John 7:14

¶ Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.

Now {G2235} about {G1161} the midst of {G3322} the feast {G1859} Jesus {G2424} went up {G305} into {G1519} the temple {G2411}, and {G2532} taught {G1321}.

Not until the festival was half over did Yeshua go up to the Temple courts and begin to teach.

About halfway through the feast, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach.

But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.

John 7:14 describes a pivotal moment in Jesus' public ministry during the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot, one of the three major annual pilgrim festivals for the Jewish people. This feast was a joyous celebration commemorating Israel's forty years of wandering in the wilderness and God's provision, but it also held significant messianic expectations.

Context and Setting

The verse states, "Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught." This timing is crucial. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus' brothers had urged Him to go to Jerusalem publicly to display His works, but He responded, "My time is not yet come" (John 7:8). His decision to appear "about the midst of the feast" demonstrates His precise divine timing, not acting on human pressure but according to God's perfect plan.

The Temple in Jerusalem was the spiritual, cultural, and political heart of Jewish life. For Jesus to enter this sacred and highly visible space to teach publicly was a bold assertion of His authority and a direct engagement with the religious establishment and the thousands of pilgrims gathered for the festival.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Timing and Sovereignty: Jesus' actions were not impulsive but perfectly orchestrated. He waited until the appropriate moment, highlighting that God's plans unfold according to His precise schedule, not ours. This teaches us patience and trust in divine providence.
  • Public Declaration of Authority: By teaching openly in the Temple courts, Jesus was publicly proclaiming His role as a prophet and the Messiah. His teaching was not merely conversational but authoritative instruction, immediately drawing attention and sparking debate among the crowds and religious leaders, as seen in the verses that follow (John 7:15).
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: The Messiah was expected to appear and teach in the Temple. Jesus' actions here align with prophetic expectations, fulfilling His role as the ultimate teacher and revealer of God's truth.

Linguistic Insight

The Greek word for "taught" is didaskō (διδάσκω), which conveys the idea of instructing, explaining, and expounding with authority. It implies a formal and deliberate act of teaching, not just casual conversation. This emphasizes the weight and significance of Jesus' words in this setting.

Practical Application

This verse reminds believers of several important truths:

  • Trust in God's Timing: Just as Jesus operated according to His Father's perfect timing, we are called to trust that God knows the best time for us to act, speak, or wait.
  • Courage to Speak Truth: Jesus taught openly in a potentially hostile environment. This inspires believers to courageously share the truth of God's Word, even when it might be unpopular or challenging.
  • The Centrality of Teaching: Jesus' ministry was fundamentally about teaching. This underscores the importance of studying God's Word and being discipled, allowing His authoritative instruction to transform our lives.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 7:28

    Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

  • Luke 19:47

    And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,

  • Matthew 26:55

    In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

  • Numbers 29:12

    ¶ And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:

  • Numbers 29:13

    And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, [and] fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish:

  • John 7:37

    ¶ 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.

  • John 7:2

    Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.

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