John 7:1-24

The Central Idea of the Text is that Jesus goes up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths and to teach in the temple, which reveals a mounting Jewish hostility. Just prior to attending the Feast of Booths we learn that Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him as the Messiah (John 7:1-9); and more so, many in Jerusalem were divided over their opinions of Him (John 7:10-13).  During the feast Jesus began to teach in the temple, and His teaching perplexed those who heard Him (John 7:14-15).  Jesus stated that His teaching was derived from heaven, not from the traditional rabbinic schools of His day (John 7:16), and that those who were willing to submit themselves to God would know/accept His teachings (John 7:17).  Jesus’ teaching glorified the One who sent Him (John 7:18).  Jesus points out to the Jewish leadership that they claim to follow Moses, but then violate Moses’ teaching by wanting to Kill Him (John 7:19; cf. Ex. 20:13), to which the crowd reacts by saying Jesus has a demon (John 7:20).  Jesus then references His healing the lame man on the Sabbath as the basis for why others wanted to Kill Him (John 7:21), and then shows that the Jewish leadership is inconsistent because they’re willing to circumcise on the Sabbath, but then criticize Jesus for healing on the Sabbath (John 7:22-23).  Jesus instructs them to judge with righteous judgment (John 7:24).