John 7 - NKJV Foundation Study Bible

7:2 Feast of Tabernacles. This was one of the three great Jewish religious festivals (Passover and Pentecost were the other two). It was called the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) because for seven days the people lived in makeshift shelters or lean-tos made of branches and leaves. The feast commemorated the days when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and lived in tents (Lev. 23:40–43).

7:3–4 His brothers. Jesus’ brothers argued, “If You are really working miracles and thus claiming to be the Messiah, do not hide in obscure Galilee. If You are doing miracles at all, then do them in Jerusalem at the Feast to convince the whole nation.” These words were sarcastic, as verse 5 explains.

7:14 the middle of the feast. This would have been the fourth day of the seven-day feast. During the first half of the festival, Jesus remained in seclusion (v. 10). During the second half, He began to teach publicly. This is the first mention in the Gospel of John of Jesus teaching in the temple.

7:15 having never studied. Jesus never attended a rabbinical school. Similar bewilderment was later expressed regarding Jesus’ disciples (Acts 4:13).

7:28–29 You both know Me, and you know where I am from. Jesus reminded the leaders that they knew His origin. Their problem was that they did not know God, who sent Jesus. He explained to them that He knew God, was from God, and was sent by God.

7:32 to take Him. The Jewish leaders decided earlier that they wanted to kill Christ (5:16), but this is the first real attempt on His life.

7:37–39 that great day of the feast. On each day of the feast, the people came with palm branches and marched around the great altar. A priest took a golden pitcher filled with water from the pool of Siloam, carried it to the temple, and poured it on the altar as an offering to God. This dramatic ceremony was a memorial of the water that flowed from the rock when the Israelites traveled through the wilderness. On the last day of the feast, the people marched seven times around the altar in memory of the seven circuits around the walls of Jericho.

7:38 as the Scripture has said. The reference is not to a single passage, but to the general emphasis of such passages as Deuteronomy 18:15, Isaiah 58:11, and Zechariah 14:8. In contrast to the small amount of water poured out each day during the feast, there will be a river of water coming out of those who believe in Christ. Not only will they be satisfied themselves, but they will also become a river so that others may drink and be satisfied (v. 39).

7:40–42 Christ comes from the seed of David. These people knew that the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2). However, they did not know that Jesus had been born there. They thought He was from Galilee. They knew the Scripture, but they did not take the time to know the Messiah (5:39).