Jesus Goes to the Festival of Tabernacles

After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders(A) there were looking for a way to kill him.(B) But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles(C) was near, Jesus’ brothers(D) said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him.(E)

Therefore Jesus told them, “My time(F) is not yet here; for you any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me(G) because I testify that its works are evil.(H) You go to the festival. I am not[b] going up to this festival, because my time(I) has not yet fully come.” After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.

10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus(J) and asking, “Where is he?”

12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.”(K) 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.(L)

Jesus Teaches at the Festival

14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.(M) 15 The Jews(N) there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning(O) without having been taught?”(P)

16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.(Q) 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out(R) whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory,(S) but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law?(T) Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”(U)

20 “You are demon-possessed,”(V) the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”

21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle,(W) and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision(X) (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs),(Y) you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”(Z)

Division Over Who Jesus Is

25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?(AA) 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities(AB) really concluded that he is the Messiah?(AC) 27 But we know where this man is from;(AD) when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”

28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts,(AE) cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from.(AF) I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true.(AG) You do not know him, 29 but I know him(AH) because I am from him and he sent me.”(AI)

30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him,(AJ) because his hour had not yet come.(AK) 31 Still, many in the crowd believed in him.(AL) They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs(AM) than this man?”

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.

33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time,(AN) and then I am going to the one who sent me.(AO) 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”(AP)

35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered(AQ) among the Greeks,(AR) and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”(AS)

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival,(AT) Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.(AU) 38 Whoever believes(AV) in me, as Scripture has said,(AW) rivers of living water(AX) will flow from within them.”[c](AY) 39 By this he meant the Spirit,(AZ) whom those who believed in him were later to receive.(BA) Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.(BB)

40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”(BC)

41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee?(BD) 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants(BE) and from Bethlehem,(BF) the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided(BG) because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.(BH)

Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,”(BI) the guards replied.

47 “You mean he has deceived you also?”(BJ) the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?(BK) 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

50 Nicodemus,(BL) who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”(BM)


[The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53—8:11. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36, John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53.]

53 Then they all went home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.(BN)

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.(BO) The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.(BP) Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap,(BQ) in order to have a basis for accusing him.(BR)

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone(BS) at her.”(BT) Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,”(BU) Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”(BV)


Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am(BW) the light of the world.(BX) Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”(BY)

13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”(BZ)

14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going.(CA) But you have no idea where I come from(CB) or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards;(CC) I pass judgment on no one.(CD) 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.(CE) 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.(CF) 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”(CG)

19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,”(CH) Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”(CI) 20 He spoke these words while teaching(CJ) in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put.(CK) Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.(CL)

Dispute Over Who Jesus Is

21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die(CM) in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”(CN)

22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.(CO) 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he,(CP) you will indeed die in your sins.”

25 “Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy,(CQ) and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”(CR)

27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up[d] the Son of Man,(CS) then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.(CT) 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone,(CU) for I always do what pleases him.”(CV) 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.(CW)

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,(CX) you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(CY)

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants(CZ) and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.(DA) 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.(DB) 36 So if the Son sets you free,(DC) you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me,(DD) because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence,(DE) and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[e](DF)

39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,”(DG) said Jesus, “then you would[f] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me,(DH) a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.(DI) Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”(DJ)

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”(DK)

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,(DL) for I have come here from God.(DM) I have not come on my own;(DN) God sent me.(DO) 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil,(DP) and you want to carry out your father’s desires.(DQ) He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.(DR) 45 Yet because I tell the truth,(DS) you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.(DT) The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Jesus’ Claims About Himself

48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan(DU) and demon-possessed?”(DV)

49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself;(DW) but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”(DX)

52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!(DY) Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham?(DZ) He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself,(EA) my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.(EB) 55 Though you do not know him,(EC) I know him.(ED) If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.(EE) 56 Your father Abraham(EF) rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it(EG) and was glad.”

57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born,(EH) I am!”(EI) 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him,(EJ) but Jesus hid himself,(EK) slipping away from the temple grounds.

Footnotes

  1. John 7:1 Some manuscripts not have authority
  2. John 7:8 Some manuscripts not yet
  3. John 7:38 Or me. And let anyone drink 38 who believes in me.” As Scripture has said, “Out of him (or them) will flow rivers of living water.”
  4. John 8:28 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
  5. John 8:38 Or presence. Therefore do what you have heard from the Father.
  6. John 8:39 Some early manuscripts “If you are Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then

Faith in Action

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for(A) and assurance about what we do not see.(B) This is what the ancients were commended for.(C)

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command,(D) so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended(E) as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.(F) And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.(G)

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a](H) For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him(I) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen,(J) in holy fear built an ark(K) to save his family.(L) By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.(M)

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,(N) obeyed and went,(O) even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land(P) like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,(Q) as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.(R) 10 For he was looking forward to the city(S) with foundations,(T) whose architect and builder is God.(U) 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age,(V) was enabled to bear children(W) because she[b] considered him faithful(X) who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead,(Y) came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.(Z)

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised;(AA) they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,(AB) admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.(AC) 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.(AD) 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.(AE) Therefore God is not ashamed(AF) to be called their God,(AG) for he has prepared a city(AH) for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.(AI) He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c](AJ) 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead,(AK) and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.(AL)

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons,(AM) and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.(AN)

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born,(AO) because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.(AP)

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.(AQ) 25 He chose to be mistreated(AR) along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace(AS) for the sake of Christ(AT) as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.(AU) 27 By faith he left Egypt,(AV) not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer(AW) of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.(AX)

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.(AY)

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.(AZ)

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[d](BA)

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,(BB) Barak,(BC) Samson(BD) and Jephthah,(BE) about David(BF) and Samuel(BG) and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms,(BH) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,(BI) 34 quenched the fury of the flames,(BJ) and escaped the edge of the sword;(BK) whose weakness was turned to strength;(BL) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.(BM) 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again.(BN) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging,(BO) and even chains and imprisonment.(BP) 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e](BQ) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.(BR) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,(BS) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves(BT) and in holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended(BU) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,(BV) 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us(BW) would they be made perfect.(BX)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run(BY) with perseverance(BZ) the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,(CA) the pioneer(CB) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,(CC) scorning its shame,(CD) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(CE) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary(CF) and lose heart.

God Disciplines His Children

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.(CG) And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart(CH) when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,(CI)
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[f](CJ)

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.(CK) For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline(CL)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits(CM) and live!(CN) 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.(CO) 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace(CP) for those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.(CQ) 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[g](CR) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.(CS)

Warning and Encouragement

14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone(CT) and to be holy;(CU) without holiness no one will see the Lord.(CV) 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God(CW) and that no bitter root(CX) grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral,(CY) or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.(CZ) 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,(DA) he could not change what he had done.

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;(DB) 19 to a trumpet blast(DC) or to such a voice speaking words(DD) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,(DE) 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[h](DF) 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[i](DG)

22 But you have come to Mount Zion,(DH) to the city(DI) of the living God,(DJ) the heavenly Jerusalem.(DK) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn,(DL) whose names are written in heaven.(DM) You have come to God, the Judge of all,(DN) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,(DO) 24 to Jesus the mediator(DP) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood(DQ) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.(DR)

25 See to it that you do not refuse(DS) him who speaks.(DT) If they did not escape when they refused him who warned(DU) them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?(DV) 26 At that time his voice shook the earth,(DW) but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[j](DX) 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken(DY)—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,(DZ) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,(EA) 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”[k](EB)

Concluding Exhortations

13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.(EC) Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,(ED) for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.(EE) Continue to remember those in prison(EF) as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Marriage should be honored by all,(EG) and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.(EH) Keep your lives free from the love of money(EI) and be content with what you have,(EJ) because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”[l](EK)

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?”[m](EL)

Remember your leaders,(EM) who spoke the word of God(EN) to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate(EO) their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.(EP)

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.(EQ) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened(ER) by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods,(ES) which is of no benefit to those who do so.(ET) 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle(EU) have no right to eat.(EV)

11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering,(EW) but the bodies are burned outside the camp.(EX) 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate(EY) to make the people holy(EZ) through his own blood.(FA) 13 Let us, then, go to him(FB) outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.(FC) 14 For here we do not have an enduring city,(FD) but we are looking for the city that is to come.(FE)

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice(FF) of praise—the fruit of lips(FG) that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others,(FH) for with such sacrifices(FI) God is pleased.

17 Have confidence in your leaders(FJ) and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you(FK) as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

18 Pray for us.(FL) We are sure that we have a clear conscience(FM) and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.(FN)

Benediction and Final Greetings

20 Now may the God of peace,(FO) who through the blood of the eternal covenant(FP) brought back from the dead(FQ) our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,(FR) 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will,(FS) and may he work in us(FT) what is pleasing to him,(FU) through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(FV)

22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.(FW)

23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy(FX) has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.

24 Greet all your leaders(FY) and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy(FZ) send you their greetings.

25 Grace be with you all.(GA)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:5 Gen. 5:24
  2. Hebrews 11:11 Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
  3. Hebrews 11:18 Gen. 21:12
  4. Hebrews 11:31 Or unbelieving
  5. Hebrews 11:37 Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;
  6. Hebrews 12:6 Prov. 3:11,12 (see Septuagint)
  7. Hebrews 12:13 Prov. 4:26
  8. Hebrews 12:20 Exodus 19:12,13
  9. Hebrews 12:21 See Deut. 9:19.
  10. Hebrews 12:26 Haggai 2:6
  11. Hebrews 12:29 Deut. 4:24
  12. Hebrews 13:5 Deut. 31:6
  13. Hebrews 13:6 Psalm 118:6,7

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