AFTER THESE THINGS - After the transactions which are recorded in the last chapters had taken place, and after the offence he had given the Jews. See John 5:18. JESUS WALKED - Or Jesus lived, or taught. He traveled around Galilee teaching. IN JEWRY - In Judea, the southern division of Palestine. C... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JEWS’ FEAST OF TABERNACLES - Or the feast of tents. This feast was celebrated on the 15th day of the month Tisri, answering to the last half of our month September and the first half of October, Numbers 29:12; Deuteronomy 16:13. It was so called from the tents or tabernacles which on that occasi... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS BRETHREN - See the notes at Matthew 12:47. THY DISCIPLES - The disciples which he had made when he was before in Judea, John 4:1. THE WORKS - The miracles.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THERE IS NO MAN ... - The brethren of Jesus supposed that he was influenced as others are. As it is a common thing among men to seek popularity, so they supposed that he would also seek it; and as a great multitude would be assembled at Jerusalem at this feast, they supposed it would be a favora... [ Continue Reading ]
MY TIME ... - The proper time for my going up to the feast. We know not why it was not yet a proper time for him to go. It might be because if he went then, in their company, while multitudes were going, it would have too much the appearance of parade and ostentation; it might excite too much notice... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORLD CANNOT HATE YOU - You profess no principles in opposition to the world. You do not excite its envy, or rouse against you the civil rulers. As you possess the same spirit and principles with the men of the world, they cannot be expected to hate you. I TESTIFY OF IT - I bear witness against... [ Continue Reading ]
I GO NOT UP YET - Jesus remained until about the middle of the feast, John 7:14. That is, he remained about four days after his brethren had departed, or until the mass of the people had gone up, so that his going might excite no attention, and that it might not be said he chose such a time to excit... [ Continue Reading ]
MURMURING - Contention, disputing. HE DECEIVETH THE PEOPLE - That is, he is deluding them, or drawing them away by pretending to be the Messiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
SPAKE OPENLY OF HIM - The word translated “openly,” here, is commonly rendered “boldly.” This refers doubtless, to those who really believed on him. His enemies were not silent; but his friends had not confidence to speak of him openly or boldly that is, to speak what they really thought. Many suppo... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOUT THE MIDST - Or about the middle of the feast. It continued eight days. THE TEMPLE - See the notes at Matthew 21:12. AND TAUGHT - Great multitudes were assembled in and around the temple, and it was a favorable time and place to make known his doctrine.... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWETH THIS MAN LETTERS - The Jewish letters or science consisted in the knowledge of their Scriptures and traditions. Jesus exhibited in his discourses such a profound acquaintance with the Old Testament as to excite their amazement and admiration. HAVING NEVER LEARNED - The Jews taught their law... [ Continue Reading ]
MY DOCTRINE - My teaching, or what I teach. This is the proper meaning of the word “doctrine.” It is what is taught us, and, as applied to religion, it is what is taught us by God in the Holy Scriptures. IS NOT WINE - It is not originated by me. Though I have not learned in your schools, yet you ar... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY MAN WILL DO HIS WILL - Literally, if any man wills or is willing to do the will of God. If there is a disposition in anyone to do that will, though he should not be able perfectly to keep His commandments. To do the will of God is to obey His commandments; to yield our hearts and lives to His... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT SPEAKETH OF HIMSELF - This does not mean about or concerning himself, but he that speaks by his own authority, without being sent by God, as mere human teachers do. SEEKETH HIS OWN GLORY - His own praise, or seeks for reputation and applause. This is the case with mere human teachers, and as J... [ Continue Reading ]
DID NOT MOSES GIVE YOU THE LAW? - This they admitted, and on this they prided themselves. Every violation of that law they considered as deserving of death. They had accused Jesus of violating it because he had healed a man on the Sabbath, and for that they had sought his life, John 5:10. He here re... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE - Perhaps some of the people who were not aware of the designs of the rulers. THOU HAST A DEVIL - Thou art deranged or mad. See John 10:20. As they saw no effort to kill him, and as they were ignorant of the designs of the rulers, they supposed that this was the effect of derangement.... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE WORK - The healing of the man on the Sabbath, John 5. YE ALL MARVEL - You all wonder or are amazed, and particularly that it was done on the Sabbath. This was the particular ground of astonishment, that he should dare to do what they esteemed a violation of the Sabbath.... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES THEREFORE GAVE UNTO YOU CIRCUMCISION - Moses commanded you to circumcise your children, Leviticus 12:3. The word “therefore” in this place - literally “on account of this” - means, “Moses on this account gave you circumcision, not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;” that is, the reaso... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE LAW OF MOSES SHOULD NOT BE BROKEN - In order that the law requiring it to be done at a specified time, though that might occur on the Sabbath, should be kept. ARE YE ANGRY ... - The argument of Jesus is this: “You yourselves, in interpreting the law about the Sabbath, allow a work of neces... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDGE NOT ACCORDING TO THE APPEARANCE - Not as a thing first offers itself to you, without reflection or candor. In appearance, to circumcise a child on the Sabbath might be a violation of the law; yet you do it, and it is right. So, to appearance, it might be a violation of the Sabbath to heal a ma... [ Continue Reading ]
DO THE RULERS KNOW INDEED ... - It seems from this that they supposed that the rulers had been convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, but that from some cause they were not willing yet to make it known to the people. The reasons of this opinion were these: * They knew that they had attempted to kil... [ Continue Reading ]
HOWBEIT - But. They proceeded to state a reason why they supposed that he could not be the Messiah, whatever the rulers might think. WE KNOW THIS MAN WHENCE HE IS - We know the place of his birth and residence. NO MAN KNOWETH WHENCE HE IS - From Matthew 2:5, it appears that the common expectation o... [ Continue Reading ]
YE KNOW WHENCE I AM - You have sufficient evidence of my divine mission, and that I am the Messiah. IS TRUE - Is worthy to be believed. He has given evidence that I came from him, and he is worthy to be believed. Many read this as a question - Do ye know me, and know whence I am? I have not come fr... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY SOUGHT TO TAKE HIM - The rulers and their friends. They did this: 1.Because of his reproof; and, 2.For professing to be the Messiah. HIS HOUR - The proper and the appointed time for his death. See Matthew 21:46.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL HE DO MORE MIRACLES? - It was a common expectation that the Messiah would work many miracles. This opinion was founded on such passages as Isaiah 35:5, etc.: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped; then shall the lame man leap as an hart,” etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE MURMURED SUCH THINGS - That is, that the question was agitated whether he was the Messiah; that it excited debate and contention; and that the consequence was, he made many friends. They chose, therefore, if possible, to remove him from them.... [ Continue Reading ]
YET A LITTLE WHILE AM I WITH YOU - It will not be long before my death. This is supposed to have been about six months before his death. This speech of Jesus is full of tenderness. They were seeking his life. He tells them that he is fully aware of it; that he will not be long with them; and implies... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL SEEK ME - This probably means simply, Ye shall seek the Messiah. Such will be your troubles, such the calamities that will come on the nation, that you will earnestly desire the coming of the Messiah. You will seek for a Deliverer, and will look for feign that he may bring deliverance. This... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DISPERSED AMONG THE GENTILES - To the Jews scattered among the Gentiles, or living in distant parts of the earth. It is well known that at that time there were Jews dwelling in almost every land. There were multitudes in Egypt, in Asia Minor, in Greece, in Rome, etc., and in all these places the... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE LAST DAY - The eighth day of the festival. THAT GREAT DAY - The day of the holy convocation or solemn assembly, Leviticus 23:36. This seems to have been called the great day: 1.Because of the solemn assembly, and because it was the closing scene. 2.Because, according to their traditions, o... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME - He that acknowledges me as the Messiah, and trusts in me for salvation. AS THE SCRIPTURE HATH SAID - This is a difficult expression, from the fact that no such expression as follows is to be found literally in the Old Testament. Some have proposed to connect it with what pr... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE SPIRIT - Of the Holy Spirit, that should be sent down to attend their preaching and to convert sinners. FOR THE HOLY GHOST WAS NOT YET GIVEN - Was not given in such full and large measures as should be after Jesus had ascended to heaven. Certain measures of the influences of the Spirit had b... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROPHET - That is, the prophet whom they expected to precede the coming of the Messiah - either Elijah or Jeremiah. See Matthew 16:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 2:4. WHERE DAVID WAS - 1 Samuel 16:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OFFICERS - Those who had been appointed John 7:32 to take him. It seems that Jesus was in the midst of the people addressing them, and that they happened to come at the very time when he was speaking. They were so impressed and awed with what he said that they dared not take him. There have been... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE YE ALSO DECEIVED? - They set down the claims of Jesus as of course an imposture. They did not examine, but were, like thousands, determined to believe that he was a deceiver. Hence, they did not ask them whether they were convinced, or had seen evidence that he was the Messiah; but, with mingled... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RULERS - The members of the Sanhedrin, who were supposed to have control over the religious rites and doctrines of the nation. THE PHARISEES - The sect possessing wealth, and office, and power. The name Pharisees sometimes denotes those who were high in honor and authority. BELIEVED ON HIM - I... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS PEOPLE - The word here translated “people” is the one commonly rendered “the multitude.” It is a word expressive of contempt, or, as we would say, the rabble. It denotes the scorn which they felt that the people should presume to judge for themselves in a case pertaining to their own salvation.... [ Continue Reading ]
NICODEMUS - See John 3:1. ONE OF THEM - That is, one of the great council or Sanhedrin. God often places one or more pious men in legislative assemblies to vindicate his honor and his law; and he often gives a man grace on such occasions boldly to defend his cause; to put men upon their proof, and... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTH OUR LAW ... - The law required justice to be done, and gave every man the right to claim a fair and impartial trial, Leviticus 19:15; Exodus 23:1; Deuteronomy 19:15, Deuteronomy 19:18. Their condemnation of Jesus was a violation of every rule of right. He was not arraigned; he was not heard in... [ Continue Reading ]
ART THOU ALSO OF GALILEE? - Here is another expression of contempt. To be a Galilean was a term of the highest reproach. They knew well that he was not of Galilee, but they meant to ask whether he also had become a follower of the despised Galilean. Ridicule is not argument, and there is no demonstr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND EVERY MAN WENT UNTO HIS OWN HOUSE - There is every mark of confusion and disorder in this breaking up of the Sanhedrin. It is possible that some of the Sadducees might have joined Nicodemus in opposing the Pharisees, and thus increased the disorder. It is a most instructive and melancholy exhibi... [ Continue Reading ]