Albert Barnes Commentary John 7

After these things. After the transactions which are recorded in the last chapters had taken place, and after the offense He had given the Jews. See John 5:18.

Jesus walked. Or Jesus lived, or taught. He traveled around Galilee teaching.

In Jewry. In Judea, the southern division of Palestine. Compare. See Barnes on John 4:3.

The Jews sought. That is, the rulers of the Jews. It does not appear that the common people ever attempted to take His life.

The Jews' feast of tabernacles. Or the feast of tents. This feast was celebrated on the fifteenth day of the month Tisri, corresponding to the last half of our month September and the first half of October (Numbers 29:12; Deuteronomy 16:13–15). It was so called from the tents or tabernacles which on that occasion were erected in and around Jerusalem, and was designed to commemorate their dwelling in tents in the wilderness (Nehemiah 8:16–18).

During the continuance of this feast they dwelt in booths or tents, as their fathers did in the wilderness (Leviticus 23:42–43). The feast was continued eight days, and the eighth or last day was the most distinguished, and was called the great day of the feast (John 7:37; Numbers 29:35).

The Jews on this occasion not only dwelt in booths, but they carried about the branches of palms, willows, and other trees which bore thick foliage, and also branches of the olive tree, myrtle, etc. (Nehemiah 8:15). Many sacrifices were offered on this occasion (Numbers 29:12–39; Deuteronomy 16:14–16), and it was a time of general joy. It is called by Josephus and Philo the greatest feast, and was one of the three feasts which every male among the Jews was obliged to attend.

His brethren. See Barnes on Matthew 12:47.

Your disciples. The disciples whom he had made when he was previously in Judea (John 4:1–3).

The works. The miracles.

For there is no man... (John 7:4). The brethren of Jesus supposed that he was influenced as others are. As it is a common thing among people to seek popularity, so they supposed that he would also seek it; and as a great multitude would be assembled at Jerusalem at this feast, they supposed it would be a favourable time to make himself known.

What follows shows that this was said, probably, not in sincerity, but in derision. To the other sufferings of our Lord was to be added what is so common to Christians: derision from his relatives and friends on account of his pretensions. If our Saviour was derided, we also may expect to be derided by our relatives; and, having his example, we should be content to bear it.

If thou do... (John 7:4). It appears from this that they did not really believe that he performed miracles; or, if they did believe it, they did not suppose that he was the Christ. Yet it seems hardly credible that they could suppose that his miracles were real, and yet not admit that he was the Messiah. Besides, there is no evidence that these relatives had been present at any of his miracles, and all that they knew of them might have been from report. (See the commentary on Mark 3:21).

Regarding the word brethren in John 7:5, see the commentary on Matthew 13:55.

See the commentary on Galatians 1:19.

My time. This refers to the proper time for my going up to the feast. We do not know why it was not yet a proper time for him to go. It might be because if he went then, in their company, while multitudes were going, it would have too much the appearance of parade and ostentation. This, in turn, might excite too much notice and be more likely to expose him to the envy and opposition of the rulers.

Your time. This means it makes no difference to you when you go up. Your going will excite no tumult or opposition; it will not attract attention, and will not endanger your lives. Jesus therefore chose to go up more privately and to remain until the multitude had gone. They commonly traveled to these feasts in large companies, made up of most of the families in the neighborhood (see the commentary on Luke 2:44).

John 2:4; John 8:20; John 7:8, 30