John Calvin Commentary John 7:34

"Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, ye cannot come." — John 7:34 (ASV)

You shall seek me. They sought Christ, to put him to death. Here Christ alludes to the ambiguous meaning of the word seek, for soon they shall seek him in another manner. It is as if he had said, “My presence, which is now irksome and intolerable to you, will last for a short time; but before long you shall seek me in vain, for, far removed from you, not only by my body, but also by my power, I shall behold from heaven your destruction.”

But here a question may be asked: of what nature was this seeking of Christ? For it is plain enough that Christ speaks of the reprobate, whose obstinacy in rejecting Christ had reached the utmost point. Some refer it to doctrine, because the Jews, by foolishly pursuing the righteousness of works, did not obtain what they desired (Romans 9:31). Many understand it as referring to the person of the Messiah, because the Jews, reduced to extremities, in vain implored a Redeemer. But for my own part, I explain it as merely denoting the groans of distress uttered by the wicked, when, compelled by necessity, they look in some manner towards God.

And shall not find me. When they seek him, they do not seek him; for unbelief and obstinacy — by shutting up their hearts, as it were — hinder them from approaching God. They would desire, indeed, that God should aid them and should be their Redeemer, but by impenitence and hardness of heart, they obstruct their path.

We have a very striking example in Esau, who, on account of having lost his birthright, not only is oppressed with grief, but groans and gnashes his teeth, and breaks out into furious indignation (Genesis 27:38; Hebrews 12:17). Yet he is so far from the right way of seeking the blessing that, at the very time when he is seeking it, he renders himself more unworthy of it.

In this manner God usually punishes the contempt of his grace in the reprobate, so that, either afflicted by severe punishments, or oppressed by a conviction of their misery, or reduced to other extremities, they complain, cry, and howl, but without reaping any advantage.

For, being always like themselves, they nourish within their hearts the same cruelty which they formerly displayed, and do not go to God, but rather wish that he were changed, since they cannot destroy him. Hence let us learn that we ought to receive Christ without delay while he is still present with us, so that the opportunity of enjoying him may not pass away from us; for if the door is once shut, it will be vain for us to try to open it.

As Isaiah says, Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near, (Isaiah 55:6).

We ought therefore to go to God early, while the time of his good pleasure lasts, as the prophet speaks (Isaiah 49:8), for we do not know how long God will bear with our negligence. In these words, where I am, you cannot come, he employs the present tense instead of the future: where I shall be, you shall not be able to come.