Joh 7:2
7:2 Now the Jews' {a} feast of tabernacles was at hand.

    (a) This feast was so called because of the booths and tents
        which they made out of different types of boughs, and
        sat under them seven days altogether; and during this
        entire time the feast went on.

Joh 7:3
7:3 {1} His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and
    go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works
    that thou doest.

 (1) The grace of God comes not by inheritance, but it is a gift
     that comes in another way: because of this it occurs that
     the children of God often suffer more affliction from their
     own relatives than from strangers.

Joh 7:5
7:5 For neither did his {b} brethren believe in him.

    (b) His relatives: for the Hebrews used to speak in this
        way.

Joh 7:6
7:6 {2} Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but
    your time is alway ready.

    (2) We must not follow the foolish desires of our friends.

Joh 7:10
7:10 {3} But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also
     up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

 (3) An example of horrible confusion in the very bosom of the
     Church.  The pastors oppress the people with terror and
     fear: the people seek Christ, when he does not appear: when
     he offers himself, they neglect him.  Some also that know
     him condemn him rashly: only a very few think well of him,
     and even then in secret.

Joh 7:13
7:13 Howbeit no man spake {c} openly of him for fear of the
     Jews.

     (c) Or, boldly and freely: for the majority of the Jews
         wanted nothing more than to extinguish his fame and his
         name.

Joh 7:14
7:14 {4} Now about the {d} midst of the feast Jesus went up into
     the temple, and taught.

 (4) Christ uses goodness to strive against the wickedness of
     the world: in the meanwhile most men are offended even by
     that fame by which they ought to have been stirred up to
     embrace Christ.
     (d) About the fourth day of the feast.

Joh 7:16
7:16 {5} Jesus answered them, and said, {e} My doctrine is not
     mine, but his that sent me.

 (5) Therefore there are few to whom the gospel appeals, because
     the giving of serious attention to godliness is very rare.
     (e) See above in Joh 5:22; and he speaks this in
         accordance with the opinion of the Jews, as if he said,
         "My doctrine is not mine, that is, it is not the
         doctrine of myself, whom you consider to be just a mere
         man and therefore treat me lightly, but it is his that
         sent me."

Joh 7:18
7:18 {6} 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.

 (6) The true doctrine of salvation differs from the false in
     this, that the true doctrine sets forth the glory of God,
     and the false doctrine by puffing up men, dishonouring the
     glory of God.

Joh 7:19
7:19 {7} Did not Moses give you the law, and [yet] none of you
     keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

 (7) None boast more confidently that they themselves are the
     defenders of the law of God than they that break it most
     impudently.

Joh 7:21
7:21 {8} Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one
     work, and ye all marvel.

 (8) The sabbath day (which is here set before us as a standard
     of all ceremonies) was not appointed to hinder, but to
     further and practise God's works, amongst which the main
     one is the love of our neighbour.

Joh 7:23
7:23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the
     {f} 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?

     (f) That is to say, if the law of circumcision which Moses
         gave matters so much to you that you do not hesitate to
         circumcise upon the sabbath, do you rightly reprove me
         for thoroughly healing a man?

Joh 7:24
7:24 {9} Judge not {g} according to the appearance, but judge
     righteous judgment.

 (9) We must judge according to the truth of things, lest men
     turn us from the truth and carry us away.
     (g) By the show that I make: for I seem to be a despicable
         person from among the rabble of Galilee, and a
         carpenter's son, whom no man considers to be very
         important: but mark the matter itself well, and judge
         the tree by the fruit.

Joh 7:25
7:25 {10} Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he,
     whom they seek to kill?

 (10) Many marvel that the endeavours of the enemies of God have
      no success, but in the meanwhile they do not acknowledge
      the strength and power of God.

Joh 7:27
7:27 {11} Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ
     cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.

 (11) Men are very wise to have checks and balances for their
      own thoughts.

Joh 7:28
7:28 {12} 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.

 (12) The truth of Christ does not depend upon the judgment of
      man.

Joh 7:30
7:30 {13} Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on
     him, because his hour was not yet come.

 (13) The wicked cannot do what they desire, but what God has
      appointed.

Joh 7:32
7:32 {14} The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such
     things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief
     priests sent officers to take him.

 (14) As the kingdom of God increases, so increases the rage of
      his enemies, till at last they seek in vain for those
      missing blessings which they despised when they were
      present.

Joh 7:35
7:35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go,
     that we shall not find him? will he go unto the {h}
     dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?

     (h) Literally, "to the dispersion of the Gentiles" or
         "Greeks", and under the name of the Greeks he refers to
         the Jews who were dispersed among the Gentiles.

Joh 7:37
7:37 {15} In the {i} last day, that great [day] of the feast,
     Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him
     come unto me, and drink.

 (15) There are two principles of our salvation: the one is to
      be thoroughly touched with a true feeling of our extreme
      poverty: the other to seek in Christ only (whom we catch
      hold of by faith) the abundance of all good things.
      (i) The last day of the feast of tabernacles, that is, the
          eighth day, was as celebrated a day as the first.

Joh 7:38
7:38 He that believeth on me, as the {k} scripture hath said,
     out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

     (k) The scripture being referred to is not found anywhere
         word for word, but rather Christ seems to be referring
         to many different places where mention is made of the
         gifts of the Holy Spirit; see Joe 2:28-29; Isa 44:3
         and especially Isa 55:1-13.

Joh 7:39
7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe
     on him should receive: for the {l} Holy Ghost was not yet
     [given]; because that Jesus was not yet {m} glorified.)

     (l) What is meant by the Holy Spirit he expressed a little
         before, speaking of the Spirit which they that believed
         in him should receive.  So that by the name of Holy
         Spirit are meant the powers and mighty workings of the
         Holy Spirit.
     (m) That is, those things were not yet seen and perceived
         which were to show and set forth the glory of the only
         begotten.

Joh 7:40
7:40 {16} Many of the people therefore, when they heard this
     saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

 (16) There is contention even in the Church itself about the
      main point of religion: neither has Christ any more cruel
      enemies than those that occupy the seat of truth: yet they
      cannot do what they would.

Joh 7:45
7:45 {17} Then came the officers to the chief priests and
     Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought
     him?

 (17) God scorns from heaven those who are his Son's enemies.

Joh 7:48
7:48 {18} Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on
     him?

     (18) False pastors are so stupid and foolish that they
          consider the Church of God to be of value according to
          the number of people in it, and from the outward show
          of it.

Joh 7:51
7:51 Doth our law judge [any] man, before it hear him, and know
     {n} what he doeth?

     (n) What the one who is accused has committed.

Joh 7:53
7:53 {19} And every man went unto his own house.

     (19) There is no counsel against the Lord.