John 7 - Jesus Teaches at The Feast of Tabernacles
Joh 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. Jesus traveled around Galilee as He avoided Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting His death.
Joh 7:2 Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. Also know as "the festival of shelters," one of the three main "feasts" that God commanded all Israelite men to appear before the Lord and worship. The other two were Passover and Pentecost. (Deuteronomy 16:16).
Joh 7:3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. Jesus "kinsfolk" wanted Him to go to Judea so that the disciples there would be spectators of His works.
Joh 7:4 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. Jesus kinsfolk were saying to Him that if you want to become famous, you can't hide like this. If you can do such wonderful things, show Yourself to the world. Remember in the book of Matthew when Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted. (Matthew 4:1-10). Do you think that Jesus might have been tempted a little by His kinsfolk here?
Joh 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him. Even His brothers didn't believe in Him. (How many of your friends and family members believe in you)? (Micah 7:5-6). You see, your biggest enemies can be within your own family and friends.
Joh 7:6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. Jesus was telling them that "now is not the right time for Me to go, but you can go anytime." The Lord's death was accomplished by Himself. (Luke 9:31, John 10:17-18). Until that hour (the proper hour to come), He was immune. (John 8:20).
Joh 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. The world does not hate you, but it does Me, because I speak the truth and accuse it of doing evil. (Galatians 4:16). Jesus was hated for telling the truth. You see, these brothers are not yet believers and the world loves non-believers. (You are not going to be very popular with people in the world if you teach truth). Especially with priests, pastors, and teachers who are caught up in denominational church doctrine and traditions of men.
Joh 7:8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. You go on Jesus told them. I am not going to this festival yet; My time has not come.
Joh 7:9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. Jesus remained in Galilee while the brethren went ahead.
Joh 7:10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. After His brothers left for the festival, then Jesus also went. However, He went secretly, staying out of the public view. (Just the opposite of what His brethren wanted Him to do). Don't listen to man, listen to your Heavenly Fathers instructions.
Joh 7:11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? The Jewish leaders were looking for Him at the festival.
Joh 7:12 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. There was a lot of gossip going on about Jesus among the crowds. Some said He was a good man, while others said He was a fraud who deceives people. Do you remember what the chief priests and Pharisees called Jesus when they came together unto Pilate after His crucifixion? (Matthew 27:63). They called Him a deceiver.
Joh 7:13 Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews. The people that were present didn't have the courage to speak good about Jesus in public, because they feared the Jewish leaders. (Proverbs 29:25). Never fear man who can only kill the flesh, but rather fear the Lord who can destroy your soul. (Matthew 10:28).
Joh 7:14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. About midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. (Luke 19:47). Jesus taught daily in the temple and He taught the truth; but the leading priests and teachers did not like it. (Mark 11:18). They wanted to kill Him.
Joh 7:15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? The people in the Temple were amazed at His teachings and how much He knew. (In there eyes He was not a professional prophet who was trained). There were over thirty seminaries in Jerusalem at this time, and Jesus had never attended one of them. Jesus knew that what was taught in most seminaries was limited and controlled, just like seminaries today. Very little truth comes from them, but they sure know how to teach you to please the people. (2 Timothy 4:3-4). What they learn in seminaries today about Christianity is equivalent to a fifth grade education if their lucky.
Joh 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. Jesus told them, "My message is not of My own; it comes from the Heavenly Father who sent Me." After all, He was Emmanuel, "God with us." They had the best teacher they could ever have right in front of them, but could not see it.
Joh 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. If you want to do the will of God, you will know that the teachings of Christ are true and in your heart. (Always look to God for answers and true wisdom, not some man or woman).
Joh 7:18 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. Those who speak of themselves, only want glory for themselves. But, a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. (Jesus always tried to point people's attention to God, the One who sent Him). We should always try to point people to Christ and give Him all the glory.
Joh 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? Mosses gave you the law, but none of you obey the law! Now, you are trying to kill Me Jesus tells them.
Joh 7:20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? The crowds though Jesus was crazy and had a devil in Him. Who's trying to kill you they asked?
Joh 7:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. Jesus replied; "I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed." Talking about when He had healed the cripple man at Bethesda on the Sabbath. (John 5:9-11). The Jewish leaders objected to what Jesus had just done.
Joh 7:22 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. Jesus explained to them that if He was breaking the Sabbath law, so were they. You see, they were performing circumcisions on the Sabbath. Actually this tradition started with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses. (Leviticus 12:3).
Joh 7:23 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? If the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath day, you go ahead and do it, so you don't break the law of Moses. So, why should you be angry at Me for healing a man on the Sabbath Jesus was asking?
Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Look beneath the surface before you judge someone, so you can judge correctly Jesus is saying. (Proverbs 24:23).
Joh 7:25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? The people were asking each other, "Isn't this the man they are trying to kill?"
Joh 7:26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? Here is Jesus speaking in public right in front of them. (Those seeking to kill Him). Now the people are thinking that the leaders are possibly believing that He is the Messiah. Hmmm, could it be that the religious leaders just didn't find the right opening to confront Jesus yet? (We are speaking of both the Pharisees and Sadducees here).
Joh 7:27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. The people were a little confused here. Most of the people knew this man (Jesus), came from Nazareth, and that He was a carpenter. (The Rabbis thought that He would come from Bethlehem and then be hid, but no one knew where). However, there were some that thought that no one would know where the Messiah was form, but rather that He would just appear. (Malachi 3:1).
Joh 7:28 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. When Jesus was teaching in the Temple, He called out, "You know Me and you know where I come from." But, I'm not here on My own. "The One who sent Me is true, and you don't know Him." They never knew God, they were just hypocrites playing church. If they truly knew God, they would have known that Jesus was the Messiah. "It was written." (Matthew 11:27, Luke 10:22, 1 John 5:19).
Joh 7:29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. "I know Him Jesus is saying; because I come from Him, and He sent Me to you."
Joh 7:30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. Now the leaders were really upset with Jesus because He said that He knew God and they didn't. They wanted to arrest Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His time had not yet come. (Divine intervention). "They could not touch Him, till the time was right." Put your trust in God and no one can touch you. (1 Chronicles 16:22, Psalm 105:15).
Joh 7:31 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? Many of the people at the Temple began to believe in Jesus. They realized that not even the Messiah could do more miracles than Jesus had done. (He was the Messiah they were looking for).
Joh 7:32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. When the Pharisees (conservatives), and chief priests (the Sadducees, a more liberal sect of Judaism), heard that the crowds were leaving there church to follow Jesus, they sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus. Here we have the leadership of the entire Jewish nation (the Sanhedrin), coming together in agreement to go after Jesus.
Joh 7:33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Jesus was telling them that He would be crucified within six months, raised from the dead, and return back to the Father who sent Him.
Joh 7:34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. You will look for Me but won't find Me, and you cannot go where I am going. (Jesus, at the crucifixion and resurrection would open the doors to heaven).
Joh 7:35 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? The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. "They thought He was just leaving town." Maybe to teach the Gentiles.
Joh 7:36 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? (These are supposed to be Jewish leaders and teachers and they still did not get it). "Still going on today."
Joh 7:37 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. On the last day of the festival Jesus shouted to the crowds; "Anyone who is thirsty may come to Me." Thirsty for what? "To hear the Words of the Lord." It will happen in the end times on the "Day of the Lord." (Revelation 21:6, Revelation 22:1). It is finished! Draw from the deep waters; The wells of salvation. "The Truth of His Word." This is a spiritual water of life that is pouring fourth in front of the throne. The book of Ezekiel speaks of "Living Waters," as Ezekiel was shown the vision of the temple. (Ezekiel 47:1-12). Chapter 40 till the end of Ezekiel speaks of the end times millennium and the eternity.
Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Anyone who believes in Jesus may come and drink. "The scriptures say it; rivers of living water will flow from His heart." He is, and will be, the Source of all spiritual blessings. (Isaiah 12:3, Isaiah 44:3, Isaiah 55:1, Isaiah 58:11, Ezekiel 47:1).
Joh 7:39 (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.) When Jesus said "Living Waters," He was speaking of the "Holy Spirit," who would be given to everyone believing in Him. However, the "Holy Spirit," had not been given yet, because Jesus had not entered into His glory. (Isaiah 32:15, Acts 1:5, Acts 2:17, Acts 2:33).
Joh 7:40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. After the crowds heard what Jesus had just said, some of them declared that this was the Prophet they were expecting.
Joh 7:41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Some believed that He was the Messiah, and others said He could not be the Messiah coming from Galilee. (Matthew 16:14-16). (The Galileans were what we would call hillbillies today). "There was a distinct difference between those living in the south over those living in the north, in Galilee."
Joh 7:42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? The Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, where king David was born. (Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5, Luke 2:4, Luke 2:11).
Joh 7:43 So there was a division among the people because of him. The crowd was divided over Him.
Joh 7:44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. Some wanted Him arrested, but no one laid a hand n Him. (Again, divine intervention), It was not His time yet.
Joh 7:45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, and the leading priests and Pharisees wanted to know why they didn't bring Him in.
Joh 7:46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. The Temple guards never heard anyone speak like this. You see, the leading priests and Pharisees never spent any real time with Jesus. They heard everything second hand. The guards heard Jesus face to face and they were amazed at what He was saying.
Joh 7:47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? The priests and Pharisees mocked the guards and asked them if they had been led astray also?
Joh 7:48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? The question was asked of the priests and Pharisees by the head priest. Do any of us believe in Him?
Joh 7:49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. The foolish crowds follow Him they said. "They are ignorant of the law, and God's curse is on them." (The only ignorant ones here are the priests and Pharisees). Wouldn't want to be in their shoes. (Isaiah 5:21, Isaiah 28:14, Isaiah 65:5, 1 Corinthians 1:20-21, 1 Corinthians 3:18-20).
Joh 7:50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Then Nicodemus (the leader who had met Jesus earlier), spoke up. (John 3:1-2). At some point, Nicodemus becomes a believer.
Joh 7:51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? Nicodemus is saying; "Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?" (Remember that Nicodemus had spent some time with Jesus and found out the truth for himself).
Joh 7:52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. They asked Nicodemus, "are you from Galilee too?" Search the scriptures and you will see that no prophet ever comes form Galilee. If they had looked, they would have found that Jonah and Hosea arose out of Galilee, and perhaps Elijah, Elisha, Nahum and Amos. (1 Kings 17:1, 2 Kings 14:25, Nahum 1:1). Jesus grew up in Galilee, but was born in Bethlehem.
Joh 7:53 And every man went unto his own house. Then the meeting broke up and everyone went home. (Job 5:12-13, Psalm 33:10). Again, it was divine intervention that frustrated them all and ended the discussion. (God is always in control).
Keep the faith,
Barton
