Exposition of John, Chapter 7 · Verse 5 – Verse 8
Ver. 11. Then the Jewes ſought him at the feaſt, and ſaid, Where is he?
12. And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him, for ſome ſaid, He is a good man: others ſaid, Nay but he deceiveth the people.
13. Howbeit, no man ſpake openly of him for fear of the Jewes.
In theſe verſes, we have the firſt thing that occurred at the feaſt concerning him; to wit, the carriage and ſpeeches of the Jewes and people, either before he came, or before he ſhewed himſelfe. And, 1. It is ſaid ver. 11. That they made inquiſition for him; which may be taken as the multitudes fact who had heard of him, or had heard him preach and ſeen his miracles, who now miſſe him at the feaſt. As in deed, when Chriſts doct…ine and works are notable and famous, many may talk of him and deſire to ſee him, who yet make but little uſe of him or them either. But it ſeems rather to be meant of the wicked Jewes, and their Rulers, who ſought to ſtay him. And this appeares not only from their contemptible deſignation of him, where is he? but from their names the Jewes (the men of Judea, and chiefly the Rulers, called often by that name, not only becauſe they were of Judea, but becauſe the guilt of their cruelty lay upon many of the Nation, who joyned too much with them in it, as well as themſelves) who are ſaid to ſeek his life, ver. 1. and who are diſtinguiſhed here from the people, or multitude, ver. 12. And are cauſe of terrour to the people, ver. 13. 2. The people expreſſe their different thoughts of him, ſome allowing him the charity of being a good man, and others traducing him as a ſeducer, ver. 12. 3. The manner of the conference is ſecret, by way of muttering, and that for fear of the Jewes, ver. 13. which is to be underſtood chiefly of the better ſort, that they durſt not ſpeak openly of him; yet it may be conceived alſo, that they would have all to let it alone, that ſo the matter might be buried.
From ver. 11. Learn 1. It is one part of Chriſts and his followers trial and hard lot, that their perſecuters do labour to bear them down, by putting contempts and affronts upon them before the world; for, ſo do they ſpeak of him, where is he? with contempt and diſdain. 2. Albeit enemies ſeeme to think very contemptibly of Chriſt and his followers, and of what they can do againſt them; yet for all that they will not get the terrour of him put out of their hearts: for, albeit they ſeem to deſpiſe him, yet they ſought him, to take him out of the way. 3. Albeit Chriſt and his followers ſhould carry themſelves never ſo modeſtly, yet perſecuters will not let them alone; and while they ceaſe to be, they will ſtill be an eye ſore to the world; for, albeit he had now ſtayed long away, and had not troubled them, and there was no appearance of his coming, or being come as yet, more then at the laſt paſſover; Yet they are not at eaſe, but ſought him. 4. Even publick ſolemnities of ſacred worſhip will not mollifie, nor direct perſecuters from their bloody deſignes; for, then the Jewes ſought him at the feaſt.
From ver. 12. Learn, 1. Men, by their violence and cruelty, thinking to ſuppreſſe Chriſt and his truth, may readily thereby awaken people, to think and ſay more of him; for, upon the back of their ſearch, it is ſubjoyned, and there was much murmuring (or ſecret whiſperings, the cauſe whereof is ſhewed, ver. 13.) among the people concerning him, pointing out (as would appear) that their narrow ſearch for him, put him in the peoples mindes and mouths. And ſo not only Chriſt is ſpoken of when they were dumb, and would have others ſilent, but beyond their intentions, they occaſion this themſelves. 2. This peoples making Chriſt the ſubject of their conference, even behind his back, when yet all of them had little or no knowledge of him, and many of them no love at all to him; may ſhame them who ſhould know more, and who profeſſe more love unto him, and yet entertain but few thoughts of him, and little conference concerning him. 3. Chriſt and his truth are oft-times the ſubject of great contradiction in the world, and do encounter with variety of tempers among men; for, ſo was it here, ſome are bitter, and others are more charitable. 4. Not only open enemies do great wrong to Chriſt, but even ſome ſeeming welwiſhers, by their indifferent way of pleading for him, and their ſhallow conceptions of him, do prove themſelves to be but ſmall friends unto him; for, ſuch were theſe here, who pleaded only, He is a good man. 5. As it is a very great iniquity in men, when they not only erre themſelves from the truth, but turne Seducers of others, (for, here, they object it as a juſtly odious crime, he deceiveth the people;) So it is no ſtrange thing to ſee men brand Chriſt and his friends with this infamous title, of being deceivers, and under this pretext, to cry down all that can be alleadged in their defence; for, others ſaid, nay, (he is no good man) but he deceiveth the people. See 2 Cor. 6.8.
From ver 13. Learn, 1. It is the ſad caſe, and too often the condition of the viſible Church, to be ſo corrupt, as truth dare not be avowed in it; and the Teachers thereof become a terrour to all who would maintain ſound doctrine; for, ſo was it here, Howbeit, (whatever they whiſpered, yet) no man ſpake openly of him, for fear of the Jewes. 2. Faithleſſe and ſlaviſh fear in men will eaſily bear down their affection to Chriſt, if it be but coldriffe and ill principled; for, ſo did it with theſe here, who had but little to plead for him. 3. When Satan cannot prevaile by violence, he may ſometime eſſay to weary Chriſt and his followers out, by burying all debates and contraverſies, that in proceſſe of time, truth may weare out and be buried; for, (as was hinted in the Expoſition) ſo may it be taken here alſo; They would have none to ſpeak at all concerning him on any ſide, that ſo thoughts of him may weare out in time, he having been ſo long abſent. However it be, yet this is a courſe that oft-times prevaileth much, (though men never gain their point by it) and it ſhould warn us to look on being let alone many time, as a trial.
Verſe 14. Now about the midſt of the feaſt, Jeſus went up into the Temple, and taught.
Followeth the ſecond thing which occurred at this feaſt, containing Chriſts preaching in the mid-dayes of the feaſt, with the conſequents that followed thereupon, to ver. 37. In this ver. is recorded that Chriſt went publickly into the Temple and taught, whereby he ſupplyed the defect of the dumb and corrupt Prieſts, who at ſuch ſolemnities were bound to teach the people out of the law. Whence learn, 1. Chriſts not appearing till the midſt of the feaſt, ſheweth, that albeit he ſubjected himſelfe to fulfil all righteouſneſſe, yet his great errand was not the feaſt, but the gaining of ſouls at it. And it teacheth, that the gaining of ſouls to Chriſt is the great work and end, to which the uſe of all Ordinances ſhould be directed. 2. While they are about ſacrifices in the Temple; Chriſt goeth up and teacheth there; no doubt, (as appeareth from the following Sermon, ver. 37.) inviting them to himſelfe, as the ſubſtance of all theſe ſhadows; And it teacheth, that when people are taken up with the practice of external Ordinances, they have much need of Chriſts teaching, that they reſt not on theſe, but preſſe after the marrow and ſubſtance of them. This was the great ſinne of that time, that they reſted on theſe rites, and had few or none to bid them go forward. And albeit the true Religion be a living way, wherein men may ſtill continue freſh and lively, even to old age, Pſal. 92.13, 14. Yet formality is a very frequent diſeaſe, and they who labour hard till they attain to ſomewhat, may be ready to ſit down, when they have attained it. 3. In that Chriſt, who before lurked and kept himſelfe ſecret, doth now appeare openly in the Temple; It teacheth, that whatever caution Chriſts ſervants ſhould uſe, yet when their calling preſſeth them, they ſhould without fear, caſt themſelves, if it were in the midſt of bodily dangers; as their Maſter did before them. 4. Albeit John record many Sermons, which the reſt omit; yet he doth not expreſſe what Chriſt preached at this time; only it appeares from the following ver. that his doctrine was admirable. This the Lord hath, in deep wiſdom, ordered, to teach, That as we are bound to know what Chriſt revealeth, ſo we ſhould be ſober, and ſet bounds to our curioſitie, when he is pleaſed to keep up any thing: And as Chriſt hath revealed all that is neceſſary for ſalvation; ſo by his wrapping up ſome things in ſilence, he would ſharpen our appetite, and encreaſe our deſire after that day, wherein we ſhall know as we are known.
Verſe 15. And the Jewes marvelled, ſaying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
Followeth, to ver. 37. the effects of this publike appearing of Chriſt, which may be taken up in this order. 1. There is a conference with the Jewes who marvelled at his doctrine, ver. 15. Wherein, he vindicates his doctrine, ver. 16, 17, 18. and the miracle he had wrought before; in which debates, the multitude have ſome hand, ver. 19. — 24. 2. They of Jeruſalem barking againſt him, ver. 25, 26, 27. he returnes them an anſwer, ver. 28, 29. which hath ſome effects, ver. 30, 31. 3. The Rulers ſending to take him, ver. 32. he preacheth yet more, ver. 33, 34. and is carped at by the hearers, ver. 35, 36.
In this ver. it is recorded, that they hearing Chriſt preach ſo well, and learnedly, though he was never brought up at their publick ſchooles, do marvel at it, in ſtead of ſeeing God in it. This is aſcribed to the Jewes, which may be either underſtood generally, of the multitude there conveened, who were of that Nation; or, it may be, his malicious enemies did begin this debate and conference, though afterward the multitude, who knew not their plots, ver 20. do interpoſe in it; And it is not unlike, that by this wondering, they would bring Chriſt in ſuſpition, as not having his skill by good means, ſeeing he was no ſcholar. Doctrine, 1. Chriſts knowledge and inſight in the things of God, is admirable, even his enemies being Judges; for, the Jewes marvelled, &c. they admired both the meaſure of his knowledge, and the way of attaining it, without means. Though this being extraordinary in him, is not to be drawen into ordinary imitation. 2. Whatever be the ſeeming great effects of Chriſts doctrine among a people, yet ſo long as they want faith, it will be all to no purpoſe; for, albeit it was much that they ſhould marvel, yet ſince they beleeved not, it was, in the beſt of them, nothing elſe but ſtupidity. The leaſt degree of ſaving faith is beyond all admiration, without it. 3. The corrupt heart of man is ready to retort, even the moſt undeniable and convincing arguments pleading for Chriſt, and to make uſe of them to their own hardning; for, albeit Chriſts knowing of letters, having never learned, was an undeniable evidence that he was taught of God, and filled with the Spirit; according to the prophecie, Iſ. 11.2, 3. yet they uſe it as a ground of exception. 4. Such is the perverſitie of corrupt men by nature, in oppoſing of Chriſt, that nothing can be done or ſaid, but they will bend their wits to cavil at it; for, if Chriſt had preached but in an ordinary way, they would have thought nothing of him: And if he preach to admiration, then they will ſtrive to render that ſuſpitious.
Verſe 16. Jeſus anſwered them, My doctrine is not mine, but his that ſent me.
Followeth Chriſts reply, wherein he vindicates his doctrine, and then juſtifieth his old practice; And firſt, he declareth that he had not his doctrine from Satan, nor by any humane art or induſtry, but from his father whoſe Ambaſſadour he was, and that he ſpake not his own minde only, but the Fathers. While he ſaith, it is not his, but the Fathers; the meaning is not to ſeclude him ſimply, but to ſhew that he deviſed it not of himſelfe as man, (as they conceived only of him) and without the Father; But as he was God equal with the Father, and ſo naturally knew all his myſteries, and as man, had knowledge thereof, by communication from his Godhead; So all this was communicate to him from the Father, who ſent him to the world to reveal his counſel; And this might appear in his divine furniture without all humane induſtry. Whence learn, 1. As Chriſt fully knowes the Fathers minde and counſel, ſo he is the faithful revealer thereof; for, his doctrine is the Fathers who ſent him; It is from the Father, and he publiſheth it. 2. It may commend the doctrine of the Goſpel, that not only it is of God, but that he ſent his Sonne into the world, to publiſh it; for, ſo doth Chriſt commend his doctrine here. 3. It is the duty of faithful Miniſters, not only to wait for a calling from God, but to ſee that they bring nothing forth, but what they have from God; for, herein Chriſt is a patterne, who was ſent, and whoſe doctrine was not his own, but his that ſent him. 4. No doctrine or Preacher, how admirable and raviſhing ſoever, are to be heard in the Church, but they who are ſent and bring their meſſage from God; Therefore, albeit they marvelled at him, ver. 15. yet he thinks not that enough, unleſſe they be perſwaded that he and his doctrine are of God. 5. It is the duty of faithful Miniſters, to lead people from themſelves to God, and to aſcribe what is excellent in them, to him that he alone may have the glory; Therefore, Chriſt when he is marvelled at, draweth their eyes to God who ſent and furniſhed him.