73. The First Talk in the Temple
2The feast of Tabernaclesa was at hand. 11The Jews were looking for Jesus at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13Yet for fear of the Jewsb no one spoke openly of him.14About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15The Jews marveled at it, saying, "How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?”c
16So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17If any man's will is to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but I seek the glory of him who sent me. 19Did not Moses give you the law? Yet you do not keep the law. Why do you seek to kill me?”
20The people answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?”
21Jesus answered them, 22“You circumcise a man upon the Sabbath 23in accordance with the law of Moses, but you are angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well. 24Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
25Some of the people of Jerusalem said, 27“We know where this man comes from; but when the Messiah appears no one will know where he comes from.”
(Jn. 7:2, 11–25, 27) (continued)
a “the feast of Tabernacles”—See Ch. 71, fn. a, for a discussion of the feast of the Tabernacles.
b “the Jews”—"The Jews” here refers especially to the Jewish Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court and ruling body of the Jewish nation. It was they who sought to apprehend Jesus, bring him to trial before their court, and condemn him to death. (See also Ch. 13, fn. b.)
c “has never studied”—(at the schools of the rabbis in Jerusalem).
Jn. 7:2 The feast / the Jews' feast (RSV)
Jn. 7:18 but I seek the glory of him who sent me. / but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. (RSV)
Jn. 7:19 Yet you do not keep / Yet none of you keep (RSV)
Jn. 7:21 them, / them, “I did one deed and you all marvel at it. (RSV)
Jn. 7:22 You / Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you (RSV)
Jn. 7:23 in accordance with the law of Moses, but you are angry / If on the sabbath a man receives circumcision so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry (RSV)
Jn. 7:25 Jerusalem said / Jerusalem therefore said (RSV) • said, / said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? (RSV)
Jn. 7:27 We / Yet we (RSV) • but when / and when (RSV) • the Messiah appears (Ch. 13, fn. c) / the Christ appears (RSV) (162:1–2/1788–91)
