John 7:36-41

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 7:14-36

Here is, I. Christ's public preaching in the temple (John 7:14): He went up into the temple, and taught, according to his custom when he was at Jerusalem. His business was to preach the gospel of the kingdom, and he did it in every place of concourse. His sermon is not recorded, because, probably, it was to the same purport with the sermons he had preached in Galilee, which were recorded by the other evangelists. For the gospel is the same to the plain and to the polite. But that which is... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 7:37-44

In these verses we have, I. Christ's discourse, with the explication of it, John 7:37-39. It is probable that these are only short hints of what he enlarged upon, but they have in them the substance of the whole gospel; here is a gospel invitation to come to Christ, and a gospel promise of comfort and happiness in him. Now observe, 1. When he gave this invitation: On the last day of the feast of tabernacles, that great day. The eighth day, which concluded that solemnity, was to be a holy... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 7:31-36

7:31-36 Many of the crowd believed in him. "When the Anointed One of God comes," they said, "surely he cannot do greater signs than this man has done?" The Pharisees heard the crowds carrying on these discussions about him; and the chief priests and Pharisees despatched officers to arrest him. So Jesus said: "For a little while I am to be with you, and then I go back to him who sent me. You will search for me and you will not find me. You cannot come where I am." So the Jew., said to each... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 7:37-44

7:37-44 On the last, the great day of the festival, Jesus stood and cried: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. As the scripture says: 'He who believes in me--rivers of living water shall flow from his belly.'" It was about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, that he said this. For as yet there was no Spirit because Jesus was not yet glorified. When they heard these words some of the crowd said: "This is really the promised Prophet." Others said: "This is... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 7:37-44

Now that we have seen the vivid background of this passage we must look at it in more detail. The promise of Jesus presents us with something of a problem. He said: "He who believes in me--rivers of water shall flow from his belly." And he introduces that statement by saying, "as scripture says." No one has ever been able to identify that quotation satisfactorily, and the question is, just what does it mean? There are two distinct possibilities. (i) It may refer to the man who comes to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:36

What manner of saying is this that he said ,.... It is not easy to be understood; and if that is not meant, which is suggested, what should he mean by saying, ye shall seek me, and shall not find me, and where I am, thither ye cannot come ? repeating the words of Christ just now expressed by him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:37

In the last day, that great day of the feast ,.... That is, of tabernacles, as appears from John 7:2 , which was usually called חג , "the feast", in distinction from the passover and Pentecost F17 Shirshashirim Rabba, fol. 5. 3. & 7. 3. ; and the eighth day of it was called הרגל האחרון , "the last day of the feast" F18 Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 7. sect. 6. & Maimon. in ib. , as here: and it was a "great day", being, as is said in Leviticus 23:36 , an holy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:38

He that believeth on me ,.... Which explains what is meant by coming to Christ, and drinking; for these acts are no other than for a man to go out of himself to Christ, and live by faith on him, and his grace. To which what follows is a great encouragement; as the Scripture hath said : some refer these words to the preceding clause concerning believing in Christ, which the writings of the Old Testament speak of, as in Deuteronomy 18:15 , and the sense is, that he that believes on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:39

But this spake he of the Spirit ,.... These are the words of the evangelist, explaining the figurative expressions of Christ; showing, that by rivers of living water, he meant the Spirit in his gifts and graces; and which is the plain sense of the passages referred to by him, particularly Isaiah 44:3 , and which, as before observed, the Jews supposed were intimated by their drawing and pouring water at the feast of tabernacles. Which they that believe on him should receive ; the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:40

Many of the people therefore ,.... Of the common people, and it may be chiefly those that came out of the country: when they heard this saying ; or discourse of Christ, on the last and great day of the feast, relating to the large measure of grace, and the effusion of the Spirit on him, that believed: said, of a truth this is the prophet ; spoken of in Deuteronomy 18:15 , which some understood not of the Messiah, but of some extraordinary prophet distinct from him, who should come... read more

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