The Authority of Jesus John 7:14-24

John 5:18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Pink Education is an altar which is now thronged by a multitude of idolatrous worshipers.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Morris This seems to indicate that many of them had never heard Jesus teach before this, and indeed, John has not recorded any previous teaching of Jesus in Jerusalem... Many of His audience on this occasion would be pilgrims from centers where Jesus had never been.

You See His Authority… When You See the Source So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.” John 7:16

You See His Authority… When You Follow It If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. John 7:17

Westcott We do not come to God with a certain grade point average for qualification, but rather humble surrender, an attitude of heart, a willingness to do the Father’s will.

Ryle We learn from these words how greatly they err who profess to be waiting till their mental difficulties are removed before they become decided Christians. They must change their plan. They must understand that knowledge comes through human obedience as well as through the intellect.... We learn furthermore, that God tests men’s sincerity by making obedience part of the process by which religious knowledge is obtained. Are we willing to do God’s will so far as we know it?

Piper So Jesus is saying that the basic reason why people do not own up to the truth of what he teaches is not that they lack sufficient evidence, but that their wills -- or we could say their hearts -- are against God. The fundamental problem is not intellectual but moral. The great obstacle to recognizing the truth of Christ is not deficient resources but deep rebellion against God.

John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

Barrett A free human decision about the claims of Jesus is impossible.

Romans 8:7-8 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Morgan When men are wholly, completely consecrated to the will of God and want to do that above everything else, then they find out that Christ’s teaching is divine, that it is the teaching of God.

You See His Authority… When You Stop Inflating Your Own The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. John 7:18

Resume Name: That which is above every name Title: King of Kings and Lord of lords Home Address: Heaven Past Work Experience: Creator of the universe; holds all things together by means of personal power References: God the Father and the Holy Spirit

You See His Authority… When You End Your Hypocrisy “Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” John 7:19–20

Morris It was a favorite cause for self- congratulation among the Jews that they were the recipients of the Law. But now our Lord points out that there is a difference between receiving and keeping the law.

Deuteronomy 31:10-11 At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the L ORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

You See His Authority… When You Stop and Compare Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well?” John 7:21–23

Ryle Is it then just and fair to be angry with me because I have done a far greater work to man on the Sabbath than the work of circumcision. I have not wounded his body by circumcision, but I have made him perfectly whole. I’ve not made a purifying work to one particular part of him, but I’ve restored his whole body to health and strength. I’ve not done a work of necessity to one single member only, but a work of necessity and benefit to the whole man.

1 Samuel 6:7 But the L ORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the L ORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the L ORD looks on the heart.”

You See His Authority… When You Go Beyond Appearances Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. John 7:24

We Judge People… publicly while never judging ourselves publicly, at best only judging ourselves internally. with righteous indignation while judging ourselves with mercy & grace. harshly while judging ourselves softly. with great detail, while judging ourselves with a blind eye.