John 7:14-19 (WEL) Now, about the middle of the festival, Jesus went up to the temple and taught. 15 The Jews were amazed, saying, “How can this man know so much, when he has never been educated?” 16 Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not my own but the one who sent me. 17 “If anyone wants to do his will, he will know if the teaching is from God, or if I am speaking from myself. 18 “The one who speaks from himself is seeking his own glory, but the one who is seeking glory for the one who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19 “Didn’t Moses give you the law? Yet none of you do the law. Why do you seek to kill me?”
V14 Now, about the middle of the festival, Jesus went up to the temple and taught.
John gives the approximate time that Jesus went up and taught. Eyewitness testimony is the gold standard.
Principle: Let us be bold when speaking the truth.
Many people were present. Jesus made the most of it for the crowds’ sake. He told them all to believe that He was the Messiah, to trust, and be saved, unlike some theologies which teach that most are decreed to the flames of hell.
V15 The Jews were amazed, saying, “How can this man know so much, when he has never been educated?”
What they are saying is Jesus is not educated in their theology. Jesus has told them before, but they refuse to believe. If they acknowledge His teaching in wisdom and knowledge, why do they refuse to believe? People refuse to believe as a result of 1 or more of the following: 1) Pride (“I’m a good person” etc.), 2) Love of sinful pleasures that they would have to stop doing, and/or 3) believe lies.
(JFB Commentary): “These rulers knew well enough that He had never studied under any human teacher—an important admission, as Meyer remarks, against ancient and modern attempts to trace our Lord’s wisdom to human sources.”
V16 Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not my own but the one who sent me.
“The teacher is my Father.” We can have much of the same knowledge by reading and studying the Bible in its plain, normal sense and then live it.
Jesus agrees that His education did not come from a human teacher.
The one who sent me is God the Father (John 3:16, Isaiah 48:6, Isaiah 61:1, and Matthew 10:40).
V17 “If anyone wants to do His will, He will know if the teaching is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.
We can do this by seeing if what Jesus says aligns with the written word of God. Compare Acts 17:11-12.
V18 “The one who speaks from himself is seeking his own glory, but the one who is seeking glory for the one who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
We must heed this principle that Jesus teaches.
Whether one speaks or sings, let all be done for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:17, and 1 Peter 4:11).
We must not seek for ourselves (Jeremiah 45:5).
Also, compare Proverbs 25:27 and Hebrews 3:2.
Principle: When God uses your service, make sure you are doing it for the glory of God and not for yourself. Remind others that it is God who is blessing you.
V19 “Didn’t Moses give you the law? Yet none of you do the law. Why do you seek to kill Me?”
The people, especially the leaders, brag about how they follow Mosaic Law, but Jesus knows the truth and tells the truth to them.
“O, by the way, Mosaic Law forbids killing innocent people.”
Jesus knows the answer, but He wants them to admit their sin. These people refuse to answer.
We learn:
- Teach to glorify God only.
- Obey God’s law (the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2)).
Questions:
- Where have you received your Christian education; is it mostly in schools or in reading and studying the Bible?
- Do you obey God?