Explaining the Inner Meaning of John 7

Verse 7:1. That the Lord has more delight in instructing the Gentiles, who are in the good of ignorance, than in instructing those of the perverted church, who are principled in self-love, because the love of the latter is opposed to his love.

Verse 7:2. For the Lord is always seeking the implantation of good in truth, and thus liberation of the church from evil.

Verses 7:3, 4. Nevertheless he is tempted by the affections of the natural man to make an external display of his omnipotence, by which both they who are of the church, and they who are not of the church, might be led to acknowledge him.

Verses 7:5, 6. But this suggestion is not influenced by divine truth, which teaches, that the state of the Lord, when he was in the world, differed from that of natural men, because he was always advancing, as to his humanity, towards union with the divine good in himself, whereas natural men are in the present possession of their good.

Verse 7:7. And therefore natural men are not sensible of opposition from the powers of evil, whereas the Lord, as to his humanity, felt the whole weight of that opposition, in consequence of making those powers manifest.

Verses 7:8, 9. On which account natural men are enjoined the use of representative worship, but not so the Lord, since the glorification of his humanity is the end of all representations, and therefore he remains with those who receive him according to that end.

Verse 7:10. At the same time he interiorly is in the good of that representative worship, which relates to the implantation of good in truth, and thus to the glorification of his humanity, but not exteriorly.

Verses 7:11, 12, 13. By which means he excites enquiry in the church concerning himself, which enquiry leads some to justify him, and some to condemn him, yet all are afraid to speak their sentiments, being over-awed by public opinion.

Verse 7:14. That from divine good, and consequent elevation into the light of divine truth, the Lord gives instruction.

Verse 7:15. The interior source of which instruction cannot be apprehended by the natural man.

Verse 7:16. Until he is taught, that the truth proceeding from the Lord's humanity is not of the humanity only, but of the divine good dwelling in it, and one with it.

Verse 7:17. And that therefore all, who live in conformity with that good, will be instructed as to the origin of truth.

Verse 7:18. Since self-love always gives birth to false principles, whilst divine and heavenly love gives birth to principles of truth and justice.

Verses 7:19, 20. Hence comes the Divine Word, which still is not obeyed, and therefore the Lord in his Divine Humanity is rejected, and his operation imputed to infernal agency, whilst they who reject him are not aware of the crime which they are committing.

Verses 7:21, 22, 23. Therefore they are taught, that since the Lord in his Divine Humanity had manifested, by their own confession, an operation more than human; and since on this account the Word, both in the Israelitish church, and in the ancient church, required purification from unclean loves, which requirement they fulfilled, as to its external representation, therefore out of regard to the Word, they ought not to oppose that humanity in its purpose of communicating spiritual life, which was represented by the Sabbath.

Verse 7:24. Neither ought they to form their judgement from truth alone, but from truth in conjunction with its good.

Verses 7:25, 26. That the opposition of the perverted church to the Lord in his Divine Humanity, was known to those who were principled in the doctrine of truth, and who thus, seeing the power of the divine truth over its adversaries, are led to enquire how far they, who are principled in knowledges, believe in that humanity.

Verse 7:27. Yet they are perplexed about the origin of that humanity, because they could not discern his divinity.

Verse 7:28. Therefore they are taught that the humanity was known, and also its origin, since it is not self-derived, but from the invisible and unknown divinity.

Verse 7:29. Yet the humanity knows the divinity, because it proceeds from the divinity.

Verse 7:30. That this doctrine excites violent opposition in will, but not in act, being restrained for the present by the Lord's divine providence.

Verse 7:31. Nevertheless, with those who are principled in truth, it excites faith in the Lord's humanity, the operation of which humanity is exalted by them above every other operation.

Verses 7:32, 33, 34. But this faith so excited tends only to increase the spirit of opposition amongst those of the perverted church, who are principled in self-love, and therefore they are taught, that the Lord's humanity will certainly be united with his divinity, on which occasion he cannot be approached by those who merely speculate about him, because they are destitute of the love and life in which he dwells.

Verses 7:35, 36. Still they who are principled in self-love are not able to comprehend what is meant by the union of the Lord's humanity with his divinity.

Verses 7:37, 38, 39. Therefore they are further instructed, that if they are desirous of attaining the knowledge of truth, they must receive from the Lord in his Divine Humanity the truths of doctrine and their faith, since hence comes spiritual intelligence of divine truth from the Lord, inasmuch as to impart such intelligence is the great purpose of the glorification of the Lord's humanity.

Verse 39, latter part. For spiritual intelligence of divine truth cannot be given but from divinity and humanity united in the one divine person of the Lord.

Verses 7:40, 41, 42, 43. That in consequence of this instruction, they, who are principled in truth, are led to acknowledge the Lord's humanity as the all of doctrine, and the all of truth, whilst others are perplexed about the divine origin of that humanity as taught in the Word.

Verse 7:44. Hence inclination is inwardly cherished to do violence to that humanity, but the power to do it is checked.

Verses 7:45, 46. And on enquiry how, it was checked, it is discovered, that the truth proceeding from that humanity was more than human, so that the simple could not resist it.

Verses 7:47, 48, 49. Therefore they, who are blinded by self-love, and who fancy themselves qualified by their superior learning to decide on what is true, or otherwise, condemn the simple as ignorant of the truth.

Verse 50, 51. Yet their own learning suggests the consideration that no one ought to be condemned, until it be first known whether he be guilty, and what his guilt is.

Verses 7:52, 53. But this consideration is over-ruled, as not applicable to the Lord's humanity and the doctrine which he taught, since no teacher of truth can be born out of the church, therefore all abide in their own ruling love and persuasions.

34. The complete union of the Divine and the human in Him was achieved by His suffering of the cross, which was the last of those temptations or trials. This we established in its own section above, in which we showed that the Lord came into the world to conquer the hells and glorify His humanity, and that the suffering of the cross was the last battle by which He completely overcame the hells and completely glorified His humanity.

Now because the Lord by His suffering of the cross completely glorified His humanity, that is, united it to His Divinity and so made His humanity Divine, it follows that He is Jehovah

[2] and God in respect to both. In many places in the Word, therefore, He is called Jehovah, God, and the Holy One of Israel, the Redeemer, Savior and Former, as in the following passages here:

Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46-47)

The angel said to (the shepherds), “...behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people, (that) there is born...this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

They said..., “...this is truly the Christ, the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)

I (Jehovah God) will help you, ...and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 41:14)

...said Jehovah, your Creator, O Jacob, your Former, O Israel: “...for I have redeemed you.... ...I am Jehovah your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:1, 3)

...said Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.... “I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” (Isaiah 43:14-15)

Thus said Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker.... (Isaiah 45:11, cf. 45:15)

Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.... (Isaiah 48:17)

...that all flesh may know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 49:26)

...Then he will come to Zion as the Redeemer. (Isaiah 59:20)

...that you shall know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 60:16)

...Jehovah..., your Former from the womb.... (Isaiah 49:5)

...O Jehovah, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalms 19:14)

They remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer. (Psalms 78:35)

...said Jehovah your Redeemer, and your Former from the womb.... (Isaiah 44:24)

As for our Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 47:4)

“With everlasting mercy I will have pity on you.” (Thus) said Jehovah, your Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:8)

Their Redeemer is strong; Jehovah...is His name. (Jeremiah 50:34)

O Israel, hope in Jehovah; for with Jehovah there is mercy; with Him is abundant redemption. He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities. (Psalms 130:7-8)

Jehovah (God) is my rock, my fortress..., the horn of my salvation..., my Savior.... (2 Samuel 22:2-3)

Thus said Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, its Holy One...: “Kings shall see and endure..., because of Jehovah, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” (Isaiah 49:7)

Surely God is within you, and there is...no other God (besides). Certainly You are a hidden God, O God of Israel, the Savior ! (Isaiah 45:14-15)

...said Jehovah, the King of Israel, and its Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts: “...Besides Me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6)

I...am Jehovah, and besides Me there is no Savior. (Isaiah 43:11)

Am I not Jehovah? And no other...besides Me, (and) no Savior besides Me? (Isaiah 45:21)

I am Jehovah your God..., and you shall not acknowledge any God but Me; and there is no Savior besides Me. (Hosea 13:4)

Am I not Jehovah? And there is no other God besides Me, a just God, and there is no Savior besides Me. Look to Me to be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is none besides. (Isaiah 45:21-22)

...Jehovah of Hosts is His name; and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; He shall be called the God of the whole earth. (Isaiah 54:5)

[3] It can be seen from this that the Lord’s Divinity called the Father, and called here Jehovah and God, and His Divine humanity called the Son, and called here the Redeemer and Savior, or Former and Maker, meaning the Reformer and Regenerator, are not two entities but one. For we are told not only that Jehovah God and the Holy One of Israel is the Redeemer and Savior, but also that Jehovah is the Redeemer and Savior. Indeed, we are also told that Jehovah is the Savior and none besides Him.

It is clearly apparent from this that the Divine and the human in the Lord are one person, and that the human is also Divine, inasmuch as there is no Redeemer and Savior of the world other than the Lord in respect to His Divine humanity, called the Son.

Redemption and salvation, indeed, are the unique attributes of His humanity called merit and righteousness. For it was His humanity that underwent temptations or trials and the suffering of the cross, so that it is by His humanity that He redeemed and saved.

[4] Now after the union of His humanity with the Divinity in Him, which was like the union of soul and body in anyone else, because they were then no more two but one person, in accordance with the Christian world’s doctrine, therefore the Lord was Jehovah and God in respect to both. That is why we are sometimes told that Jehovah and the Holy One of Israel are the Redeemer and Savior, and sometimes that Jehovah is the Redeemer and Savior, as may be seen from the passages cited above. Namely, that the Christ is called the Savior (Luke 2:10-11, John 4:42); that God, and the God of Israel, is called the Savior and Redeemer (Luke 1:47, Isaiah 45:11, 15, 54:5, Psalms 78:35); that Jehovah is called the Holy One of Israel, the Savior and Redeemer (Isaiah 41:14, 43:3, 11, 14-15, 48:17, 49:7, 54:5); that Jehovah is called the Savior, Redeemer, and Former or Maker (Isaiah 44:6, 47:4, 49:26, 54:8, 63:16, Jeremiah 50:34, Psalms 19:14, 130:7-8, 2 Samuel 22:2-3); and that Jehovah God is called the Redeemer and Savior, and there is no other besides Him (Isaiah 43:11, 44:6, 45:14-15, 21-22, Hosea 13:4).