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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.
2 Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. 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. |
1
- Not walk in Jewry Should read "Not walk in Judea." On kill
him, see jn0518. See map.
2 - Tabernacles This chapter and the next may be studied in connection with this feast ps11815. We see the prediction of the Messiah there in verse 26. 3 - His brethren Jesus' brothers did not yet accept Him as the Messiah v5. Likely the Jewish leaders convinced the brothers that Jesus could advance His ministry by going to Jerusalem because they held greater control there and could more easily kill Him. |
| .6
Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway
ready.
7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. 8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. 9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. |
6
- My time See on mr0115,
jn0204,
lu0249.
6 - Your time is always ready It didn't matter when they went to the feast. The world didn't hate them. 7 - The world ... but me See jn1518f. |
| .10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. | 10 - Not openly His open claim and invitation at the feast would be important but getting attention too soon would impede His opportunity there. He likely traveled alone taking less-frequented routes. See on jn0403f. |
| .11
Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
12 And there was much murmuring [gossip or talk] 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. .14 ¶ Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. .15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? |
11
- The Jews John uses the term to indicate the Jewish leaders.
His non-Jewish readers may have already been thinking of those who were
controlling the scene as simply "the Jews."
13 - No man spake openly The situation was political and involvement was probably not wise. 14 - Midst The central time would have been at about the fourth day. 15 - Knoweth letters ... never learned The word, letters, means various things. Here it means learning and, likely, a knowledge of the Scriptures. It is a fair assumption that Jesus knew Hebrew and Greek in addition to the common language. He had, indeed, not "learned" in the officially "accredited" schools of the rabbis. We may assume that He learned at home from his parents lu0251. And, most importantly, the Holy Spirit would have helped Him understand the meaning of the Scriptures. Compare 1jo0227, jn1426. |
| .16
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent
me.
.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. 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? |
16
- Doctrine not mine He wanted it to be clear that He had
not simply invented His own theories. For sent me,
see on jn0317.
17 - Know the doctrine God gives us understanding when we are ready to do His will. Compare ps119034. 18 - Glory Here the word is doxa meaning honor or reputation. This is not the way of the kingdom of heaven mt0602ff, mt0616. 19 - Did not Moses give? Jesus' listeners would have agreed. Moses was not the source of the law le0101f although the Jews acted as if it were. "Law" here is the Pentateuch – the books of Moses. 19 - None of you He was showing them and the people listening that they were not qualified to judge His doctrine v17. 19 - Kill me This was clearly a violation of the 6th commandment ex2013, 1jo0315. |
| 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. .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. |
21
- One work They had seen His healing at His preceding visit
to Jerusalem a year and a half earlier jn05.
22 - Circumcision ... Moses Moses had confirmed it ex1244ff, le1203, but God had given it to Abraham ge1710ff, ro0411. 24 - Judge not Or "stop judging." Appearance de1618ff, 1sa1607. 24 - Righteous judgment Apparently deciding right and wrong according to the divine righteousness. The Jews had a multitude of rules, many for ways that did not reveal the principle of God's love. |
| .25
Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to
kill?
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. 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. .29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. .30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. 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? |
27
- This man See mt1355,
v42.
27 - No man knoweth They knew Jesus' ancestry. They were probably thinking of a common but wrong teaching that the Messiah could be living somewhere but that He would not be active before the coming of Elijah and that He himself would not know that He was the Messiah. (Justin Martyr, Dialogue With Trypho 8). 29 - I am from Him See jn0646. 30 - No man laid hands God was in control. v6. He had been protected in Nazareth, too lu0430, v44. 30 - Hour was not yet come It came later when He allowed Himself to be taken and crucified lu2253. 31 - More miracles The Greek indicates that a negative answer is expected. "He won't do more miracles than this man had done will He?" Many believed. Truth today is likewise met by two classes. |
| .32
The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him;
and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.
33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. .34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. 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? |
32
- Murmured Probably people discussing whether Jesus was the
Messiah.
33 - Said to them Although responding to the officers (probably temple guards) His remarks were for all the people. 33 - Little while The Feast of Tabernacles which Jesus attended came about six months before the Passover when He would be slain. 34 - Ye shall seek me After the ascension they would be sorry they had not accepted Him as their Saviour and would turn to false Messiahs mt2424. |
| .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.
.38 He 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.) |
37
- If any man thirst A water libation ceremony was conducted
during the seven days of the feast. It consisted of bringing water from
the Kidron. A bowl of water and one of wine were poured together into a
pipe sending them back to the Kidron which flowed into the Dead Sea. This
represented water from the Rock in the wilderness 1co1004.
Then there was singing is1202f.
Christ's invitation to come and drink from Him was a declaration that He
was the rock. The water of salvation flowed from His side jn1934,
1jo0506.
38 - Scripture We don't know what Scripture Christ referred to. Consider is5811. 38 - Belly Or " being" When connected with Christ, our witness will be from deep personal conviction. 38 - Not yet given ... glorified ac0108. and see ac02notes. |
| .40
Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth
this is the Prophet.
.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. |
40,
41 - Many ... others Acceptance of truth is generally this
way.
41 - From Galilee? He had spent much time in Galilee and they may not have known that He was born in Bethlehem. See the next verse. Remembering is0901f could have helped. 42 - Seed of David 2sa0712f. Bethlehem mi0502. Where David was. Or, where he lived 43 - Division Also jn0916, jn1019. |
| .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. 50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) 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. 53 And every man went unto his own house. |
46
- Never ... like this man Jesus' speech was, no doubt impressive,
but the Holy Spirit must have brought deep convicting power to His words
ac0104.
47 - Are ye also deceived? The Pharisees didn't ask what He had said. mt2763. They depended on their educational status to justify their refusal to believe. 49 - Cursed Without any evidence of wrongdoing, followers of Christ would be hated and punished ac0902. So it will be again re1315. 51 - Judge ... before it hear? de0116f, de1702ff. 52 - Of Galilee an ethnic hate statement. 52 - Galilee ... no prophet A repetition of their twisted Scripture interpretation which they had probably been promoting v41. Actually Jonah 2ki1425 and probably Nahum na0101 were from Galilee. 53 - At first the statement seems to say nothing but it shows that the meeting broke up. They really had no case and were no doubt angry with Nicodemus. |
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