10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not openly, but (as it were) in secret. 11 So the Jews were looking for him at the feast, and were saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was a lot of grumbling concerning him among the crowds; some were saying, “He is a good man,” but others were saying, “No, but he deceives the crowd.” 13 However, no one was speaking openly about him for fear of the Jews.

14 Now when the feast was already half over,[a] Jesus went to the temple courts[b] and began to teach.[c] 15 Then the Jews were astonished, saying, “How does this man possess knowledge,[d] because he[e] has not been taught?” 16 So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not mine, but is from the one who sent me. 17 If anyone wants to do his will, he will know about my[f] teaching, whether it is from God or I am speaking from myself. 18 The one who speaks from himself seeks his own glory. But the one who seeks the glory of the one who sent him—this one is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law, and none of you carries out the law? Why do you seek to kill me?”

20 The crowd replied, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I performed one work, and you are all astonished. 22 Because of this Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses would not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a whole man well[g] on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to outward appearance, but judge according to righteous judgment!”

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Footnotes

  1. John 7:14 Literally “now it being already in the middle of the feast”
  2. John 7:14 Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
  3. John 7:14 *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to teach”)
  4. John 7:15 Literally “know letters”
  5. John 7:15 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“been taught”) which is understood as causal
  6. John 7:17 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  7. John 7:23 Or “a man entirely well”

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(A) 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.”(B) 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.(C)

Jesus Teaches at the Festival

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

16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.(H) 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out(I) 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,(J) 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?(K) Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”(L)

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

21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle,(N) and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision(O) (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs),(P) 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.”(Q)

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