1.
After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
Verse 1
Walked in Galilee; continued there,--as it was in Galilee that the occurrences described in the last chapter took place.--Jewry; Judea.--The Jews sought to kill him. They formed the design when he was in Jerusalem, as stated John 5:16-18.
2.
Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.
Verse 2
Feast of tabernacles; an annual celebration commemorative of the dwelling of the Israelites in tents or tabernacles. It was held in the autumn, the passover occurring in the spring. It continued several days, (John 7:37,) during which time the people assembled at Jerusalem, and lived in tents and booths, and imitated the modes of life and usages of their fathers in the wilderness, as particularly described in Nehemiah 8:13-18. For other allusions to this feast in the Old Testament, see Deuteronomy 16:13-15.
3.
His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
Verse 3
His brethren; his relatives and friends.
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.
Verse 4
Show thyself to the world. Galilee was a retired and mountainous region, and thinly peopled, while Jerusalem was the great centre of movement and attraction.
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.
Verse 6
Your time is always ready. The meaning is, that they might go in safety at any time, as they were not, like him, objects of hate and conspiracy.
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.
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.
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?
16.
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
Verse 16
My doctrine; my teaching, my instruction.
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.
Verse 17
Of God; from God. A readiness to do our duty is essential to enable us to form opinions on subjects affecting duty; so that he who is not doing the will of God ought to place no reliance upon any religious opinions which he may be inclined to form.
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.
Verse 18
He that speaketh of himself. It does not mean concerning himself, but from himself; that is, of his own accord and on his own responsibility.
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?
Verse 20
Thou hast a devil. The people, not knowing the secret plots which the rulers had formed, attributed his fears to a disordered mind, produced, as they supposed, by an evil spirit.
21.
Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.
Verse 21
Marvel; express surprise and displeasure.
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.
Verse 22
Not--of Moses; not originally instituted by Moses, though by him enacted into law.
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?
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.
Verse 27
Whence he is; his parentage and origin.
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.
Verse 30
His hour; the time predetermined for his sufferings and death.
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?
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.
Verse 33
Unto them; unto the people.
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?
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.
Verse 38
Shall flow, &c.; an image very similar to that expressed John 4:14.
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.)
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?
Verse 42
They supposed that Jesus had been born where he had resided from infancy, in Nazareth of Galilee.
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.
Verse 49
This people; the common people, whom they looked down upon with contempt.
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.
Verse 52
Ariseth no prophet; no prophet has ever arisen.
53.
And every man went unto his own house.