耶穌的弟弟不信祂

之後,耶穌周遊加利利,不願去猶太地區,因為猶太人想要殺祂。 猶太人的住棚節快到了, 耶穌的弟弟們對祂說:「離開這裡,去猶太過節吧,好讓你的門徒在那裡也看見你所做的啊! 因為人想出名,都不會暗地裡行事,你既然可以做這些事,就把自己顯給世人看吧!」 原來連祂的弟弟們也不信祂。

耶穌對他們說:「我的時候還沒有到,你們什麼時候都很方便。 世人不會恨你們,只會恨我,因為我指證他們行為邪惡。 你們先去過節吧,我現在還不上去,因為我的時候還沒有到。」 耶穌說完這些話,仍留在加利利。

耶穌過住棚節

10 他們走了以後,耶穌避開了人們的注意,暗地裡上去過節。 11 節期到了,猶太人到處查問:「耶穌在哪裡?」

12 眾人對祂議論紛紛,有些人說:「祂是好人,」有些說:「不,祂欺騙民眾。」 13 不過,沒有人敢公開議論祂的事,因為害怕猶太人。

14 節期約過了一半,耶穌來到聖殿教導人。 15 猶太人感到驚奇,說:「這個人沒有受過教育,怎麼懂得這麼多呢?」

16 耶穌說:「我的教導不是出於我自己,而是出於差我來的那位。 17 如果你們願意遵行上帝的旨意,就能分辨這些教導是出於上帝,還是出於我自己。 18 憑自己講論的人是要尋求自己的榮耀,但人子真實無偽,毫無不義,祂是為了使差祂來的那位得榮耀。 19 摩西不是把律法傳給了你們嗎?你們卻沒有一個人遵守。為什麼想要殺我呢?」

20 眾人回答說:「你一定是被鬼附身了!誰要殺你啊?」

21 耶穌說:「我行了一件神蹟,你們都感到驚奇。 22 摩西把割禮傳給你們,你們也在安息日行割禮。其實割禮不是摩西定的,而是從祖先們的時代就有了。 23 為了避免違背摩西的律法,行割禮的那一天就算是安息日,你們還是照行。那麼,我在安息日使一個病人完全康復,你們為什麼責怪我呢? 24 不要根據外表來斷定是非,要按公義的原則判斷。」

耶穌是基督嗎

25 有些住在耶路撒冷的人說:「這不是他們要殺的那個人嗎? 26 你看祂這樣公開講道,居然沒有人說什麼,難道官長也真的認為祂是基督嗎? 27 可是基督來的時候,根本沒有人知道祂從哪裡來,我們卻知道這個人是從哪裡來的。」

28 於是,耶穌在聖殿裡高聲教導人說:「你們知道我是誰,也知道我是從哪裡來的。其實我來不是出於自己的意思,差我來的那位是真實的,你們不認識祂。 29 但我認識祂,因為我是從祂那裡來的,差我來的就是祂。」 30 他們聽了,想捉拿耶穌,只是沒有人下手,因為祂的時候還沒有到。

31 人群中有許多人信了耶穌,他們說:「基督來的時候所行的神蹟,難道會比這個人行得更多嗎?」

32 法利賽人聽見眾人這樣議論耶穌,就聯合祭司長派差役去抓祂。 33 耶穌對眾人說:「我暫時還會跟你們在一起,不久我要回到差我來的那位那裡。 34 那時你們要找我卻找不到,你們也不能去我所在的地方。」

35 猶太人彼此議論說:「祂要去哪裡使我們找不著呢?難道祂要到我們猶太人僑居的希臘各地去教導希臘人嗎? 36 祂說我們找不到祂,又不能去祂所在的地方,是什麼意思?」

活水的江河

37 節期最後一天,也是整個節期的高潮,耶穌站起來高聲說:「人若渴了,可以到我這裡來喝。 38 正如聖經所言,信我的人,『從他裡面要流出活水的江河來』。」 39 耶穌這話是指信祂的人要得到聖靈,但當時聖靈還沒有降臨,因為耶穌還沒有得到榮耀。

40 聽見這些話後,有些人說:「祂真是那位先知。」 41 也有些人說:「祂是基督。」還有些人說:「不會吧,基督怎麼會出自加利利呢? 42 聖經上不是說基督是大衛的後裔,要降生在大衛的故鄉伯利恆嗎?」 43 眾人因為對耶穌的看法不同,就起了紛爭。 44 有些人想抓祂,只是沒有人下手。

猶太官長不信耶穌

45 祭司長和法利賽人看見差役空手回來,就問:「你們為什麼不把祂帶來呢?」

46 差役答道:「從未有人像祂那樣說話!」

47 法利賽人說:「難道你們也被祂迷惑了嗎? 48 哪有官長和法利賽人信祂呢? 49 這群不明白律法的民眾該受咒詛!」

50 曾經夜訪耶穌、屬於他們當中一員的尼哥德慕說: 51 「難道不聽被告申辯,不查明事實真相,我們的律法就定祂的罪嗎?」

52 他們回答說:「難道你也是加利利人嗎?你去查查看,就會知道沒有先知是從加利利來的。」

And Jesus was walking after these things in Galilee, for he did not wish to walk in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him,

and the feast of the Jews was nigh -- that of tabernacles --

his brethren, therefore, said unto him, `Remove hence, and go away to Judea, that thy disciples also may behold thy works that thou dost;

for no one in secret doth anything, and himself seeketh to be in public; if thou dost these things -- manifest thyself to the world;'

for not even were his brethren believing in him.

Jesus, therefore, saith to them, `My time is not yet present, but your time is always ready;

the world is not able to hate you, but me it doth hate, because I testify concerning it that its works are evil.

Ye -- go ye up to this feast; I do not yet go up to this feast, because my time hath not yet been fulfilled;'

and saying these things to them, he remained in Galilee.

10 And when his brethren went up, then also he himself went up to the feast, not manifestly, but as in secret;

11 the Jews, therefore, were seeking him, in the feast, and said, `Where is that one?'

12 and there was much murmuring about him among the multitudes, some indeed said -- `He is good;' and others said, `No, but he leadeth astray the multitude;'

13 no one, however, was speaking freely about him, through fear of the Jews.

14 And it being now the middle of the feast, Jesus went up to the temple, and he was teaching,

15 and the Jews were wondering, saying, `How hath this one known letters -- not having learned?'

16 Jesus answered them and said, `My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me;

17 if any one may will to do His will, he shall know concerning the teaching, whether it is of God, or -- I do speak from myself.

18 `He who is speaking from himself his own glory doth seek, but he who is seeking the glory of him who sent him, this one is true, and unrighteousness is not in him;

19 hath not Moses given you the law? and none of you doth the law; why me do ye seek to kill?'

20 The multitude answered and said, `Thou hast a demon, who doth seek to kill thee?'

21 Jesus answered and said to them, `One work I did, and ye all wonder,

22 because of this, Moses hath given you the circumcision -- not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers -- and on a sabbath ye circumcise a man;

23 if a man doth receive circumcision on a sabbath that the law of Moses may not be broken, are ye wroth with me that I made a man all whole on a sabbath?

24 judge not according to appearance, but the righteous judgment judge.'

25 Certain, therefore, of the Jerusalemites said, `Is not this he whom they are seeking to kill?

26 and, lo, he doth speak freely, and they say nothing to him; did the rulers at all know truly that this is truly the Christ?

27 but this one -- we have known whence he is; and the Christ, when he doth come, no one doth know whence he is.'

28 Jesus cried, therefore, in the temple, teaching and saying, `Ye have both known me, and ye have known whence I am; and I have not come of myself, but He who sent me is true, whom ye have not known;

29 and I have known Him, because I am from Him, and He did send me.'

30 They were seeking, therefore, to seize him, and no one laid the hand on him, because his hour had not yet come,

31 and many out of the multitude did believe in him, and said -- `The Christ -- when he may come -- will he do more signs than these that this one did?'

32 The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers that they may take him;

33 Jesus, therefore, said to them, `Yet a little time I am with you, and I go away unto Him who sent me;

34 ye will seek me, and ye shall not find; and where I am, ye are not able to come.'

35 The Jews, therefore, said among themselves, `Whither is this one about to go that we shall not find him? -- to the dispersion of the Greeks is he about to go? and to teach the Greeks;

36 what is this word that he said, Ye will seek me, and ye shall not find? and, Where I am, ye are not able to come?'

37 And in the last, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, `If any one doth thirst, let him come unto me and drink;

38 he who is believing in me, according as the Writing said, Rivers out of his belly shall flow of living water;'

39 and this he said of the Spirit, which those believing in him were about to receive; for not yet was the Holy Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

40 Many, therefore out of the multitude, having heard the word, said, `This is truly the Prophet;'

41 others said, `This is the Christ;' and others said, `Why, out of Galilee doth the Christ come?

42 Did not the Writing say, that out of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem -- the village where David was -- the Christ doth come?'

43 A division, therefore, arose among the multitude because of him.

44 And certain of them were willing to seize him, but no one laid hands on him;

45 the officers came, therefore, unto the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, `Wherefore did ye not bring him?'

46 The officers answered, `Never so spake man -- as this man.'

47 The Pharisees, therefore, answered them, `Have ye also been led astray?

48 did any one out of the rulers believe in him? or out of the Pharisees?

49 but this multitude, that is not knowing the law, is accursed.'

50 Nicodemus saith unto them -- he who came by night unto him -- being one of them,

51 `Doth our law judge the man, if it may not hear from him first, and know what he doth?'

52 They answered and said to him, `Art thou also out of Galilee? search and see, that a prophet out of Galilee hath not risen;'

53 and each one went on to his house, but Jesus went on to the mount of the Olives.

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,

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.”