jesus said, “I will be with you for only a little while longer, and then I am going to the one who sent me.
34You will look for me but will not find me, and where I am you cannot come.”
35Then the Jewish leaders said to one another, “Where is he going to go that we cannot find him? He is not going to go to the Jewish people dispersed among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, is he?
36What did he mean by saying, ‘You will look for me but will not find me, and where I am you cannot come’?”
37On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and
38let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’”
39(Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
40When they heard these words, some of the crowd began to say, “This really is the Prophet!”
41Others said, “This is the Christ!” But still others said, “No, for the Christ doesn’t come from Galilee, does he?
42Don’t the scriptures say that the Christ is a descendant of David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
43So there was a division in the crowd because of Jesus.
44Some of them were wanting to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
45Then the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him back with you?”
46The officers replied, “No one ever spoke like this man!”
47Then the Pharisees answered, “You haven’t been deceived too, have you?
48None of the members of the ruling council or the Pharisees have believed in him, have they?
49But this rabble who do not know the law are accursed!”
50Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before and who was one of the rulers, said,
51“Our law doesn’t condemn a man unless it first hears from him and learns what he is doing, does it?”
52They replied, “You aren’t from Galilee too, are you? Investigate carefully and you will see that no prophet comes from Galilee!”
53[[And each one departed to his own house.
1After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand.
3His brothers therefore said to him, “Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do.
4For no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world.”
5For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.
6Jesus therefore said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.
7The world can’t hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil.
8You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled.”
9Having said these things to them, he stayed in Galilee.
10But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.
11The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, “Where is he?”
12There 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.”
13Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.
14But when it was now the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught.
15The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters, having never been educated?”
16Jesus therefore answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
17If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.
18He 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.
19Didn’t Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?”
20The multitude answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you?”
21Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel because of it.
22Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy.
23If 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?
24Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
25Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, “Isn’t this he whom they seek to kill?
26Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ?
27However we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.”
28Jesus 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.
29I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”
30They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.
31But 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?”
32The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.
33Then Jesus said, “I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me.
34You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come.”
35The 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?
36What is this word that he said, ‘You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come’?”
37Now 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!
38He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.”
39But 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.
40Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, “This is truly the prophet.”
41Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “What, does the Christ come out of Galilee?
42Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
43So there arose a division in the multitude because of him.
44Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him.
45The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him?”
46The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!”
47The Pharisees therefore answered them, “You aren’t also led astray, are you?
48Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees?
49But this multitude that doesn’t know the law is accursed.”
50Nicodemus (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?”
52They answered him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”
53Everyone went to his own house,
Summary
At the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus teaches in the temple amid growing division — some call Him a prophet, others the Christ — and on the last day He cries out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink."
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Jerusalem / the Temple (v.14): Jesus went up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles (a major pilgrimage feast) and taught in the Temple courts.
- Galilee (v.1): Jesus had been staying in Galilee, avoiding Judea because the Jews there sought to kill Him.
- The Pool of Siloam (implied, cf. 9:7): The water-pouring ceremony during Tabernacles drew water from the Pool of Siloam — the backdrop for Jesus' "rivers of living water" declaration.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the significance of the Feast of Tabernacles water ceremony, the meaning of "rivers of living water" (v.38), and Nicodemus' courageous defense of Jesus before the Sanhedrin (vv.50-51).
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "The Invitation" on v.37 (MTP Vol. 7, No. 367) "Jesus stood — He rose to His feet on the greatest day of the feast, when all eyes were on the ceremony, and He cried — not whispered, not suggested — He cried with a loud voice: If any man thirst, let him come unto Me. The invitation is universal. Any man. Not any good man, not any prepared man — any man." Sermon: "Righteous Judgment" on v.24 (MTP Vol. 35, No. 2094) "We are quick to judge by what we see — by reputation, by appearance, by what others say. Christ calls us to judge righteously — to look at the substance, not the surface."
Videos
David Guzik — Enduring Word Video Series (John)
YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_QIfO0mxbX4zgQH4vuK6q1q7gu8Ok6tz John 7:1-13 - Opposed by His Family: John 7:14-36 - Opposed at the Temple: John 7:37-52 - Opposed by the Religious Rulers:
Reflection
- 1. Jesus' own brothers didn't believe in Him (v.5). Even those closest to us may not understand or support our faith. How do you handle skepticism or lack of support from family members regarding your faith?
- 2. Jesus said "If any man will do his will, he shall know" (v.17). Spiritual understanding comes through obedience, not just study. Is there something God has already shown you that you haven't acted on? Could that be blocking deeper understanding?
- 3. The officers sent to arrest Jesus came back saying "Never man spake like this man" (v.46). They were undone by His words. When did the words of Jesus last stop you in your tracks? Are you reading His words with that kind of openness?
- 4. Nicodemus — a member of the Sanhedrin — spoke up for Jesus at personal risk (vv.50-51). He didn't fully commit publicly yet, but he took a step. What step of courage is God asking you to take in standing for what is right, even when it costs you socially or professionally?
- 5. Jesus' brothers challenged Him to "show yourself to the world" (v.4) — to use His power for public recognition. Jesus refused. How do you handle the pressure to prove yourself, to perform, or to seek public validation?
- 6. Jesus said the world hates Him because He testifies that its works are evil (v.7). If you are living like Christ, you should expect some level of the world's hostility. Are you experiencing any friction with the world because of your faith? Or has your faith become too comfortable and accommodating?
- 7. Verse 17 says that willingness to do God's will leads to knowing whether Jesus' teaching is from God. Is your approach to Scripture "show me and I'll obey" or "I'll obey and you'll show me"? What's the difference?
- 8. The crowd was divided about Jesus (v.43) — some said prophet, some said Christ, some said He was deceiving people. The same divisions exist today. How do you respond when people around you have wrong views of Jesus?
- 9. "Never man spake like this man" (v.46). The officers couldn't arrest Jesus because His words arrested them first. When you read the Gospels, do you read them with that kind of expectation — that His words will stop you, challenge you, change you?