Preface
The Feast of Tabernacles is mentioned early in this chapter. It is profitable for the Bible student to study the seven Jewish feasts mentioned in the book of Leviticus, particularly as to their relevance to various Bible doctrine and their typology in regards to prophecy and future events. The seven feasts follow.
The Feast of Passover (1 day event)--Leviticus 23:5
The Feast of Unleavened Bread (7 day event)--Leviticus 23:6-8
The Feast of First Fruits (1 day event)--Leviticus 23:9-14
The Feast of Weeks (1 day event)--Leviticus 23:15-22
The Feast of Trumpets (1 day event)--Leviticus 23:23-25
The Feast of Day of Atonement (1 day event)--Leviticus 23:26-32
The Feast of Tabernacles (7 day event plus 1 closing day)--Leviticus 23:33-43
John 7:1, 2
After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.
The events of chapter 7 take place (according to many expositors) several months after the events in chapter 6. At this time Jesus was aware that the Jews were plotting to kill Him but since it wasn’t His time to die, He avoided Judea and traveled in Galilee.
It was the time for the Feast of Tabernacles. Its purpose was to celebrate the time when the Israelites lived in temporary shelters (booths) after they were delivered out of Egypt. It was a ceremony of rejoicing over their deliverance and God’s provision for them in the wilderness. It represented a time of transition, which was their journey through the wilderness, from Egypt to where they were to obtain their “rest” (Canaan--The Promised Land). Because it was a time of transition, they lived in temporary shelters. A parallel can be drawn between the Jews then and believers today. A person is delivered from his dead spiritual state by means of the “new birth” (the Red Sea crossing) only to find that he faces a life of conflict (with Satan) somewhat like the wilderness that the Jews faced. It is a life which can bring about great blessing should the believer eventually enter into God’s rest; or, it can bring much heartache should the believer fail to enter into God’s rest. The keys to entering God’s rest (that is, the state of being controlled by God’s Spirit) are (1) continually confessing known sins--1 John 1:9--in order not to quench God’s Spirit and (2) trusting the Spirit of God to live through the believer in the same manner the believer trusted Christ for his personal salvation--Colossians 2:6.
On the other hand should these steps not become inveterate (habitual) in the believer’s life, he will live a life outside of fellowship with God--a life of carnality and without joy--until he eventually dies and goes to heaven. The transition life from the new birth until the time the believer enters into God’s rest (not heaven, but the fullness of the Spirit of God) should ideally be temporary. This is why the Israelites lived in temporary shelters (booths) in the wilderness. Unfortunately for them what was meant to be a brief time due to their lack of faith became a “state-of-being” up until their physical death, except for two of them. Sadly, this is the state of many Christians today. They’ve been saved, but they’re never entered into God’s rest. They do not have the joy of their salvation, and they are negative witnesses for Jesus Christ on earth.
The Feast of Tabernacles was a seven day event; although, it also had a closing 8th day. It started on the 15th day of the seventh month and ran through the 21st day, with day 22 hosting its closing ceremony. This was the time of harvest for the Jew. On the 1st day there was an opening ceremony (sacred assembly). They were to do no work on this day. They were to take choice fruit from the trees and palm fronds, along with leafy branches and poplars and initiate a 7-day period of rejoicing before the Lord. Each day they were to make an offering to the Lord by fire. On the 8th day, they were not to work but were to close out the feast with another ceremony or sacred assembly. Both the first and the eighth days were to be days of rest.
John 7:3-5
His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world." For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
After the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary (His earthly parents) gave birth to other children. It is not certain how many. The indication in this verse is that there was a minimum of two brothers. (Matthew 12:46) One thing for certain, His own brothers did not believe in Him. They apparently believed only that Jesus was seeking political gain. Because of this, they suggested that He go and perform His miracles in Judea. Because they felt that He wanted to be known openly, they could not understand why He had to perform so often in areas where He wouldn’t be noticed. Maybe they were anxious to share in the “popularity” this additional exposure would give Him. Whatever the case, this passage identifies a common problem that faces Christians today, which is that their testimony is often not accepted by those closest to them. “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country.”
John 7:6-13
Then Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come." When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee. But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, "Where is He?" And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, "He is good;” others said, "No, on the contrary, He deceives the people." However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
The life of Jesus Christ during His sojourn upon earth was one in strict accordance with God’s plan and timetable. Because His time to show Himself publicly had not yet come, He informed His earthly brothers that He could not present Himself as such at the feast. To do so would only present to His enemies an opportunity to kill Him. And why would anyone, especially the religious leaders of the day, wish to kill Him? It was because by His life (actions and words) without sin, He continually exposed them as to what they were--hypocrites full of “dead man’s bones” (Matthew 23:27).
It is fact that when a believer is within God’s will, i.e., controlled by the Holy Spirit, he will be no friend of the world and the world will be at enmity with him. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4) When a minister or evangelist finds that the world applauds and praises him, he may wish to pause and examine his life in the light of God’s Word.
On the other hand Jesus informed His brothers that because they were in “lock-step” with the evil world system, their time was always opportune. They could fairly well go anywhere and do anything, since those of the “world” approved of them. And what did they wish to do? They wanted to attend a religious feast. They were “religious” men. How strange this must have been to Christ. In their midst stood God in the form of flesh, yet they would not believe in Him. But they were more than willing to demonstrate their religious nature. Man loves religious ritual. He can sooth his conscience with “religion” without any heartfelt commitment. With religion he can obtain the approval of man, without any serious consideration of God. Christianity is not religion! It is a union or relationship with a Person--Jesus Christ. Religion is concerned only with outward appearance. Christianity centers on the inward nature.
After the earthly brothers of Jesus went up to the feast, He then secretly attended it also. As a devout Jew, He wanted to attend the feast; but as the obedient Son of God, He could not do so openly. At the feast the religious Jews were looking for Him, to bring Him to death. Because of the people’s fear of the Jews they would not speak openly of Jesus. But since Jesus and His activities had created such a stir, everyone spoke of Him in private, some saying He was good and others saying He was a deceiver.
John 7:14-18
Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters, having never studied?" Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.”
When the Feast of Tabernacles was about half over (3 to 4 days), Jesus entered the outside area of the temple, known as the “porch” where the people were allowed to gather, and began teaching theology, i.e., Old Testament (Bible) doctrine. This amazed the people, since they believed that Jesus had no formal theological training. Jesus refused to take any credit for Himself, stating that His ability to know and teach doctrine was from God. He stated that the criteria for anyone to really know if what is being taught is from God is the genuineness of the person’s desire to do God’s will. Finally, Jesus informs his listeners that the true test of the instructor of doctrine as to whether he represents God lies in his desire to magnify only God--never himself. These statements were made because it was apparent that He fulfilled them; thereby indicating to all gathered around Him that He was righteously representing God the Father.
It is well to review some significant truths from our Lord’s remarks. They follow.
- A believer must never act independently of God.
- Bible doctrine and the sharing of it was very, very important to Jesus.
- If a person really wants to know Bible doctrine, he can.
- Anyone who speaks “from himself” does not glorify God.
- Anyone who is a true conduit for God’s Word accrues righteousness.
- God’s truths are contained in His Holy Word--the Bible.
- The way a person may know a true or false teacher of God’s Word is to be truly eager to do God’s will.
John 7:19-24
"Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?" The people answered and said, "You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?" Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work, and you all marvel. Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."
Jesus goes on in his address in light of the crowd’s bewilderment. He accuses them that they were proud in their possession of the Law, but they didn’t keeping it. They were either unaware or had forgotten that there was no virtue in possessing God’s Word without obeying it. The Law required obedience. Jesus then illustrates by showing that even though the Law forbade murder, they were seeking to in fact “murder” Him. But rather than admit this, the people counterattacked Christ by accusing Him of demon possession.
This did not deter Jesus from the point He was making. He further amplified it with more evidentiary remarks regarding the healing of the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda. It was this miracle that stirred up the (religious) Jew’s hatred towards Him. It was in fact from this point on that they sought to murder Him. Jesus reminded them that because of this one miraculous work, they all marveled at Him. Not that they marveled with admiration, but rather they were shocked that He would perform “such work” on the Sabbath.
Understanding this, Jesus quickly illustrates their inconsistency of thought by surfacing the God-directed commission of circumcision. The Word of God, known to and called by the Jews as The Law of Moses, commanded that a male child should be circumcised eight days after birth (now known today as the best time medically for this operation to be performed--due to the release of certain blood clotting elements by the body). Actually, Moses personally didn’t originate this obligation, but it was passed down from the “fathers” (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.). The point that Jesus was making is this. The (religious) Jews didn’t fault the act of circumcision if the eighth day fell on the Sabbath. They believed it to be a work of necessity and that God allowed it. So if they circumcised on the Sabbath in order to obey the Law of Moses, why should they disallow a miraculous act of healing on the Sabbath--an act of God’s mercy and power. If the Law allowed for a work of necessity, would it not also allow for a work of mercy?
The problem with the (religious) Jews was that they judged things according to “outward appearance” and not according to inward reality. Their focus was on façade and not inner being, on pretense instead of truth. They were living a charade. Lawful works which were perfectly legitimate when performed by themselves were absolutely wrong when performed by the Lord. Human (sin) nature always tends to judge according to sight rather than according to the reality of the heart. Jesus was not breaking God’s Law. The (religious) Jews were breaking it by their senseless hatred of Him.
John 7:25-30
Now some of them from Jerusalem said, "Is this not He whom they seek to kill? But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from." Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, "You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me." Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.
There were citizens of Jerusalem at the feast who thought that Jesus was indeed the person the Jewish religious leaders were seeking to murder. They couldn’t understand why no one took action against Him in light of His bold admissions. Because of this they next thought that those in authority were unaware of His identity. They knew of His earthly lineage. They knew of Mary and Joseph, His earthly parents. But they also believed that when the promised Messiah would come, He would come suddenly and no one would know from where He would come. Their conclusion was that Jesus was merely a man; certainly not the Messiah.
The basis for such disbelief stemmed from their ignorance of Bible doctrine, specifically their lack of knowledge of Old Testament prophecy regarding the coming Messiah. As they were discussing the issue, Jesus turned His attention to their concern as He continued to speak boldly in the temple. He admitted that they knew Him as a man, but they failed miserably to recognize Him as God. The reason for this was that they did not know God the Father. The word, “know” in this context, conveys intimacy--a spiritual relationship. Their faith rested not in God, but only in themselves. They thought they knew God’s Word, but they were ignorant of the details.
The clear lesson in this passage is that to personally and accurately know Jesus Christ is to become knowledgeable in God’s Word. This is particularly true for the believer. Aside from the fact that Jesus Christ is the Word, the believer should understand that the written Scriptures are provided so that he may intimately know the “mind of Christ” (Romans 11:33, 34; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5). Only by learning Bible doctrine will a Christian be able to successfully test the various influential forces he daily faces in his life (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:15). Only by becoming grounded in the Bible can a Christian expect to live a successfully spiritual life (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
In one succinct and powerful sentence, Jesus stipulates His origin and His Deity. He not only was spiritually united with God, but He was in essence God. As such, He also declared that God was the Originator and Author of all that He was and did. Because of this fact, that He was (again) declaring Himself to be God, those in Jerusalem sought to take Him into custody. They failed, because God’s hand of protection surrounded Him. No one would be able to apprehend Jesus before He personally allowed it, because only in this way would He be able to complete His mission of redemption for mankind.
John 7:31-36
And many of the people believed in Him, and said, "When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?" The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. Then Jesus said to them, "I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come." Then the Jews said among themselves, "Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What is this thing that He said, 'You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come?’"
Many of those in Jerusalem eventually believed that Jesus was the Messiah. Not only does the Bible clearly say this, but it is apparent in their question. They essentially questioned whether anyone claiming to be the Messiah would be able to do any miracles more spectacular than those performed by Jesus. The obvious answer was no, of course not; therefore, many of them “believed in Him.” Now when the religious crowd (Pharisees and chief priests) realized this, they sent officers to apprehend them.
Jesus’ last remarks in this passage spoke to the fact that He would only be with them for “a little while longer.” He would soon return to the Father. Then when they would look for the (physically) living Christ, they would not find Him; and, furthermore, they wouldn’t be able to ascend into heaven and be with Him--the point being that they who listened to Him should take advantage of the time while He lived among them. This puzzled the crowd. They thought maybe Jesus was speaking about going out on a preaching tour or missionary journey to minister to the Jews who were dispersed among Greeks and to also teach the Greeks (Gentiles). But they remained perplexed over His words.
John 7:37-39
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Again Jesus uses the metaphor of water in expressing very specific spiritual doctrine, just as He did when speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well in chapter 4, verses 13 and 14. From this passage, the following is made clear.
- The good news of Christ is loudly proclaimed to everyone and anyone. There is no one not subject to the invitation of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is universal.
- The good news is efficacious (effective) to those who are “thirsty.” Thirst in this context speaks of the “recognition of spiritual need.” Unless a person knows he is a sinner and is utterly unable to save himself, he will never come to Jesus Christ.
- The good news is that a person can satisfy his spiritual need (receive salvation) ONLY by coming to Jesus Christ--not the church, not to a system of ceremonial or personal good works, not to anything or anyone but the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
- The good news is that salvation comes to the person who “drinks,” which is an expression that means to “appropriate Christ for oneself.” It is to take Jesus Christ into one’s life as one would take in a glass of water. The spiritual meaning is to trust alone in Christ alone for one’s personal salvation. This clarifying relationship (drinks=trust) is confirmed in the next words from the Savior, i.e., “Whosoever believes in Me . . . , and the following words, “By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive.
- The good news is that upon a person’s faith alone in Christ alone, the Holy Spirit will at that moment indwell him. It is clearly stated that “living water” in this passage refers to the Holy Spirit, which would come after the resurrection and glorification of Christ. It is not true, as some claim, that the Holy Spirit comes to indwell the believer after his conversion. In the Church Age the baptism and indwelling of the Holy Spirit is instantaneous upon the decision of faith in Christ made within the confines of the person’s will. A person may, subsequent to making this decision, pray and “ask Jesus to come into his life and heart” or “be his Lord and Savior” or any number of other similar expressions of submission; or, he may walk an isle before a crowd and publicly profess Christ. BUT none of these actions brings salvation. Salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit have already occurred. It was activated upon the person’s willful decision to trust only in Jesus Christ for his personal salvation.
- The good news is that if a person will accept by faith alone Christ alone as his personal Savior he will not only have his own spiritual needs met, but he will be a river of blessing to others, because out of him will flow the efficacious workings of the Holy Spirit.
John 7:40-43
Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" So there was a division among the people because of Him.
Many who listened were now convinced that the Lord Jesus was the Prophet of whom Moses spoke in Deuteronomy 18:15, 18. Others were even willing to acknowledge that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. But some thought this was impossible. They believed that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and there was no prophecy in the OT that the Christ would come out of Galilee.
These Jews were right in believing that the Christ would come from the town of Bethlehem and be descended from David. If they had just taken the trouble to inquire, they would have found that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and that He was a direct descendant of David through Mary.
Because of these differing opinions and because of their general ignorance, there was division among the people because of Christ. It is still the same. Men and women are divided on the subject of Jesus Christ. Some say He was simply a Man like the rest of us. Others are willing to admit that He was the greatest Man who ever lived. But those who believe the Word of God know that “Christ . . . is over all, the eternally blessed God” (Rom. 9:5).
Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald
John 7:44-49
Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him. Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why have you not brought Him?" The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man!" Then the Pharisees answered them, "Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed."
Again the desires and efforts by the religious leaders to take Christ were totally frustrated. The lesson to the believer is that God’s will cannot be altered. When the officers who were sent by these religious leaders (chief priests and Pharisees) came back empty handed, they were questioned as to why they didn’t arrest Christ. They were compelled, even in their sinful state, to speak well of the Savior, and they revealed that they had been mesmerized by Him. To intimidate these “officers of the law,” the religious leaders accused them of being “deceived” by Christ. They reminded them that none of the rulers or Pharisees had been “taken in” by this Person. It was clear that these religious leaders not only disbelieved Jesus Christ, but they also did not want anyone else to accept Him.
Finally the religious leaders spoke of the mass of the Jewish people as ignorant and “accursed.” Their meaning was that if these “common people” only knew anything at all about the Scriptures, they would know that Jesus was not the Messiah. They couldn’t have been more wrong. Even today, those who appear to be the most ignorant are in fact the wisest. The “child” confounds the “mighty.”
John 7:50-53
Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?" They answered and said to him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee." And everyone went to his own house.
Nicodemus, the Pharisee that had come to Jesus by night (chapter 3) to learn of the “spiritual birth,” now came to Jesus’ defense--and indication that He may in fact had been saved, only to be turned upon by his associates within the “religious community.” In so during, they only revealed their own ignorance of Old Testament prophecy. Had they never read in Jonah that the Messiah would come from Galilee?
The Feast of Tabernacles came to an end. The people returned to their homes. Some who had met the Savior face-to-face had come to trust in Him; others went away in disbelief. But the religious leaders were determined more than ever to get rid of Him. He was a thorn in their side and their way of life. He was a threat that must be abolished. It is the same today with those who are pious in their self-centered system of salvation by ceremony and good works. It is a trend that has become truly worldwide in scope.
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