STUDY STORAGE
John 7.1-24
John 7:1-24 recounts Jesus' brothers urging Him to go to the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, believing it would be a good time for Him to reveal Himself publicly. Jesus replies that He is not “yet” going, knowing the Jewish authorities are seeking to arrest Him. He goes after His brothers have already departed, in secret, rather than publicly. After listening to the grumbling among the crowds concerning Him, when it was the middle of the feast, Jesus makes His public appearance, by going up into the Temple and teaching. Jesus' teaching at the Feast, generates both awe and opposition, highlighting the division of opinion about Him within Jerusalem. Jesus' teachings attract both followers and enemies. The opening to the chapter reveals the skepticism and lack of faith within His own family, prompting reflection on the challenges of faith within one's personal relationships. That context is relevant, because John follows this introduction with the more profound theological and spiritual discussions that follows.
In verse 18, we read Jesus’ words, "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of Him who sent Him, the same is true and no unrighteousness is in Him,". This verse is pivotal in discerning genuine spiritual teaching. The verse provides a litmus test for evaluating the motives of anyone claiming to teach or speak in God's name. A teacher primarily focused on personal gain, recognition, or power demonstrates a self-seeking motivation (seeking his own glory). By contrast, righteousness is associated with the teacher whose desire is to glorify God (the One who sent Him). The truthfulness and righteousness of a teacher are directly linked to his underlying motives.
A deeper understanding is gained exploring the Greek. "Speaks from himself" (ἀπ' αὐτοῦ λαλεῖ - ap' autou lalei) suggests self-originated speech, lacking external divine authority. "Seeks his own glory" (τὴν δόξαν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ζητεῖ - tēn doxan tēn heautou zētei) signifies a self-centered ambition for recognition. Conversely, "seeks the glory of Him who sent Him" (τὴν δόξαν τοῦ πέμψαντος αὐτὸν ζητεῖ - tēn doxan tou pempsantos auton zētei) emphasizes a focus on glorifying God, the Source of truth and authority. The Greek word for "true" (ἀληθινός - alēthinos) means genuine and authentic, while the absence of unrighteousness (ἀδικία - adikia) points to a life lived in accordance with God’s will. The words doxa (glory) and zēteo (seek) appear frequently throughout the New Testament, in contexts relating to God's character and the purpose of Christian life. For example, doxa is used extensively in the Gospels to describe God's attributes and Jesus's ministry, and zēteo is often connected with seeking God's kingdom and righteousness. Careful examination of these words in their various biblical contexts illuminates the profound significance of verse 18 as a crucial criterion for judging spiritual teaching.
1 And after these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.
2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near.
3 Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing.
4 “For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself publicly to the world.”
5 For not even His brothers were believing in Him.
6 So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always here.
7 “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I bear witness about it, that its deeds are evil.
8 “Go up to the feast yourselves; I am not yet going up to this feast because My time has not yet been fulfilled.”
9 Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.
10 But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as in secret.
11 So the Jews were seeking Him at the feast and saying, “Where is He?”
12 And there was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the crowd astray.”
13 Yet no one was speaking openly about Him for fear of the Jews.
14 But when it was now the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.
15 The Jews then were marveling, saying, “How has this man become learned, not having been educated?”
16 So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but from Him who sent Me.
17 “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is of God or I speak from Myself.
18 “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
19 “Did not Moses give you the Law? And yet none of you does the Law. Why do you seek to kill Me?”
20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?”
21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel.
22 “For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man.
23 “If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath?
24 “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”