John 7:3-5 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 7:1-13

We have here, I. The reason given why Christ spent more of his time in Galilee than in Judea (John 7:1): because the Jews, the people in Judea and Jerusalem, sought to kill him, for curing the impotent man on the sabbath day, John 5:16. They thought to be the death of him, either by a popular tumult or by a legal prosecution, in consideration of which he kept at a distance in another part of the country, very much out of the lines of Jerusalem's communication. It is not said, He durst not,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 7:1-9

7:1-9 After these things Jesus moved about in Galilee, for he did not wish to move about in Judaea, because the Jews were out to kill him. The festival of the Jews which is called the Festival of Tabernacles was near. So his brothers said to him: "Leave here and go down to Jerusalem so that your disciples will get the chance to see the works that you do. For no one goes on doing things in secret, when he wishes to draw public attention to himself. Since you can do these things, show yourself... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:3

That is, the brethren of Jesus, as the Syriac and Persic versions express it; who were not James and Joses, and Simon and Judas, the sons of Alphaeus, the brother of Joseph, the husband of Mary, so called, Matthew 13:55 , for some of these were of the number of the twelve; and all of them believers in Christ; whereas these his brethren were not. The Jew F12 R. Isaac Chizzuk Emuna, par. 2. c. 45. p. 434, 435. therefore is mistaken, who supposed the above persons are here intended; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:4

For there is no man that doeth anything in secret ,.... For so they reckoned his doing miracles in such a corner of the land, and in so obscure a place as Galilee: and he himself seeketh to be known openly ; suggesting hereby, that Christ was an ambitious person, and sought popular applause, and honour and glory from men, when nothing was more foreign from him; see John 5:41 . If thou do these things ; for they question whether the miracles he wrought were real; and suspected that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:5

For neither did his brethren believe in him. At first they might take to him, and embrace him as the Messiah, and expect he would set up a temporal kingdom; in which they might hope, on account of their relation to him, according to the flesh to enjoy great honours and privileges; but finding that he was not inclined to anything of that nature, and talked in a quite different way, they grew sick of him, and rejected him, as the Messiah; so, little regard is to be had, or confidence placed,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:3

His brethren - said - It is generally supposed that these were the children of the sisters of his mother Mary; but some of the ancients have stated that Joseph had several children by a former wife. See the account of the evangelist prefixed to this Gospel. No solid proof can be alleged against this; nor can we pretend to say that these were not the children of Joseph and Mary. Our blessed Lord, it is true, was her first born, while she was yet a virgin; but no man can prove that he was her... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:4

No man that doeth any thing in secret, etc. - They took it for granted that Christ was influenced by the same spirit which themselves felt; and that therefore he should use every opportunity of exhibiting himself to the public, that he might get into repute; and they hoped that a part of his honor would be reflected back upon themselves, as being his near relations. They seem to have said: "It is too little to employ thyself in working miracles in Galilee, in the country, and in small... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:5

Neither did his brethren believe in him - They did not receive him as the promised Messiah; but, having seen so many of his miracles, they could not but consider him as an eminent prophet. They supposed that, if he were the Messiah, he would wish to manifest himself as such to the world; and, because he did not do so, they did not believe that he was the salvation of Israel. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:3

Verse 3 3.His brethren therefore said to him. Under the word brethren the Hebrews include all cousins and other relations, whatever may be the degree of affinity. He says that they mocked at Christ, because he shunned to be seen or known, and concealed himself in a mean and despised district of Judea. There is reason to doubt, however, if they were excited by ambition to desire that Christ should obtain celebrity. But granting this, still it is evident that they ridicule him, because they do... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:4

Verse 4 4.If thou dost these things; that is, if thou aspirest to such greatness that all may applaud thee, direct towards thee the eyes of all. And they add, show thyself to the world, using the word world, as contrasted with the small number of persons among whom he was spending his time without honor. We might also draw from it another meaning. “If thou dost these things, that is, since thou art endued with so great power as to procure reputation for thyself by miracles, do not throw them... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 7:1-13

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 7:1-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:4

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