THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES John 7:1 to John 10:21. Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles, October, 28 a.d. After the discourse of John 6, delivered just before Passover 28 a.d., Jesus did not go up to Jerusalem (John 7:1), but devoted Himself for five or six months to active work in various parts of Gali... [ Continue Reading ]
TO KILL] see John 5:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAST OF TABERNACLES] or, 'feast of ingathering,' or, 'of harvest,' held in October, marked the completion of the harvest of fruit, oil, and wine. For eight days the people lived in booths, in memory of the wanderings in the wilderness. Numerous sacrifices were offered. Among the notable ceremonies... [ Continue Reading ]
THY DISCIPLES] Only a few disciples followed Jesus in His Galilean tours. At the great Feast of Tabernacles they would be gathered together in great numbers.... [ Continue Reading ]
The unbelief of the brethren was removed after the resurrection by the appearance to James (1 Corinthians 15:7; Acts 1:14). Being unbelievers, they were evidently not of the number of the Twelve. For an account of them see on Matthew 12:50.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY TIME] as indicated by God's will. YOUR TIME] They, having no special commission from God, were bound by no such considerations as He. Moreover, they were in no danger: the world looked upon them as its own.... [ Continue Reading ]
I GO NOT UP YET] Many ancient authorities omit 'yet,' but in any case it is to be understood.... [ Continue Reading ]
Finding that He had a strong party on His side, Jesus came forth from His retirement and taught.... [ Continue Reading ]
LETTERS] i.e. rabbinical learning. HAVING NEVER LEARNED] i.e. having never been the pupil of a recognised rabbi or scribe, as Paul was of Gamaliel. 16, 17. 'My teaching, like that of the prophets of old, is a direct inspiration from God, and not, like that of the scribes, a tradition of men. It app... [ Continue Reading ]
His opponents hypocritically try to make Him think them innocent. 21F. I DID ONE WORK (eight months ago when I healed the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda), AND YE ARE STILL MARVELLING (because I did it on the sabbath day). 'Moses would not have marvelled. Moses recognised that works of piety a... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT BECAUSE] RV 'not that.'... [ Continue Reading ]
Jewish ideas as to the Messiah were not very consistent. One view was that His birthplace and lineage would be notorious (cp. Matthew 2); others held that His manifestation would be shrouded in mystery. 33, 34. A call to decision, and a reproach for rejecting their deliverer.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hereafter, when misfortunes come upon you, you shall seek My help, and shall not find it.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DISPERSED (RV 'the Dispersion') AMONG THE GENTILES (RV 'the Greeks')] i.e. the Jews living in heathen lands. The Jews, not seriously but mockingly, attribute to our Lord the design which St. Paul afterwards carried out, of abandoning the Holy Land, and making the Jewish synagogues throughout the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAST DAY] The feast proper closed on the seventh day, but the eighth day, which is probably here meant, was kept as a sabbath with a holy convocation to commemorate the entrance into Canaan (Leviticus 23:36). IF ANY MAN THIRST] Here, as to the woman of Samaria, Christ declares Himself the giver... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SCRIPTURE] Our Lord combines the sense of several OT. passages, e.g. Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 58:11; Ezekiel 47:1. BELLY] here, by a Hebraism, for a man's inmost soul: cp. the use of _beten_ ('belly') in Proverbs 18:8; Proverbs 20:27; Proverbs 20:30; Proverbs 22:18; Proverbs 26:22 [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOLY GHOST WAS NOT YET _given_] Under Christianity, the Holy Spirit, though personally distinct from Christ, is still the Spirit of Jesus, i.e. the Spirit of the Saviour. He could not, however, become this until the saving work of Christ was complete, until Christ had died for our sins upon the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROPHET] i.e. the prophet of Deuteronomy 18:15, regarded not as the Messiah, but as a forerunner of the Messiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
BETHLEHEM] St. John was not ignorant of the birthplace of Jesus. He is here only reporting the words of others.... [ Continue Reading ]
CURSED] RV 'accursed,' viz. because of their ignorance. The contempt of the Pharisees for those who have not received a rabbinical training is a touch true to life. 50, 51. Nicodemus has made some advance in boldness. He ventures, though timidly, to plead for justice for our Lord. He was certainly... [ Continue Reading ]
The Pharisees were wrong not only in their law, but in their facts, for Jonah at least was a Galilean. In any case the saying would not apply to our Lord, who was a Judæan. The narrative, interrupted by the interpolation John 7:53 to John 8:11, is resumed John 8:12.... [ Continue Reading ]