John Chapter 7:1-53 King James Bible KJV
Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus’ Teachings at the Temple, Jesus Offers Living Water, Division Among the People
John Chapter 7:1-53 King James Bible KJV. John 7 illustrates the growing opposition to Jesus from the Jewish authorities while also highlighting the confusion and mixed reactions of the people regarding His identity. Despite this, Jesus boldly proclaims His message and promises the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who believe in Him. The chapter reveals the tension between human understanding of the Messiah and Jesus’ divine mission, emphasizing the need for spiritual discernment and faith.
John Chapter 7:1-53 King James Bible KJV
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Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles – verses 1–13
Jesus initially avoids going to Jerusalem because the Jewish leaders want to kill Him. However, He later goes secretly to the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), a major Jewish festival. These verses tell us about the timing in God’s plan, unbelief among Jesus’ own family, and the tension between earthly fame and divine mission.
Significance: Jesus’ brothers (who at that time did not fully believe in Him) urge Him to go publicly to perform miracles and gain fame, but Jesus insists that His “time has not yet come.” This indicates that Jesus is working on God’s timetable, not human expectations.
Jesus’ Teachings at the Temple – verses 14–24
Midway through the feast, Jesus begins teaching openly in the temple courts. His teachings amaze the crowd because He has not been formally educated in the Jewish tradition.
Significance: Jesus clarifies that His teaching comes from God the Father, not human sources, and He calls for people to judge correctly, not by appearances. He also rebukes the crowd and the leaders for wanting to kill Him. Here we learn of the divine authority of Jesus’ teachings, the importance of spiritual discernment, and rising opposition from the Jewish authorities.
Confusion About Jesus’ Identity – verses 25–36
The crowd is divided about who Jesus is. Some wonder if He could be the Messiah, while others doubt because they know His origins (they know Him as being from Nazareth, and they expected the Messiah to come mysteriously). The authorities plot to arrest Him, but Jesus continues to teach about His divine mission.
Significance: Jesus points to His heavenly origin and hints at His eventual departure (foreshadowing His death, resurrection, and ascension).
Jesus Offers Living Water – verses 37–39
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stands and proclaims, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.” He promises that those who believe in Him will have streams of living water flowing from within them (a reference to the Holy Spirit). Here their spiritual thirst is filled with The Holy Spirit as the source of life and the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Significance: This moment reflects Jesus’ offer of spiritual life and the promise of the Holy Spirit, who would later be given after His glorification.
Division Among the People – verses 40–52
The crowd remains divided. Some believe Jesus is the Prophet or the Messiah, while others doubt because they don’t think the Messiah would come from Galilee. The temple guards are sent to arrest Him, but they return empty-handed, saying, “No one ever spoke the way this man does.”
Significance: Even among the religious leaders, there is division. Nicodemus (who had earlier come to Jesus by night) tries to defend Jesus by reminding them that they should not judge Him without first hearing Him.
John Chapter 7:1-53 King James Bible KJV
1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.
3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judæa, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.
10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
11 Then the Jews 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 Jews.
14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.
22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?
24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?
26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.
28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.
30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?
32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.
33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.
34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.
35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?
36 What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
43 So there was a division among the people because of him.
44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?
48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
53 And every man went unto his own house.