John 7

1 Christ converseth in Galilee, 2 His brethren persuade him to go to Jerusalem at the feast of the Tabernacle, 6 which he refused for that time, 10 but after some days followeth privately. 14 Teacheth in the Temple and defendeth the doctrine, as also his miracle done on the sabbath. 25 Divers opinion of the people concerning him, 28 He proceeds in teaching, 30 wherefore some seek to take him, and can not . 32. The Pharisees and Chief Priests send their officers to apprehend him, 33 He threatens the unbelieving Jews that hereafter they shall not find him , 37 and he inviteth unto him all that are a thirst, and promiseth the holy Ghost to those that believe in him, 40 from whence division ariseth among the people , 45 The messengers return without bringing Christ prisoner, and extoll his doctrine, 47 which the Pharisees take ill, speaking reproaching of Christ, and of the people. 50 Nicodemus gain saith their doing, whereby they come to be at strife amongst themselves, and apart.

1. And after this Jesus walked in Galilee [That is, conversed traveling from one place of Galilee to another. Now that he did there is set down by Mat chapter 15.16,17,18. and by Mark chapter 7.8.9] for he would not walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. [namely, at Jerusalem, because he had cured on the sabbath him that had been sick eight and thirty years, John 5:16.]

2. And the feast of the Jews (namely) the setting up of (leaf) booths was nigh, [this was the third great yearly feast of the Jews, which they were told on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, which in part answers to our September, in which they made booths of branches of green trees, wherein they abode seven days in remembrance that their fathers had dwelt in booths in the wilderness forty years long. See this feast, otherwise called the feast of Tabernacle, Levit 23.v.34. and 40 and Nehem 8.v. 15.16]

3. Therefore his brethren [That is, kinsmen, see Mat.13.55.] said until him, depart hence, and go thy way into Judea, that thy disciples also, [namely, which thou hast in Judea] may hold behold thy works which thou dost.

4. For no man doth any things [Namely, singular, or great] in secret: and himself seeketh that men should speak of him openly: [Gr. to be in freedom of speech, i.e. to be famous and known] if thou dost these things [that is canst indeed do them, namely, thereby to shew that thou art the Messiah] reveal thy self to the world. [that is, to that great multitude of men, which out of all parts of the world shall come together at the feast.]

5. For even his brethren did not believe in him. [Namely, some of them, for some as John, James and others believed in him, Acts 1:14.]

6. Then Jesus said unto them, my time is not yet present. [That is, my opportunity to go up to the feast] but your time is always ready . [namely, seeing they seek not kill you as they done me.]

7. The world [That is, worldly men,] cannot hate you. [namely, because ye are also of the world, and the world loveth its own, John 15:19.] but me it hateth, because i testifie of the same, that its works are wickened

8. Go ye up unto this feast : i go not yet up to this feast, for my time [namely, to go up to the feast without danger] is not yet fulfilled. [that is come]

9. And when he had said these things unto them, he abode in Galilee. [Namely, yet certain days, as appears from the following verse.]

10. But when his Brethren were gone up, then went he himself also up to the feast, not openly, not openly, [Namely, as he used to do, accomplished with his Disciples and others, which went up the feast] but as in secret. [namely, to avoid the snares of the Rulers of the Jews.]

11. The Jews therefore [Namely, which before on the feast days had heard him and seen his miracles] sought him on the feast, and said, where is he?

12. And there was much murmuring [that is, much talking and disputing] concerning him among the people: some said he is good, and others said no; but he seduced the people.

13. Notwithstanding no man spake boldly of him: [Namely,for his honour and defense] for fear of the Jews. [that is, of the Rulers of the Jews who had determined to cast him out of the Synagogue that should confess him, John 9:22.]

14. But when it was now in the midst of the midst of the feast : [namely, about the forth day, seeing the feats of Tabernacles continued seven days, from the fifteenth day of the seventh month to the two and twentieth. see Levit.23.34] Jesus went up into the Temple and taught.

15. And the Jews marveled, saying, how knoweth this man the Scriptures [Or Letters, Mark 6:2.] whereas he hath not learned them? [namely, in the school,as Paul is said to have learned at Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel, Acts 22:3.]

16. Jesus answered them and said, my doctrine is not mine, [that is, is not a doctrine which is mine alone] but his that sent me:

17. If man will do his will [that is, if any may by Gods grace be brought so far, that lying aside all prejudice and stiffneckedness, he searchest the truth of th doctrine as God hat commanded, and will frame himself according thereunto, Psalms 25:14. thereby he gives to understand that they were not such yet] he shall know of his doctrine, whether it the of God, or (whether) i speak of my self.

18. He that speaketh of himself [that is, he that propound as a doctrine devised by himself, and not grounded in Gods word] seeketh his own glory: but he that no unrighteousness is in him.[that is, falsehood or deceit]

19. Did not Moses give you the Law, and no man of you doth the Law? why do ye seek to kill me? [Namely as if i were a transgressor of the Law, because i healed that man on the sabbath.

20. The multitude answered and said [Namely, which was come from without, and knew not therof, and therefore thought that Christ said that to them unjustly] thou hast the Devil [that is, thou ragest as a man that is possessed or out of his wits, and thou slanderest us] who seeketh to kill thee? [namely of us]

21. Jesus answered and said unto them [Christ answereth not to their reviling words, but goes forwards to prove that had not transgressed the law, by healing on the sabbath] one work i have done [that is, the one work only, namely, that i have cured this man on the sabbath, John 5:16.] and ye all marvel. [namely, with disturbance and offence, ver.23.]

22. Therefore [The word therefore some join to the former verse] Moses gave you circumcision [that is, the command to circumcise on the eight day, Levit.12.3.] (not that it is of Moses [That is, that Moses first instituted it] but of the fathers) [that is, but was by Gods command administered to the Patriarch Abraham, and his posterity which were before Moses , Gen.17.10] and ye child falleth on the sabbath day.

23. If a man receive circumcision on the sabbath, that the law of Moses [namely, of circumcision the eighth day, Lev.12.3.] may not be broken [Gr. unbound or loosed] are ye angry at me, that i have healed a whole man on the sabbath, [that is, who was important in his whole body or in all his limbs.]

24. Judge not according to the appearance [That is, are respecters of persons, seeing ye reprove in your own (party) that they circumcise on the sabbath, so neither ought you to prove me because i heal on the sabbath] but judge a righteous judgment?

25. Some therefore of them of Jerusalem [That is, the Jews which dwelt at Jerusalem, and knew of the intention of the Rulers] said, is not this he whom they seek to kill?

26. And behold he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing to him [That is, they suffer him to teach without hinderance] do now the Ruler indeed know verily [namely being better informed then here for . Or be convinced thereof in their mind, howsoever they will not acknowledge it] that thus is truly the Christ?

27. Yet we know this (man) whence he is, [Namley, form Nazareth as they tought] but the Christ when he shall come, no man shall know whence be it.[herein they erre by misunderstanding of certain places of Scriptures, as Esa 53.8. Mica 5.1. and other which speak of his eternal generation, as the Son of God, which they perversely interpreted of his corporal birth]

28. Then Jesus cried in the Temple [that is, spake boldly and with a louder voice, that hhe might the better be heard of all] teaching and saying, And yee know me [namely, as ye say] and ye know whence i am; and i am not come of my self, [that is, notwithstanding] but he is true [namely, in his testimony of me, Matthew 3:17.] that hath sent me, whom ye know not. [namely, as ye ought.]

29. But i know him, for i am from him, [Namely, begotten from eternity, Psa.2.7.] and he hath sent me?

30. Then they sought to apprehend him, but no man laid hands on him [namely being hindred by Gods providence] for his hour was not yet come.[namely, for to suffer.]

31. And many of the multitude believed in him, and said, when Christ shall become, shall he do more signs then those which this (man) hath done:

32. The Pharisees heard that the multitudes murmured this concerning him, [seeing they durst not say it openly for fear of the Jews, v.13.] and the Pharisees and the chief Priest sent officer that they should apprehend him:

33. Then said Jesus unto them, yet a little while i am with you, [Namely until the ensuing Passover, which was yet about six months] and i go my way unto him that sent me.

34. Ye shall seek me [that is, ye shall desire to have me yet present. See John 8:21] and ye shall not find (me) and where i am [that is, shall then be, or wither i go] yee cannot come.

35. Then said the Jews to one another [Or with themselves] whither will this (man) go away, that we shall not find him? will he go to the scattered Greeks [or to the scattering of the Greeks, i.e either to the Gentiles, which being opposed to the Jews are called Greeks, Romans 1:16. and 2.9. or the Jews and Proselytes which were scattered among the Greeks, John 12:20. Jam.1.1 1Pet.1.1] and teach the Greeks?

36. What manner of speech is this that he hath said, ye shall seek me and not find (me) and where i am you can not come:

37. And on the last day [that is, the eight day, which as well as the first be kept holy with assemblies and sacrifices, see Lev.23.36.] (being) the great (day) of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man, [seeing the Jews especially on this feast, all the fruits being gathered in, made themselves merry with eating and drinking, so it seems that Christ takes occasion from thence to instruct them concerning the true spiritual drink, and to invite them thereunto] thirst [that is, from the feeling of his misery, longeth to be delivered from it, see Esa 44.3 and 55.1. John 4:14.] let him come unto me and drink.

38. He that believeth in me like as the scripture saith, [These words some join to the next forgoing, in this sense, as the scriptures saith, i.e. commandeth others to the following, so that Christ here should have had respect to some places of the holy scripture, as Esa 44.3. and 49.10 and 58.11. or such like] streams of living water [or River, i.e. in great abundance and fullness, see Isaiah 44:3. Joel 2:28. and 3.18. John 4:14.] shall flow out of his belly.

39. And this he said of the spirit, which they that believe in should receive in him should receive. For the holy Ghost was not yet, [namely, given or sent in such abundance, as was done after Christ resurrection and ascension, Acts 2.v.3.33.] for such as Jesus was not yet glorified.

40. Many of the multitude there therefore hearing this speech said, this is truly the prophet. [Namely, of whom is written, Deu.18.15.]

41. Other, said this is the Christ [That is, the Messiah, which they thought would be another Prophet then this. see John 1:25. and 6.14.] And others said [namely which thought that he was born at Nazareth] shall the Christ then come out of Galilee.

42. Doth not the scripture say, that Christ shall come of the seed of David, and from the village Bethlehem. where David was. [Namely born and brought up]

43. There was therefore division among the multitude [Gr. Schisma, that is, a rent or division] because of him.

44. And some of them [Namely, sent forth by the chief Priests] would have taken him but no man would lay hands on him. [namely being hindred by God, because of his hour was not yet come.]

45. The officers therefore came to the high Priests and Pharisees: and they said unto them, wherefore have ye not brought him:

46. The officers answered, never man spake so, as this man. [That is, with such reverence and pleasingness. see Mat.7.28,29. and Luke 4:22.]

47. Then the Pharisees answered them, are ye also duced?

48. Hath any one of the rulers believed in him : [Namely, which are such excellent and learned men] or of the Pharisees?

49. But this multitude which knoweth not the Law [That is, which is not exercised in the holy scripture] is cursed [Gr. are cursed, namely, because they adhere to him]

50. Nicodemus said unto them, who [see hereof John 3:1,2: etc] was come [or come] unto him by night being one of them:

51. Doth our law judge a man, except it have first heard from him, [that is, is it permitted us in the Law to condemn any man, except he be first heard in his (own) defence. This was even among the Heathen themselves a law of nature. See Acts 25:16.] and understandeth what doth? [that is, what he hath done, or done amiss.]

52. They answered and said unto him, art thou also of Galilee? [Namely, either by birth or one of his Disciples, most of which were Galileans] search and see that out of Galilee no Prophet is risen up. [notwithstanding Esias had prophesied that the Messiah should begin to preach in Galilee. see Isa 8.23. and 9.1. Mat.4.15.]

53. And everyone went his way to his (own) house.