“A JOURNEY THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JOHN” ST. JOHN 7:14 – 31 JESUS’ CONTROVERSIAL TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE

In our last discussion from St. John 7:1-13, we discovered that the Jews’ (the vicious Judean leaders) aim and purpose was to kill our blessed Lord (St. John 7:1).  However, our Lord did not allow their threat to keep Him from the Feast of Tabernacles (v. 10).  Our Lord’s arrival signaled that He was obedient to God’s word, for according to Deuteronomy 16:6, every Jewish male was required to attend these notable feasts:  the Feast of Unleavened Bread (commonly called Passover), the Feast of Weeks (commonly called Pentecost), and the Feast of Ingathering (commonly call the Feast of Tabernacles).

The present verse before us took place during the midst of that celebrated Feast of Tabernacles (v. 14).  During this festive occasion, our Lord was so focused in teaching the people despite the imminent danger on His life.  As Jesus taught, the Jews marveled at the mastery way in which He taught, having made this rather astonishing statement – “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?”  These Jews were impressed with Christ’s delivery and the manner or style by which He taught; yet, His teaching made no real impact upon their consciences.  In answering the Jews, Christ exclaimed that His doctrine originated from God.  His doctrine came from the One who sent Him (v. 16).

As faithful proclaimers of God’s word, we must deliver to the masses what originates from God – His blessed word!  Christ went on to utter in verse 17 that those who have a heart’s thirst for God’s teaching will obtain spiritual knowledge and assurance.   Moreover, Christ was no spiritual impostor, for He came not to attract attention to Himself but to glorify the One who sent Him – the Father (v. 18).  Every servant of God should be zealous to guard the glory of God, and not one’s own glory.

Christ’s critics were saying that He was unlettered; yet, our Lord turns the table and accuses them of disobeying the letter of the law by cultivating murderous intent in their hearts, for they desired to slay Christ (v. 19).  In verse 20, a company of Israelites in the Temple Court made a defaming remark toward Jesus; however, in verse 21, we find our Lord still addressing the people.  Despite their vile comment in verse 20, our Lord persisted in proclaiming the truth.  When Christ said – “I have done one work, and ye all marvel,” He was making reference to the incident of the paralytic man being healed in St. John 5:1-16.

In verses 22-24, Christ is vindicating His work of healing the impotent man of St. John 5:1-16 on the Sabbath day.  It was utterly unreasonable for Christ’s critics to criticize Him for performing deeds of mercy on the Sabbath Day.  His critics should not be so hasty to judge; however, they are to judge righteously.  If circumcision was permitted on the Sabbath Day (Leviticus 12:3), certainly, Christ’s act of mercy demonstrated in the consummate healing of the impotent man should not be a basis for them criticizing Jesus!  It is amazing in verses 25 and 26, that even the common people of Israel could not discern the identity of Christ, which well exposes this fact that “except the Father draws, no man will come to Christ” (St. John 6:44).  The Jewish people continued to exclaim that they knew Him (v. 27), but Christ uttered that the One who sent Him was true; One that they knew not (v. 28).

God had been faithful to the veracity of His promises and certain fulfillments of His promises; moreover, the person of Christ stood in their midst as the fulfillment of many O.T. promises, yet they missed Him.  Therefore, the Father is made known only by the Son (v. 29).  In verse 30, the vileness of the human heart is exposed in their desire to apprehend the Son of God.  Our Lord could not be seized because His hour of public crucifixion had not come (St. John 2:4; 7:6, 8, 30; 8:20; 12:23, 27; 13:1; 17:1).  In verse 31, the people’s belief was only superficial, for they had such a misconception of the incarnate ministry of our blessed Saviour!  May God bless!