7:2 Now the Jews' a feast of tabernacles was at hand.
(a) This feast was so called because of the booths and tents
which they made out of different types of boughs, and
sat under them seven days altogether; and during this
entire time the feast went on.
7:31 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and
go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works
that thou doest.
(1) The grace of God comes not by inheritance, but it is a gift
that comes in another way: because of this it occurs that
the children of God often suffer more affliction from their
own relatives than from strangers.
7:5 For neither did his b brethren believe in him.
(b) His relatives: for the Hebrews used to speak in this
way.
7:62 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but
your time is alway ready.
(2) We must not follow the foolish desires of our friends.
7:103 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also
up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
(3) An example of horrible confusion in the very bosom of the
Church. The pastors oppress the people with terror and
fear: the people seek Christ, when he does not appear: when
he offers himself, they neglect him. Some also that know
him condemn him rashly: only a very few think well of him,
and even then in secret.
7:13 Howbeit no man spake c openly of him for fear of the
Jews.
(c) Or, boldly and freely: for the majority of the Jews
wanted nothing more than to extinguish his fame and his
name.
7:144 Now about the d midst of the feast Jesus went up into
the temple, and taught.
(4) Christ uses goodness to strive against the wickedness of
the world: in the meanwhile most men are offended even by
that fame by which they ought to have been stirred up to
embrace Christ.
(d) About the fourth day of the feast.
7:165 Jesus answered them, and said, e My doctrine is not
mine, but his that sent me.
(5) Therefore there are few to whom the gospel appeals, because
the giving of serious attention to godliness is very rare.
(e) See above in (Joh 5:22); and he speaks this in
accordance with the opinion of the Jews, as if he said,
"My doctrine is not mine, that is, it is not the
doctrine of myself, whom you consider to be just a mere
man and therefore treat me lightly, but it is his that
sent me."
7:186 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.
(6) The true doctrine of salvation differs from the false in
this, that the true doctrine sets forth the glory of God,
and the false doctrine by puffing up men, dishonouring the
glory of God.
7:197 Did not Moses give you the law, and [yet] none of you
keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
(7) None boast more confidently that they themselves are the
defenders of the law of God than they that break it most
impudently.
7:218 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one
work, and ye all marvel.
(8) The sabbath day (which is here set before us as a standard
of all ceremonies) was not appointed to hinder, but to
further and practise God's works, amongst which the main
one is the love of our neighbour.
7:23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the
f 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?
(f) That is to say, if the law of circumcision which Moses
gave matters so much to you that you do not hesitate to
circumcise upon the sabbath, do you rightly reprove me
for thoroughly healing a man?
7:249 Judge not g according to the appearance, but judge
righteous judgment.
(9) We must judge according to the truth of things, lest men
turn us from the truth and carry us away.
(g) By the show that I make: for I seem to be a despicable
person from among the rabble of Galilee, and a
carpenter's son, whom no man considers to be very
important: but mark the matter itself well, and judge
the tree by the fruit.
7:2510 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he,
whom they seek to kill?
(10) Many marvel that the endeavours of the enemies of God have
no success, but in the meanwhile they do not acknowledge
the strength and power of God.
7:2711 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ
cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.
(11) Men are very wise to have checks and balances for their
own thoughts.
7:2812 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.
(12) The truth of Christ does not depend upon the judgment of
man.
7:3013 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on
him, because his hour was not yet come.
(13) The wicked cannot do what they desire, but what God has
appointed.
7:3214 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such
things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief
priests sent officers to take him.
(14) As the kingdom of God increases, so increases the rage of
his enemies, till at last they seek in vain for those
missing blessings which they despised when they were
present.
7:35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go,
that we shall not find him? will he go unto the h
dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?
(h) Literally, "to the dispersion of the Gentiles" or
"Greeks", and under the name of the Greeks he refers to
the Jews who were dispersed among the Gentiles.
7:3715 In the i last day, that great [day] of the feast,
Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him
come unto me, and drink.
(15) There are two principles of our salvation: the one is to
be thoroughly touched with a true feeling of our extreme
poverty: the other to seek in Christ only (whom we catch
hold of by faith) the abundance of all good things.
(i) The last day of the feast of tabernacles, that is, the
eighth day, was as celebrated a day as the first.
7:38 He that believeth on me, as the k scripture hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(k) The scripture being referred to is not found anywhere
word for word, but rather Christ seems to be referring
to many different places where mention is made of the
gifts of the Holy Spirit; see (Joe 2:28-29; Isa 44:3)
and especially (Isa 55:1-13).
7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe
on him should receive: for the l Holy Ghost was not yet
[given]; because that Jesus was not yet m glorified.)
(l) What is meant by the Holy Spirit he expressed a little
before, speaking of the Spirit which they that believed
in him should receive. So that by the name of Holy
Spirit are meant the powers and mighty workings of the
Holy Spirit.
(m) That is, those things were not yet seen and perceived
which were to show and set forth the glory of the only
begotten.
7:4016 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this
saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
(16) There is contention even in the Church itself about the
main point of religion: neither has Christ any more cruel
enemies than those that occupy the seat of truth: yet they
cannot do what they would.
7:4517 Then came the officers to the chief priests and
Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought
him?
(17) God scorns from heaven those who are his Son's enemies.
7:4818 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on
him?
(18) False pastors are so stupid and foolish that they
consider the Church of God to be of value according to
the number of people in it, and from the outward show
of it.
7:51 Doth our law judge [any] man, before it hear him, and know
n what he doeth?
