John 7:4
For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world."
For no one who wants to be known publicly
This phrase addresses the human desire for recognition and fame. The Greek word for "known" here is "φανερός" (phaneros), which means to be visible or manifest. In the context of Jesus' ministry, this reflects the expectation that someone with a significant message or mission would naturally seek public acknowledgment. Historically, leaders and teachers in Jewish culture often sought public platforms to gain followers and influence. This phrase sets the stage for understanding the tension between Jesus' divine mission and human expectations.

acts in secret
The Greek word for "secret" is "κρυπτῷ" (krypto), meaning hidden or concealed. This highlights the contrast between public ministry and private actions. In the context of Jesus' life, His miracles and teachings were often done openly, yet His ultimate purpose and identity were not fully revealed until His crucifixion and resurrection. This phrase challenges the notion that true impact requires public display, suggesting instead that divine purposes often unfold in ways that defy human logic.

Since You are doing these things
The phrase "these things" refers to the miracles and teachings of Jesus. The Greek word "ποιεῖς" (poieis) implies ongoing action, indicating that Jesus' works were continuous and evident. This reflects the historical reality of Jesus' ministry, which was marked by consistent acts of compassion and power. The phrase underscores the expectation that such significant works should naturally lead to public recognition, yet it also foreshadows the misunderstanding of Jesus' true mission.

show Yourself to the world
The Greek word for "world" is "κόσμος" (kosmos), which can mean the physical world or the realm of human society. This phrase captures the disciples' and the public's expectation that Jesus should reveal His identity and mission to a broader audience. In a historical context, the Jewish people anticipated a Messiah who would assert His authority and establish a visible kingdom. However, Jesus' mission was to transform the world through spiritual means, challenging the conventional understanding of power and influence.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
- Central figure in the Gospel of John, whose actions and teachings are being scrutinized by His brothers in this passage.

2. Jesus' Brothers
- They are urging Jesus to reveal Himself publicly, possibly out of disbelief or misunderstanding of His mission.

3. Judea
- The region where Jesus' brothers suggest He should go to make His works known, specifically during the Feast of Tabernacles.

4. Feast of Tabernacles
- A significant Jewish festival that commemorates the Israelites' wilderness journey, providing a backdrop for the events in John 7.

5. Jerusalem
- The city where the Feast of Tabernacles is held, and where Jesus' brothers suggest He should demonstrate His works.
Teaching Points
Understanding True Motives
Jesus' brothers misunderstood His mission, focusing on public recognition rather than divine purpose. We must examine our motives in seeking recognition.

God's Timing vs. Human Timing
Jesus operated on God's timeline, not human expectations. We should seek God's guidance in our decisions and actions.

The Nature of True Faith
Faith should not be based solely on signs and wonders but on a deep understanding of who Jesus is.

Humility in Service
Jesus exemplified humility, prioritizing God's will over personal glory. We are called to serve with humility, following His example.

Public vs. Private Faith
Our faith should be consistent, whether in public or private. Authentic faith does not rely on public approval.
Bible Study Questions
1. How do Jesus' brothers' suggestions reflect a misunderstanding of His mission, and how can we avoid similar misunderstandings in our own lives?

2. In what ways does Jesus' response to His brothers demonstrate the importance of God's timing, and how can we apply this principle in our decision-making?

3. How does the desire for public recognition conflict with the teachings of Jesus, and what steps can we take to align our motives with His example?

4. How can we cultivate a faith that is not dependent on signs and wonders, but rooted in a personal relationship with Jesus?

5. Reflect on a time when you prioritized public approval over God's will. What did you learn from that experience, and how can it guide your future actions?
Connections to Other Scriptures
John 2:23-25
Jesus' awareness of human nature and His reluctance to entrust Himself to people who only believe because of signs.

Matthew 4:5-7
The temptation of Jesus, where He refuses to test God by performing a public miracle for self-glorification.

John 12:37-43
The theme of belief and unbelief, highlighting the tension between public recognition and genuine faith.

1 Samuel 16:7
God's perspective on the heart rather than outward appearances, contrasting human desire for public recognition.

Philippians 2:5-11
Jesus' humility and obedience, emphasizing His mission to serve rather than seek glory.
An Unsuccessful MinistryD. Lewis.John 7:1-18
Christ an Example of PrudenceBp. Ryle.John 7:1-18
Christ and ManBp. Ryle.John 7:1-18
Christ FoundC. H. Spurgeon.John 7:1-18
Christ Must be Openly PraisedDr. Guthrie.John 7:1-18
Christ When He Comes Brings DivisionG. Calthrop, M. A.John 7:1-18
Christians May Find Opportunities of Doing Good At Any Time and AnywhereR. Brewin, "Lecture on Uncle John Vassar."John 7:1-18
Church FestivalsHooker.John 7:1-18
Cowardly ChristiansC. H. Spurgeon.John 7:1-18
Diverse Effects of Contact with ChristCanon Liddon.John 7:1-18
For Neither Did His Brethren Believe in HimJ. Orton.John 7:1-18
Go Ye Up to This FeastT. Whitelaw, D. D.John 7:1-18
His BrethrenP. Schaff, D. D.John 7:1-18
How Christians Should Act in Times of DangerJ. Trapp.John 7:1-18
InfidelityD. Thomas, D. D.John 7:1-18
Jesus and His BrethrenProf. Godet.John 7:1-18
Limitations of Human GreatnessJ. B. Thomas, D. D.John 7:1-18
Misused OpportunityBp. Horne., T. Jones, D. D.John 7:1-18
Moral CowardiceJ. W. Burn.John 7:1-18
Motives for Seeking ChristW. H. Van Doren, D. D.John 7:1-18
My Time is not Yet Come; But Your Time is Alway ReadyL. Shackleford.John 7:1-18
Openly ReligiousHooker.John 7:1-18
Opportunities of Doing Good Should be Seized EagerlyRichard Baxter.John 7:1-18
Opportunity UnusedUnion MagazineJohn 7:1-18
SalvationMassillon.John 7:1-18
Self RevelationJ. Spencer.John 7:1-18
Show Thyself to the WorldP. B. Power, M. A.John 7:1-18
Striking ContrastsD. Thomas, D. D.John 7:1-18
The Antagonism Between Christ and the WorldG. Calthrop, M. A.John 7:1-18
The Feast of TabernaclesProf. Luthardt., J. T. Bannister, LL. D.John 7:1-18
The Folly of Moral CowardiceJ. Beaumont, M. D.John 7:1-18
The Situation SurveyedT. Whitelaw, D. D.John 7:1-18
The Unbelief of Christ's BrethrenMathematicus.John 7:1-18
The World's Treatment of ChristW. H. Van Doren, D. D.John 7:1-18
The World's Treatment of the ChurchS. Coley., Terence.John 7:1-18
Unbelief an ObstructionJohn 7:1-18
Want of Religious Sympathy At Home"Pilgrim's Progress."John 7:1-18
We Must not Seek MartyrdomJohn 7:1-18
We Must Openly Show Our Love to ChristDr. Cuyler.John 7:1-18
Where is HeC. H. Spurgeon.John 7:1-18
Where is HeHomiletic ReviewJohn 7:1-18
Where to Find ChristC. H. Spurgeon.John 7:1-18
Why Christ Hid HimselfJ. Trapp.John 7:1-18
People
David, Jerusalemites, Jesus, Nicodemus
Places
Galilee, Jerusalem, Judea
Topics
Acts, Anything, Desire, Desiring, Doest, Figure, Manifest, Openly, Public, Publicly, Reveal, Secret, Secretly, Seeketh, Seeks, Shew, Thyself, Works
Dictionary of Bible Themes
John 7:2-5

     5822   criticism, against believers

John 7:2-10

     5941   secrecy

John 7:3-5

     2545   Christ, opposition to

John 7:3-8

     2535   Christ, family of

Library
September 13 Morning
If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.--JOHN 7:37. My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.--O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat;
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

June 9 Morning
Never man spake like this man.--JOHN 7:46. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.--The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.--His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend. All bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.--He taught them as one having
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

July 30 Evening
Nicodemus . . . he that came to Jesus by night.--JOHN 7:50. Peter followed him afar off.--Among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.--The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.--A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

One Saying with Two Meanings
'Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto Him that sent Me. 34. Ye shall seek Me, and shall not find Me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.'--JOHN vii. 33, 34. 'Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek Me; and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.'--JOHN xiii. 33. No greater contrast can be conceived than that between these two groups to whom such singularly similar words were addressed. The
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Rock and the Water
'In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. 38. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.'--JOHN vii. 37,38. The occasion and date of this great saying are carefully given by the Evangelist, because they throw much light on its significance and importance. It was 'on the last day, that great day of the Feast,' that 'Jesus stood and cried.' The Feast
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Fifteenth Day. The Holy Spirit.
But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believed on Him were to receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet: because Jesus was not yet glorified.'--John vii. 39. 'The Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things.'--John xiv. 26. 'God chose you to salvation in sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth.'--2 Thess. ii. 13. (See 1 Pet. i. 2.) It has sometimes been said, that while the Holiness of God stands out more prominently
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

The Transfiguration: an Emergency Measure. Matthew 16:28-17:1-8. Mark 9:1-8. Luke 9:27-36.
God in Sore Straits: the darkest hour save one, fugitive, John 7:1. ban, John 9:22, 34. pushing, Matthew 15:1. Mark 7:1.--the danger zone, "withdrew," Matthew 4:12. 12:15. 14:13. 15:21. Tabernacles, John 7:32. 8:59.--Galileans desert, John 6:60-66.--the inner circle infected, John 6:67-71.--God needs men. Fire and anvil for Leaders: mental strength--seasoned leadership--Simon and Peter. An Irresistible Plan: alone with the twelve--the changed plan, Matthew 16:18-21.--Peter's stupid boldness,
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

On the Words of the Gospel of John vii. 6, Etc. , Where Jesus Said that He was not Going up unto the Feast, and Notwithstanding Went
1. I Purpose by the Lord's assistance to treat of this section [3961] of the Gospel which has just been read; nor is there a little difficulty here, lest the truth be endangered, and falsehood glory. Not that either the truth can perish, nor falsehood triumph. Now hearken for a while what difficulty this lesson has; and being made attentive by the propounding of the difficulty, pray that I may be sufficient for its solution. "The Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand;" [3962] these it seems are
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
Discourse 10 "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then thou shalt see clearly to
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

"Let any Man Come. "
[7] "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."--John 7:37-38. THE text which heads this paper contains one of those mighty sayings of Christ which deserve to be printed in letters of gold. All the stars in heaven are bright and beautiful; yet even a child can see that "one star differeth from another in glory"
John Charles Ryle—The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times

Author's Preface.
I did not write this little work with the thought of its being given to the public. It was prepared for the help of a few Christians who were desirous of loving God with the whole heart. But so many have requested copies of it, because of the benefit they have derived from its perusal, that I have been asked to publish it. I have left it in its natural simplicity. I do not condemn the opinions of any: on the contrary, I esteem those which are held by others, and submit all that I have written to
Jeanne Marie Bouvières—A Short Method Of Prayer And Spiritual Torrents

Answer to Mr. W's Sixth Objection.
6. and lastly, Let us consider the intrinsick absurdities, and incredibilities of the several stories of these three miracles, p. 36.--As to Jairus's daughter, and her resurrection from the dead, St. Hilary [13] hints, that there was no such person as Jairus;--and he gives this reason, and a good reason it is, why he thought so, because it is elsewhere intimated in the gospel that none of the rulers of the synagogues confessedly believ'd on Jesus, John vii. 48. and xii. 42. St. John's words in the
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles

Want of Universality in the Knowledge and Reception of Christianity, and of Greater Clearness in the Evidence.
Or, a Revelation which really came from God, the proof, it has been said, would in all ages be so public and manifest, that no part of the human species would remain ignorant of it, no understanding could fail of being convinced by it. The advocates of Christianity do not pretend that the evidence of their religion possesses these qualities. They do not deny that we can conceive it to be within the compass of divine power to have communicated to the World a higher degree of assurance, and to have
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

Our Historical Scriptures were Attacked by the Early Adversaries of Christianity...
Our historical Scriptures were attacked by the early adversaries of Christianity, as containing the accounts upon which the Religion was founded. Near the middle of the second century, Celsus, a heathen philosopher, wrote a professed treatise against Christianity. To this treatise Origen, who came about fifty years after him, published an answer, in which he frequently recites his adversary's words and arguments. The work of Celsus is lost; but that of Origen remains. Origen appears to have given
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

Rejection of Christianity.
We acknowledge that the Christian religion, although it converted great numbers, did not produce an universal, or even a general conviction in the minds of men of the age and countries in which it appeared. And this want of a more complete and extensive success is called the rejection of the Christian history and miracles; and has been thought by some to form a strong objection to the reality of the facts which the history contains. The matter of the objection divides itself into two parts; as it
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

In the Temple at the Feast of Tabernacles.
(October, a.d. 29.) ^D John VII. 11-52. ^d 11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? [It was now eighteen months since Jesus had visited Jerusalem, at which time he had healed the impotent man at Bethesda. His fame and prolonged obscurity made his enemies anxious for him to again expose himself in their midst. John here used the word "Jews" as a designation for the Jerusalemites, who, as enemies of Christ, were to be distinguished from the multitudes who were in doubt
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus' Brothers Advise Him to Go to Jerusalem.
(Galilee, Probably Capernaum.) ^D John VII. 2-9. ^d 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the feast of tabernacles, was at hand. [The first verse of this chapter tells us that Jesus kept away from Judæa because the Jews sought for his life. See page 393. This keeping away or seclusion began at the Passover season, and led Jesus not only to keep away from Judæa, but even to hover upon the outskirts of Galilee itself. This seclusion is described in Sections LXV.-LXXI. We now turn back to take up
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Story of the Adulteress.
(Jerusalem.) ^D John VII. 53-VIII. 11. [This section is wanting in nearly all older manuscripts, but Jerome (a.d. 346-420) says that in his time it was contained in "many Greek and Latin manuscripts," and these must have been as good or better than the best manuscripts we now possess. But whether we regard it as part of John's narrative or not, scholars very generally accept it as a genuine piece of history.] ^d 53 And they went every man unto his own house [confused by the question of Nicodemus,
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

How to Know the Will of God
"If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God."--JOHN vii. 17. THERE is an experience which becomes more and more familiar to every one who is trying to follow Christ--a feeling of the growing loneliness of his Christian life. It comes from a sense of the peculiarly personal interest which Christ takes in him, which sometimes seems so strong as almost to make him feel that his life is being detached from all the other lives around him, that it is being drawn out
Henry Drummond—The Ideal Life

In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
IT was the last, the great day of the Feast,' and Jesus was once more in the Temple. We can scarcely doubt that it was the concluding day of the Feast, and not, as most modern writers suppose, its Octave, which, in Rabbinic language, was regarded as a festival by itself.' [3987] [3988] But such solemn interest attaches to the Feast, and this occurrence on its last day, that we must try to realise the scene. We have here the only Old Testament type yet unfilfilled; the only Jewish festival which has
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Journey to Jerusalem - Chronological Arrangement of the Last Part of the Gospel-Narratives - First Incidents by the Way.
THE part in the Evangelic History which we have now reached has this peculiarity and difficulty, that the events are now recorded by only one of the Evangelists. The section in St. Luke's Gospel from chapter ix. 51 to chapter xviii. 14 stands absolutely alone. From the circumstance that St. Luke omits throughout his narrative all notation of time or place, the difficulty of arranging here the chronological succession of events is so great, that we can only suggest what seems most probable, without
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

At the Feast of Tabernacles - First Discourse in the Temple
IT was Chol ha Moed - as the non-sacred part of the festive week, the half-holy days were called. [3949] Jerusalem, the City of Solemnities, the City of Palaces, the City of beauty and glory, wore quite another than its usual aspect; other, even, than when its streets were thronged by festive pilgrims during the Passover-week, or at Pentecost. For this was pre-eminently the Feast for foreign pilgrims, coming from the farthest distance, whose Temple-contributions were then received and counted. [3950]
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

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