Explanation of John 7
By Rev. John Clowes M.A.
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.
John 7
1
After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn't walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2
Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand.
3
His brothers therefore said to him, "Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do.
4
For no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world."
5
For even his brothers didn't believe in him.
6
Jesus therefore said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.
7
The world can't hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil.
8
You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet 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 also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.
11
The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, "Where is he?"
12
There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others said, "Not so, but he leads the multitude astray."
13
Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.
14
But when it was now the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught.
15
The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How does this man know letters, having never been educated?"
16
Jesus therefore answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
17
If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.
18
He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
19
Didn't Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?"
20
The multitude answered, "You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you?"
21
Jesus answered them, "I did one work, and you all marvel because of it.
22
Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy.
23
If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath?
24
Don't judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment."
25
Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, "Isn't this he whom they seek to kill?
26
Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ?
27
However we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from."
28
Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don't know.
29
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me."
30
They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.
31
But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, he won't do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?"
32
The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.
33
Then Jesus said, "I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me.
34
You will seek me, and won't find me; and where I am, you can't come."
35
The Jews therefore said among themselves, "Where will this man go that we won't find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
36
What is this word that he said, 'You will seek me, and won't find me; and where I am, you can't come'?"
37
Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!
38
He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water."
39
But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn't yet glorified.
40
Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, "This is truly the prophet."
41
Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "What, does the Christ come out of Galilee?
42
Hasn't the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?"
43
So there arose a division in the multitude because of him.
44
Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him.
45
The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, "Why didn't you bring him?"
46
The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!"
47
The Pharisees therefore answered them, "You aren't also led astray, are you?
48
Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees?
49
But this multitude that doesn't know the law is accursed."
50
Nicodemus (he who came to him by night, being one of them) said to them,
51
"Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?"
52
They answered him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee."
