After these things Jesus walked in Galilee That is, after he had fed the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes, near Bethsaida; and had had that long discourse with the Jews at Capernaum, concerning himself, as the bread of life, and about eating his flesh, and drinking his blood; and had…

Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand. ] Which began on the fifteenth day of the month Tisri, which answers to part of our September; when the Jews erected tents or booths, in which they dwelt, and ate their meals during this festival; and which was done, in commemoration of the Israelites…

His brethren therefore said unto him That is, the brethren of Jesus, as the Syriac and Persic versions express it; who were not James and Joses, and Simon and Judas, the sons of Alphaeus, the brother of Joseph, the husband of Mary, so called, , for some of these were of the number of the twelve;…

For there is no man that doeth anything in secret For so they reckoned his doing miracles in such a corner of the land, and in so obscure a place as Galilee: and he himself seeketh to be known openly; suggesting hereby, that Christ was an ambitious person, and sought popular applause, and honour…

For neither did his brethren believe in him. ] At first they might take to him, and embrace him as the Messiah, and expect he would set up a temporal kingdom; in which they might hope, on account of their relation to him, according to the flesh to enjoy great honours and privileges; but finding…

Then Jesus said unto them In answer to their solicitations and arguments used with him, to go up to the feast: my time is not yet come; meaning, not the time of his death, or of his exaltation and glorification, or of the showing of himself forth unto the world; though all this was true; but of his…

The world cannot hate you Because they were of the world, belonged to it; they were like unto it, and every like loves its like; and they were the world’s own, and therefore instead of being hated, were loved by it; and they walked according to the course of it; and wicked men not only take…

Go we up unto this feast Suggesting, that he would not have them stay for him, or hinder themselves on his account: he encourages them to go up, and observe this festival; for the ceremonial law was not yet abolished; and though they were carnal men, and did not understand what it typified: and so…

When he had said these words unto them Had exhorted them to go up to the feast, and told them that he should not go yet, and the reason of it: he abode still in Galilee; and went not up with his brethren, nor at all at present; showing hereby a firmness and resolution of mind, not using lightness…

But when his brethren were gone up To the feast, as all the Oriental versions read, from the next clause: then went he also up unto the feast; the Ethiopic version reads, “he went up that day”; which is very likely, and no ways contrary to what is said, in ; for though he did not go up to the…

Then the Jews sought him at the feast Some to take him and kill him, and others to hear his doctrine, and see his miracles: for all expected him at the feast, knowing it was always his custom, as it was his duty, as an Israelite, to attend at it: and said, where is he? not naming his name; either…

And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him There was a general whisper, and a private controversy and contention among the people about him, upon inquiry being made after him: for some said he is a good man; a man of a good principle, of a good life and conversation; and who is…

Howbeit, no man spoke openly of him So loud as to be overheard, at least by many, but in a secret and whispering way; or did not speak with freedom, or all their mind, what they really thought of him, nor with courage and boldness: for fear the Jews; for fear of being mobbed by them, or up and…

Now about the midst of the feast About the fourth day of it, for it lasted eight days; this might be on the sabbath day, which sometimes was (בתוך החג) , “in the middle of the feast” [[12]]; and the rather, since it follows, Jesus went up into the temple; as the Lord and proprietor of it, and as…

And the Jews marvelled Both at the matter, and manner of his doctrine; it was such, as never man spake; his words were so gracious, and there were such truth and evidence in them, and they were delivered with such power and authority, that they were astonished at them: saying, how knoweth this man…

Jesus answered them and said Having heard them express their surprise, and state their objection: my doctrine is not mine: it was his, as he was God; as such, he was the author of it, it was from him, by the revelation of him; and it was of him, or he was the subject of it, as Mediator; it…

If any man will do his will Meaning, not one that perfectly fulfils the law, which is the good, and perfect, and acceptable will of God; for there is no man that does this, or can do it; nor is it so said here, “if any man do his will”, but “if any man will do” it; that is, is desirous of doing it;…

He that speaketh of himself . What he himself has devised, and is a scheme of his own; for which he has no divine warrant and commission: seeketh his own glory; honour and applause from men; as did the Scribes and Pharisees, who taught for doctrines the commandments of men, the traditions of the…

Did not Moses give you the law After Christ had vindicated himself and his doctrine, he proceeds to reprove the Jews for their breaking the law, which contained the will of God: by which it appeared, that they were no proper judges of his doctrine, though they cavilled at it: the question he puts…

The people answered and said These seem to be the country people, who came from Galilee and other parts, who knew nothing of the designs of the Jerusalem Jews upon him; nor were they his downright enemies at least, but rather seemed to favour him, and were on his side, though greatly provoked to…

Jesus answered and said unto them Taking no notice of their passion, reproach, and blasphemy; but proceeding upon the thing he had in view, and which he was determined to reassume, and vindicate himself in; I have done one work; that is, on the sabbath day; meaning, his cure of the man that had had…

Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision The command of circumcision, which he renewed and established, ; (not because, or that it is of Moses; originally, or that he was the first giver of it, for it was enjoined before his time; this is a correction of what is before said, giving a more…

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…

Judge not according to the appearance Or through respect of persons, and so as to please men, the Scribes and Pharisees; who had condemned the action of Christ, in curing the diseased man on the sabbath day, and sought to kill him for it: but judge righteous judgment; give your sense and judgment…

Then said some of them of Jerusalem Who were inhabitants of Jerusalem, and so are distinguished from the people, , who came up out of the country to the feast; so Jose ben Jochanan is called (איש ירושלים) , “a man of Jerusalem” [[2]]; that is, an inhabitant of it: now these men living in the city,…

But lo, he speaketh boldly And with great freedom, and openly and publicly in the temple, as if he had a licence from the chief priests for so doing: and they say nothing to him; do not contradict him, or forbid him speaking; he goes on without control; though he takes great liberty in charging the…

Howbeit, we know this man whence he is They signify, that if the rulers had altered their minds, and had gone into the belief of Jesus of Nazareth being the Messiah, they should not follow them in it, for this reason; because they knew from whence he came; meaning not so much the place of his…

Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught Overhearing the reasonings of these men, however, knowing what they said; so the Persic version adds, “having secretly known this”; exalted his voice as he was teaching in the temple, and in the midst of his discourse, publicly before all the people, in…

But I know him His nature and perfections, his purposes and promises, his council and covenant, his mind and will; and indeed none knows him but he, and those to whom he pleases to reveal him; and there is good reason why he should have intimate and perfect knowledge of him: for I am from him;…

Then they sought to take him By force, and carry him before the sanhedrim, in order to be tried and condemned as a blasphemer, being enraged to hear him claim a descent from God, whom they took to be a mere man, the son of Joseph the carpenter: but no man laid hands on him; though they had a good…

And many of the people believed on him Whilst some were displeased at his doctrine, others were induced by his miracles to believe on him, as an extraordinary person, if not the Messiah; and these were the common people, especially those that came out of the country; for the city Jews, and above…

The Pharisees heard that the people murmured Or whispered, privately talked among themselves: such things concerning him; as that surely he must be the Messiah, since such wonderful things were done by him, and might also express some uneasiness and surprise, that the rulers did not receive him as…

Then said Jesus unto them To the officers that were sent to take him, and other unbelieving Jews that were about him: yet a little while am I with you; no longer than till the next passover, which was but about half a year at most: this he might say, partly to quicken the attention of the people to…

Ye shall seek me That is, the Messiah, who he was; meaning, that after his departure they should be in great distress, and be very much on the inquiry after, and solicitous for the coming of the Messiah, to be a Redeemer and Deliverer of them out of their troubles: and shall not find me; no Messiah…

Then said the Jews among themselves That is, the unbelieving, scoffing Jews; it may be the officers, at least some of them, that were sent to take him: whither will he go that we shall not find him? what distant, or obscure part of the world will he betake himself to, and there hide himself, that…

What manner of saying is this that he said It is not easy to be understood; and if that is not meant, which is suggested, what should he mean by saying, ye shall seek me, and shall not find me, and where I am, thither ye cannot come? repeating the words of Christ just now expressed by him.

In the last day, that great day of the feast That is, of tabernacles, as appears from , which was usually called (חג) , “the feast”, in distinction from the passover and Pentecost [[15]]; and the eighth day of it was called (הרגל האחרון) , “the last day of the feast” [[16]], as here: and it was a…

He that believeth on me Which explains what is meant by coming to Christ, and drinking; for these acts are no other than for a man to go out of himself to Christ, and live by faith on him, and his grace.

But this spake he of the Spirit These are the words of the evangelist, explaining the figurative expressions of Christ; showing, that by rivers of living water, he meant the Spirit in his gifts and graces; and which is the plain sense of the passages referred to by him, particularly , and which, as…

Many of the people therefore Of the common people, and it may be chiefly those that came out of the country: when they heard this saying; or discourse of Christ, on the last and great day of the feast, relating to the large measure of grace, and the effusion of the Spirit on him, that believed:…

Others said, this is the Christ The true Messiah, which they concluded, not only from the miracles, , but from his speaking of rivers of living water flowing from him that believes in him; for the same prophecy that speaks of miracles to be performed in the times of the Messiah, speaks also of…

Hath not the Scripture said These objectors were those who were accounted the more wise and knowing; who were conversant with the Scriptures, and pretended at least to a large knowledge of them: that Christ cometh out of the seed of David; that he should be a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a…

So there was a division among the people concerning him. ] Some, though they did not go so far as to believe him to be the Messiah, yet took him to be a prophet, and a very extraordinary one; others made no difficulty to assert him to be the Christ; and others objected to it on account of the…

And some of them would have taken him Some of the latter sort, who did not believe he was the Messiah; who were the most averse to him, and hot and furious against him; these were for seizing him at once in a violent manner, and for carrying him before the sanhedrim, as an impostor and blasphemer…

Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees, &c.] Who were assembled together in council, as the great sanhedrim of the nation; who were sitting and expecting Jesus to be brought before them.

The officers answered Very honestly and uprightly, making use of no shifts and excuses; as that they could not find him, or could not come at him, because of the multitude about him, or that they were afraid of the people, lest they should rise upon them, and stone them, and rescue Jesus; which…

Then answered them the Pharisees, are ye also deceived? ] As well as the common people; you that have been so long in our service, and should know better; or who, at least, should have taken the sense of your superiors, and should have waited to have had their opinion and judgment of him, and been…

Have any of the rulers In the sanhedrim, or of the synagogues; or the civil magistrates, the noble, rich, and wealthy: or of the Pharisees, believed on him; men famous for wisdom, learning, and holiness.

But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. ] With great contempt they style the followers of Jesus “this people”; the common people, the dregs of them, the refuse of the earth; and whom they call, (עם הארץ) , “the people of the earth”, in distinction from the wise men, and their disciples:…

Nicodemus saith unto them To the Jewish sanhedrim, who were running down Christ, and his followers, in great wrath and fury: he that came to Jesus by night; see (John 3:1, John 3:2) ; being one of them; a member of the sanhedrim.

Doth our law judge any man Or condemn any man; or can any man be lawfully condemned: before it hear him: what he has to say for himself; is this the usual process in our courts? or is this a legal one to condemn a man unheard? and know what he doth? what his crimes are.

They answered and said unto him Being displeased with him, and as reproaching him, though they could not deny, or refute what he said: art thou also of Galilee? a follower of Jesus of Galilee, whom, by way of contempt, they called the Galilean, and his followers Galilaeans, as Julian the apostate…

And every man went unto his own house. ] The officers not bringing Jesus with them, and the sanhedrim being posed with Nicodemus, broke up without doing any business, and every member of it went home: this we may suppose was about the time of the evening sacrifice: for “the great sanhedrim sat from…