John 7:49

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 7:45-53

The chief priests and Pharisees are here in a close cabal, contriving how to suppress Christ; though this was the great day of the feast, they attended not the religious services of the day, but left them to the vulgar, to whom it was common for those great ecclesiastics to consign and turn over the business of devotion, while they thought themselves better employed in the affairs of church-policy. They sat in the council-chamber, expecting Christ to be brought a prisoner to them, as they had... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 7:45-52

7:45-52 So the officers came to the chief priests and the Pharisees. They said to them: "Why did you not bring him here?" The attendants answered: "Never did a man speak as he speaks." So the Pharisees answered: "Surely you too have not been led astray? Has anyone from the authorities believed in him? Or anyone from the Pharisees? They have not; but the mob which is ignorant of the law and which is accursed believes in him!" Nicodemus (the man who came to him before) said to them, for he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:49

But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. With great contempt they style the followers of Jesus "this people"; the common people, the dregs of them, the refuse of the earth; and whom they call, עם הארץ , "the people of the earth", in distinction from the wise men, and their disciples: and when they speak the best of them, their account is this F16 Maimon. in Pirke Abot, c. 2. sect. 5. & c. 5. sect. 7. ; "one of the people of the earth is one that has moral... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:49

This people - Ὁ οχλος , This rabble. The common people were treated by the Pharisees with the most sovereign contempt: they were termed הארץ עם am ha - arets , people of the earth; and were not thought worthy to have a resurrection to eternal life. Wagenseil and Schoettgen have given many proofs of the contempt in which the common people were held by the Pharisees. Those who were disciples of any of the rabbins were considered as being in a much better state. When they paid well,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:49

Verse 49 49.But this multitude. The first part of their pride was, that, relying on the title of Priests, they wished to subject all to them in a tyrannical manner. The next is, that they despise others as men of no estimation, as those who excessively flatter themselves are always disposed to abuse others, and an immoderate love of ourselves is accompanied by contempt of the brethren. They pronounce the whole populace to be accursed; and why? It is no doubt alleged by them that the people do... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 7:1-53

John 7:1-53 . consists of three distinct parts: Verses 7:1-8:11 3. Christ as the Source of truth. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 7:40-53

(7) The conflict among the hearers, and divers results of this series of discourses. The Sanhedrin and its officers. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 7:45-52

The meeting of the Sanhedrin. The position of the official guides of the people was becoming every hour more gravely compromised by the movement in favour of Jesus. I. THE EXTRAORDINARY REPORT OF THE OFFICERS TO THE SANHEDRIN . "Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this Man." 1 . This report was delivered on the holy sabbath. The exigency of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 7:49

But this multitude, which knoweth not the Law, are accursed. £ This is a most contemptuous expression— am-ha-'arez, equivalent to "this scum of the earth," "the unlettered rabble." The Pharisees were accustomed to show sovereign contempt for those who had no admission to their own culture and methods of knowledge. Edersheim and Wunsche quote 'Pes.,' 49, b ; 'Baba,' B. 8, b ; and 'Chetub.,' 3.6 in proof of the utter inhumanity of their judgments. This language did not endorse a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 7:49

This people - The word here translated “people” is the one commonly rendered “the multitude.” It is a word expressive of contempt, or, as we would say, the rabble. It denotes the scorn which they felt that the people should presume to judge for themselves in a case pertaining to their own salvation.Who knoweth not the law - Who have not been instructed in the schools of the Pharisees, and been taught to interpret the Old Testament as they had. They supposed that any who believed on the humble... read more

Group of Brands