John 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 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 [OR 'I MADE' epoieesa (G4160 )] A MAN EVERY WHIT WHOLE ON THE SABBATH DAY? Though servile work was forbidden on the sabbath, the circumcision of males on that day (which certainly was a servile work) was counted no infringement of the law: How much less ought fault to be found with One who had made a man "every whit whole" - or rather, 'a man's entire body whole' [ holon (G3650) anthroopon ...

14-24 Every faithful minister may humbly adopt Christ's words. His doctrine is not his own finding out, but is from God's word, through the teaching of his Spirit. And amidst the disputes which disturb the world, if any man, of any nation, seeks to do the will of God, he shall know whether the doctrine is of God, or whether men speak of themselves. Only those who hate the truth shall be given up to errors which will be fatal. Surely it was as agreeable to the design of the sabbath to restore health to the afflicted, as to administer an outward rite. Jesus told them to decide on his conduct according to the spiritual import of the Divine law. We must not judge concerning any by their outward appearance, but by their worth, and by the gifts and graces of God's Spirit in them....

Verse 23. _EVERY WHIT WHOLE_] The law of circumcision required the removal of a small _portion_ of flesh, which was considered a _blot_ and _reproach_ among the Hebrews, because it confounded them with the nations who were not in covenant with God. Christ, to this, opposes the _complete_ cure of the infirm man, who was diseased throughout his whole body: if the one was permitted on the Sabbath day, for the reason already alleged, surely the other had stronger reasons to recommend it. Some think that the original words, ολον ανθρπον, should be translated, _the whole man_; and that the meaning is, that the blessed Saviour made him whole both in _body_ and _soul_. This makes the miracle the greater, and shows still more forcibly the necessity of doing it without _delay_. _Battier_ ap. _Wets_. supposes that, instead of ολον, χωλον should be read - _I have made a MAIMED man whole_; but t

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 necessity to be done. You do that which is necessary as an ordinance of religion denoting separation from other nations, or external purity. As you allow this, you ought also, for the same reason, to allow that a man should be completely restored to health - that a work of much more importance should be done.” We may learn here that it would be happy for all if they would not condemn others in that thing which they allow. People often accuse others of doing things which they themselves do in other ways. EVERY WHIT WHOLE - Literally, “I have restored the whole man to healt

EXPOSITION Ch. 7-10. contain the record of the conflict between faith and unbelief in the metropolis. At first the narrative indicates a vast amount of critical inquiry, of unsettled opinion, of angry disappointment and a certain readiness to be convinced on the part of one section or another. The secrecy of the Galilean village is contrasted with the broad arena of the temple courts. "The Jews," or leaders of opinion and authority in Judaea and Jerusalem, who were hostile, are seen in contrast with "the Jews who believed on him" (John 8:31). There are multitudes and multitudes (John 10:12, John 10:30, John 10:31), priests and Pharisees ...

IF A MAN ON THE SABBATH DAY RECEIVE CIRCUMCISION,.... As it was certain in many instances he did: THAT THE LAW OF MOSES MIGHT NOT BE BROKEN; either the law concerning circumcision, which confirmed the law given to Abraham, and required it should be on the eighth day, let it fall when it would, even on a sabbath day; and therefore on that day, male children received circumcision, that that law might be kept, and not be broken: or else the law concerning the sabbath; and the sense be, if circumcision was administered on the sabbath day, "without breaking the law of Moses", as some render the words, which commanded the observation of the sabbath, ARE YE ANGRY AT ME; and pursue me with so much wrath and bitterness, BECAUSE I HAVE MADE A MAN EVERY WHIT WHOLE ON THE SABBATH DAY? or "a man that was whole, sound on the sabbath day"; who was wholly, or all over disordered, every limb of whom s...

John 7:14. _Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught._ He was no coward, so he boldly showed himself in the midst of the throng in the temple. John 7:15. _And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?_ Or, «How knoweth he the Scriptures? How has he come to be an instructed man, having never learned of the Rabbis? He has never passed through our schools of learning, so what can he know?» John 7:16. _Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me._ «I am not the inventor of what I say; I am but a messenger, delivering the message of him that sent me.»...

CHAPTER 7 _ 1. My Time is not Yet Come. (John 7:1 .)_ 2. Departure from Galilee; Sought by the Jews. (John 7:10 .) 3. In the Temple Teaching. (John 7:14 .) 4. Opposition to Him. (John 7:30 .) 5. The Indwelling Spirit Promised. (John 7:37 .) 6. The Division Among the People Because of Him. (John 7:40 .) 7. The Returning Officers and the Defense of Nicodemus. (John 7:45 .)

THE SECRET VISIT. Soon, however, He receives the Divine intimation, for which He always waits (_cf. John 2:4_, John 11:6 f.) and goes up secretly. The Jews are discussing Him, and various opinions are expressed, but only in secret from fear of the leaders of the party, who are known to be hostile. When He appears in the Temple and teaches, they are surprised at the power of one who has not been trained in the schools. He replies that His teaching has a higher source, as all will recognise who are willing to obey God's will (_cf._ Numbers 16:28). The self-sent teacher will betray himself by the selfishness of his aims. Circumcision is allowed to override the law of the Sabbath. Why not, therefore, His healing of the whole man, in

ARE YE ANGRY AT ME? The Rabbis said, "Circumcision drives away the Sabbath." It was, they held, "of the fathers,". patriarchal institution, and therefore, of older date than the Sabbath, which was of Moses; therefore, the Sabbath gave way before the duty of attending to circumcision on the eighth day. The law of mercy was older than either circumcision or the Sabbath; the Jews were, therefore, inconsistent in their indignation against him because he had performed an act of mercy, "made. man every whit whole, on the Sabbath day." Mercy was God's eternal law....