28 Jesus cried, therefore, in the temple, teaching and saying, 'Ye have both known me, and ye have known whence I am; and I have not come of myself, but He who sent me is true, whom ye have not known; 29 and I have known Him, because I am from Him, and He did send me.' 30 They were seeking, therefore, to seize him, and no one laid the hand on him, because his hour had not yet come, 31 and many out of the multitude did believe in him, and said—'The Christ—when he may come—will he do more signs than these that this one did?'
32 The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers that they may take him; 33 Jesus, therefore, said to them, 'Yet a little time I am with you, and I go away unto Him who sent me; 34 ye will seek me, and ye shall not find; and where I am, ye are not able to come.' 35 The Jews, therefore, said among themselves, 'Whither is this one about to go that we shall not find him?—to the dispersion of the Greeks is he about to go? and to teach the Greeks; 36 what is this word that he said, Ye will seek me, and ye shall not find? and, Where I am, ye are not able to come?'
37 And in the last, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, 'If any one doth thirst, let him come unto me and drink; 38 he who is believing in me, according as the Writing said, Rivers out of his belly shall flow of living water;' 39 and this he said of the Spirit, which those believing in him were about to receive; for not yet was the Holy Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
40 Many, therefore out of the multitude, having heard the word, said, 'This is truly the Prophet;' 41 others said, 'This is the Christ;' and others said, 'Why, out of Galilee doth the Christ come? 42 Did not the Writing say, that out of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem—the village where David was—the Christ doth come?' 43 A division, therefore, arose among the multitude because of him. 44 And certain of them were willing to seize him, but no one laid hands on him;
45 the officers came, therefore, unto the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, 'Wherefore did ye not bring him?' 46 The officers answered, 'Never so spake man—as this man.' 47 The Pharisees, therefore, answered them, 'Have ye also been led astray? 48 did any one out of the rulers believe in him? or out of the Pharisees? 49 but this multitude, that is not knowing the law, is accursed.' 50 Nicodemus saith unto them—he who came by night unto him—being one of them, 51 'Doth our law judge the man, if it may not hear from him first, and know what he doth?' 52 They answered and said to him, 'Art thou also out of Galilee? search and see, that a prophet out of Galilee hath not risen;'
53 and each one went on to his house, but Jesus went on to the mount of the Olives.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 7:28-53
Commentary on John 7:25-30
(Read John 7:25-30)
Christ proclaimed aloud, that they were in error in their thoughts about his origin. He was sent of God, who showed himself true to his promises. This declaration, that they knew not God, with his claim to peculiar knowledge, provoked the hearers; and they sought to take him, but God can tie men's hands, though he does not turn their hearts.
Commentary on John 7:31-36
(Read John 7:31-36)
The discourses of Jesus convinced many that he was the Messiah; but they had not courage to own it. It is comfort to those who are in the world, but not of it, and therefore are hated by it and weary of it, that they shall not be in it always, that they shall not be in it long. Our days being evil, it is well they are few. The days of life and of grace do not last long; and sinners, when in misery, will be glad of the help they now despise. Men dispute about such sayings, but the event will explain them.
Commentary on John 7:37-39
(Read John 7:37-39)
On the last day of the feast of tabernacles, the Jews drew water and poured it out before the Lord. It is supposed that Christ alluded to this. If any man desires to be truly and for ever happy, let him apply to Christ, and be ruled by him. This thirst means strong desires after spiritual blessings, which nothing else can satisfy; so the sanctifying and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit, were intended by the waters which Jesus called on them to come to Him and drink. The comfort flows plentifully and constantly as a river; strong as a stream to bear down the opposition of doubts and fears. There is a fulness in Christ, of grace for grace. The Spirit dwelling and working in believers, is as a fountain of living, running water, out of which plentiful streams flow, cooling and cleansing as water. The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit we do not expect, but for his more common and more valuable influences we may apply. These streams have flowed from our glorified Redeemer, down to this age, and to the remote corners of the earth. May we be anxious to make them known to others.
Commentary on John 7:40-53
(Read John 7:40-53)
The malice of Christ's enemies is always against reason, and sometimes the staying of it cannot be accounted for. Never any man spake with that wisdom, and power, and grace, that convincing clearness, and that sweetness, wherewith Christ spake. Alas, that many, who are for a time restrained, and who speak highly of the word of Jesus, speedily lose their convictions, and go on in their sins! People are foolishly swayed by outward motives in matters of eternal moment, are willing even to be damned for fashion's sake. As the wisdom of God often chooses things which men despise, so the folly of men commonly despises those whom God has chosen. The Lord brings forward his weak and timid disciples, and sometimes uses them to defeat the designs of his enemies.