2. Jesus' teaching and the reaction of the crowd (7:14-44)

When Jesus did begin to teach openly at the feast, the Jews were startled at a display of learning unexpected in someone who had studied at none of the schools of sacred instruction (vv.14-15; cf. Ac 4:13). Jesus confronted their question directly (vv.16-18). He was not self-educated, an obvious conclusion for an unbeliever, but his teaching came from God. This would be apparent to anyone serious about doing God’s will (cf. 6:29). The authentication of Jesus' claim lay in the fact that he was not self-seeking but worked to promote the honor of God.

Jesus then carried the war into the enemy camp (v.19). The Jews sought to do God’s will (cf. v.17) by obeying the Jewish law, but in seeking to kill Jesus (cf. vv.1, 13, 25, 30, 32, 44; 8:37, 40, 59), they were violating the Law. Perhaps the crowd (v.20) is to be distinguished from the Jews, the religious leaders opposed to Jesus (cf. 7:12-13, 26). Jesus is also accused of being demon-possessed elsewhere in John (8:48; 10:20; cf. Mt 12:24; Mk 3:22). He explains himself in 7:21-24. Their indignation had been aroused by what they saw as a flagrant breach of the law when he healed a man on the Sabbath (ch. 5). But their judgment was superficial. The rules allowed them to circumcise a child on the Sabbath when that was the eighth day after birth. If it was right to attend to one member of the body on the Sabbath, it was surely right to minister to an entire person.

That Jesus was allowed to continue to teach publicly suggested to some that the authorities might have against reason recognized him to be the Messiah (vv.25-26). But this could not be, because the Messiah was expected to be of obscure origin, while Jesus' background was well known (v.27). To this Jesus responded that, though his earthly derivation was known, his true origin was in God, whom he represented (vv.28-29). This was provocative language, but no attempt to seize him could succeed until the time God had designated (v.30; cf. the note on 7:6-9).

A significant response of faith (v.31) prompted the religious leaders to send a detachment of temple guards to arrest Jesus (v.32). The wardens apparently listened as Jesus predicted his imminent departure (vv.33-34; cf. vv.45-46). He referred to his death and return to the Father, but the Jews thought he was speaking of a mere earthly journey (vv.35-36).

Jesus gave his next teaching at the Feast of Tabernacles (vv.37-38) while standing, an unusual posture for a teacher and one that drew attention. The imagery may have related to the ritual of the feast, which featured libations of water. John identifies living water (cf. 4:13-14) with the Holy Spirit, who would not be present until Jesus had left this world (v.39; cf. 16:7). John Wesley interpreted this passage in harmony with the synoptic account of the apostolic mission to the towns and villages of “Israel” (sermon no. 40, par. 11; vol. 6, p. 10). On the reference to Scripture (v.38), see the commentaries. With 7:41-42 cf. 1:45-46; 7:52.