João 7
J. Vernon McGee · Citado em PreceptAustin
João 7
Vernon McGee has an interesting thought - He probably traveled with His (TWELVE) disciples on a back road and entered into the city through the sheep gate. I believe He always entered Jerusalem through the sheep gate until the time of His so-called triumphal entry when He appeared publicly, offering Himself to the nation and actually demanding that they either accept or reject Him. John
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Vernon McGee - This was a feast of great joy to celebrate Israel's wonderful deliverance out of the land of Egypt. Because they had lived in tents during the wilderness journey, this is a feast of tents, or booths. They didn't have campers, you see, but they did camp out in booths. There was the blowing of trumpets and seventy bullocks were offered. There was the pouring out of water in the temple, with a double portion on the last day of the feast to remind them that God gave them water from the rock in the wilderness. They brought the water from the pool of Siloam and poured out literally barrels of water. During this festival, they illuminated the inner court with a regular torch parade. This was commemorating the pillar of fire that guided the children of Israel by night as they wandered in the wilderness. Now we can understand that the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire that led the children of Israel were both pictures of our Lord Jesus Christ. All the feasts of Jehovah in the Old Testament have been fulfilled except the Feast of Tabernacles. This will be fulfilled when our Lord returns to the earth. Thus it symbolizes the great joy of that time. Brian Bell on the Feast of Tabernacles - Think of it as a National Campout! [It commemorated the days when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness & lived in tents/booths] Daily, during this 7 day feast, water was drawn from the Pool of Siloam. A priest, accompanied by a procession of people & musicians, would go and fill a golden pitcher from the pool. It was carried back through the Water Gate, while the people recited Isa12:3 “with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” The water was carried up to the Temple altar & poured out as an offering to God. It was designed to represented 3 things: a) [1] A memorial of the water provided for their fathers in the desert. [2] A symbol of the forthcoming latter rain. [3] A reminder of the water which sprang from the rock while in the wilderness. Mark Moore - The fall Feast of Tabernacles, along with Passover and Pentecost, were the major feasts which Jewish men were expected to attend (Deut 16:16). Tabernacles was a delightful eight-day festival (Deut 16:13-17) that celebrated two things: The fall harvest, much like our Thanksgiving, and the Exodus from Egyptian slavery. Along with the seventy sacrificed bulls and the daily sounding of the temple trumpets, there were several symbols incorporated into the feast which reminded the Jews of their wilderness wanderings. Booths (i.e., tabernacles), were erected all over the city, where families would eat and sleep as a reminder of their wilderness dwellings (Lev 23:43). The holy candelabra and a parade of torches reminded them of the pillar of fire that led them by night (Num 14:14; Jn 8:12). Water from the pool of Siloam reminded them of God's provision of water from the rock at Meribah (Exod 17:1-7; cf. Jn 7:37). Not only will Jesus attend this feast, he will use these symbols as a platform for his preaching (Jn 7:37; 8:12). (See The Chronological Life of Christ - scroll up/down for more text) Feast (1859)(heorte) means feast, feast day, festival, holy day, a day or series of days marked by a periodic celebration or observance. In the NT heorte always denotes Jewish feasts or pilgrimage festivals (Passover =Lk 2:41, Feast of Unleavened Bread = Lk 22:1, Feast of Tabernacles = Jn 7:2). Mounce - Jesus and His disciples celebrated the feasts (Jn 2:23; 5:1; 7:10, 14). More than half of the occurrences of heortē are found in John (Jn 12:12; 13:1), where the beloved disciple demonstrates that the OT feasts find their true significance in Christ (Jn 7:37). There is only one usage of heortē outside of the gospels (Col 2:16). Here Paul teaches that believers are free to eat, drink, and celebrate feast days without condemnation. But they must always remember that these feasts are “a shadow of the things that were to come” and that Christ fulfilled these feasts (Col 2:17). (Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words) Festivals - The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia Heorte - 24v - Matt. 26:5; Matt. 27:15; Mk. 14:2; Mk. 15:6; Lk. 2:41; Lk. 2:42; Lk. 22:1; Lk. 23:17; Jn. 2:23; Jn. 4:45; Jn. 5:1; Jn. 6:4; Jn. 7:2; Jn. 7:8; Jn. 7:10; Jn. 7:11; Jn. 7:14; Jn. 7:37; Jn. 11:56; Jn. 12:12; Jn. 12:20; Jn. 13:1; Jn. 13:29; Col. 2:16 Summary of The Seven Feasts (Source: The Fall Feasts) QUESTION - What is the Feast of Tabernacles / Booths / Sukkot? ANSWER - The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Booths and Sukkot, is the seventh and last feast that the Lord commanded Israel to observe and one of the three feasts that Jews were to observe each year by going to “appear before the Lord your God in the place which He shall choose” (Deuteronomy 16:16). The importance of the Feast of Tabernacles can be seen in how many places it is mentioned in Scripture. In the Bible we see many important events that took place at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. For one thing, it was at this time that Solomon’s Temple was dedicated to the Lord (1 Kings 8:2). It was at the Feast of Tabernacles that the Israelites, who had returned to rebuild the temple, gathered to celebrate under the leadership of Joshua and Zerubbabel (Ezra 3). Later, the Jews heard Ezra read the Word of God to them during the Feast of Tabernacles (Nehemiah 8). Ezra’s preaching resulted in a great revival as the Israelites confessed and repented of their sins. It was also during this Feast that Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37–39). The Feast of Tabernacles takes place on the 15th of the Hebrew month Tishri. This was the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar and usually occurs in late September to mid-October. The feast begins five days after the Day of Atonement and at the time the fall harvest had just been completed. It was a time of joyous celebration as the Israelites celebrated God’s continued provision for them in the current harvest and remembered His provision and protection during the 40 years in the wilderness. As one of the three feasts that all “native born” male Jews were commanded to participate in, the Feast of Tabernacles is mentioned multiple times in Scripture, sometimes called the Feast of the Ingathering, the Feast to the Lord, or the Feast of Booths (Exodus 23:16; Deuteronomy 16:13). As one of the pilgrim feasts (when Jewish males were commanded to go to Jerusalem), it was also the time when they brought their tithes and offerings to the Temple (Deuteronomy 16:16). With the influx of people coming to Jerusalem at that time, we can only imagine what the scene must have been like. Thousands upon thousands of people coming together to remember and celebrate God’s deliverance and His provision, all living in temporary shelters or booths as part of the requirements of the feast. During the eight-day period, so many sacrifices were made that it required all twenty-four divisions of priests to be present to assist in the sacrificial duties. A Temporary Sukkot Next to a Wall (EDITORIAL COMMENT - The Feast of Tabernacles memorialized the wandering in the desert. Pilgrims coming to Jerusalem would set up their tents (tabernacles, booths) all around the walls of the city. Inhabitants of Jerusalem would also pitched tents on their roofs and would stay in these tents for all the days of the feast as a memorial of Israel's wandering in the wilderness for forty years. All work in the city stopped, and there were daily religious activities such as the blowing of horns, a ritual of carrying water from the pool of Siloam, and a torchlight processional.) We find God’s instructions for celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in Leviticus 23+, given at a point in history right after God had delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt. The feast was to be celebrated each year on “the fifteenth day of this seventh month” and was to run for seven days (Leviticus 23:34). Like all feasts, it begins with a “holy convocation” or Sabbath day when the Israelites were to stop working to set aside the day for worshiping God. On each day of the feast they were to offer an “offering made by fire to the Lord” and then after seven days of feasting, again the eighth day was to be “a holy convocation” when they were to cease from work and offer another sacrifice to God (Leviticus 23+). Lasting eight days, the Feast of Tabernacles begins and ends with a Sabbath day of rest. During the eight days of the feast, the Israelites would dwell in booths or tabernacles that were made from the branches of trees (Leviticus 23:40–42+). The Feast of Tabernacles, like all the feasts, was instituted by God as a way of reminding Israelites in every generation of their deliverance by God from Egypt. Of course, the feasts are also significant in that they foreshadow the work and actions of the coming Messiah. Much of Jesus’ public ministry took place in conjunction with the Holy Feasts set forth by God. The three pilgrim feasts where all Jewish males were commanded to “appear before the Lord in the place he chooses” are each very important in regards to the life of Christ and His work of redemption. We know with certainty that the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are symbolic of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross. Likewise, we know that Pentecost, which marked the beginning of the Feast of Weeks, was the time of Jesus’ bodily ascension. And most scholars would agree that the Feast of Tabernacles is symbolic of Christ’s Second Coming when He will establish His earthly kingdom. There are also some who believe that it was likely during the Feast of Tabernacles that Jesus was born. While we celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25, most scholars acknowledge that this tradition was begun in the fourth century AD by the Roman Catholic Church and that the exact day of Jesus’ birth is unknown. Some of the evidence that Jesus might have been born earlier in the year during the Feast of the Tabernacles includes the fact that it would be unlikely for shepherds to still be in the field with their sheep in December, which is in the middle of the winter, but it would have been likely they were in the fields tending sheep at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. The strong possibility that Jesus was born at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles is also seen in the words John wrote in John 1:14. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” The word John chose to speak of Jesus “dwelling” among us is the word tabernacle, which simply means to “dwell in a tent.” Some believe it is very likely that John intentionally used this word to associate the first coming of Christ with the Feast of Tabernacles. Christ came in the flesh to dwell among us for a temporary time when He was born in the manger, and He is coming again to dwell among us as Lord of Lords. While it cannot be established with certainty that Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacles, some believe there is a strong possibility the Feast of Tabernacles not only looks forward to His second coming but also reflects back on His first coming. The Feast of Tabernacles begins and ends with a special Sabbath day of rest. During the days of the feast all native Israelites were “to dwell in booths” to remind them that God delivered them out of the “land of Egypt” and to look forward to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would deliver His people from the bondage of sin. This feast, like all of the feasts of Israel, consistently reminded the Jews and should remind Christians as well that God has promised to deliver His people from the bondage of sin and deliver them from their enemies. Part of God’s deliverance for the Israelites was His provision and protection of them for the 40 years they wandered in the wilderness, cut off from the Promised Land. The same holds true for Christians today. God protects us and provides for us as we go through life in the wilderness of this world. While our hearts long for the Promised Land (heaven) and to be in the presence of God, He preserves us in this world as we await the world to come and the redemption that will come when Jesus Christ returns again to “tabernacle” or dwell among us in bodily form. GotQuestions.org Related Resources: The Feast of Tabernacles in the Days of Jesus - article from Israel My Glory The Feast of Tabernacles - another article from Israel My Glory The Feast of Tabernacles in Ancient Times - another article from Israel My Glory The Ushpizzin Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. — James 1:27 Today's Scripture: James 1:19-27 In Jewish legend, the ushpizzin are guests who visit the pious at Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. They are supposedly the great Old Testament heroes who come offering comfort and encouragement to the faithful. According to Jewish lore, these unseen guests only visit the sukkah (shelter) where the poor are welcome—a reminder of each person’s responsibility to care for others. It also reminds them that unseen watchers may be observing their conduct. The story of the ushpizzin isn’t true, of course. But beyond the lore and legend we are reminded that we as Christ-followers are living observed lives. Others are watching us. And our concern for others, particularly the least among us, is an expression of the compassion Christ displayed to the hurting and outcast of His generation. James, the half-brother of Jesus, challenged believers to put the love of Christ into practice. He wrote, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). FOR FURTHER STUDY The church is made up of needy people—including us! How are we to respond to each other’s needs? Read The Church We Need at www.discoveryseries.org/q0904 When people observe your life, do they see the love of Christ? Our Refuge God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. — Psalm 46:1 Today's Scripture: Leviticus 23:37-43 Most homes are built to keep its inhabitants safe from ill effects of the weather, but not the dwellings built for Succoth. During this Jewish holiday, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, worshipers live in dwellings made of leaves and branches. One requirement is that the stars must be visible through the “roof.” Obviously, this dwelling provides little protection from inclement weather. And that’s the point. Living in this vulnerable shelter reminds the Jews of their dependency on God. During the days of the prophet Isaiah, the people bragged about a very different kind of dwelling place; they had made lies their refuge and falsehood their hiding place (Isa. 28:15). Because of the Israelites’ dependence on ungodly things, the Lord said to them through the prophet, “Hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place” (v.17). Succoth calls us to examine our lives to make sure that our security rests not on lies but on God’s truth. The Feast of Tabernacles reminds us that all of life is sustained by God’s goodness. No storm can shake my inmost calm While to that refuge clinging; Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, How can I keep from singing? —Lowry God is a safe dwelling place in life's storms. Not A Killjoy Take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, . . . and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God. —Leviticus 23:40 Today's Scripture: Leviticus 23:33-44 Contrary to what many believe, God is not a killjoy who frowns on His people having fun. The Old Testament Feast of Tabernacles is one evidence of this. The week-long festival came 5 days after the annual Day of Atonement, a day of fasting when Israelites expressed sorrow for their sins (Leviticus 23:26-32). The tabernacles were booth-like structures reminding Israel of the temporary dwellings they had in the wilderness. Also known as “The Feast of Ingathering” (Exodus 23:16), it pictured God’s blessing on their harvest, as well as the final rest and harvest planned for them in the future. Everyone who was able joined in a week of worship, rejoicing, and celebration (Deuteronomy 16:13-14). Imagine children greeting playmates they hadn’t seen for a year, feasts with plenty of food for all, bonfires under the starry sky, families feasting, and the nation celebrating forgiveness and freedom together. God takes delight when we rejoice In all that He has done; And when we see the love of Christ Our joy has just begun. —D. De Haan God wants to paint your life with joy. Source: Believer's Study Bible John 7:3 Therefore His brothers said to Him, "Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. BGT John 7:3 εἶπον οὖν πρὸς αὐτὸν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ· μετάβηθι ἐντεῦθεν καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν, ἵνα καὶ οἱ μαθηταί σου θεωρήσουσιν σοῦ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ποιεῖς· KJV John 7:3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. NET John 7:3 So Jesus' brothers advised him, "Leave here and go to Judea so your disciples may see your miracles that you are performing. CSB John 7:3 so His brothers said to Him, "Leave here and go to Judea so Your disciples can see Your works that You are doing. ESV John 7:3 So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. NIV John 7:3 Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. NLT John 7:3 and Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! NRS John 7:3 So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing; NJB John 7:3 his brothers said to him, 'Leave this place and go to Judaea, so that your disciples, too, can see the works you are doing; NAB John 7:3 So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. YLT John 7:3 his brethren, therefore, said unto him, 'Remove hence, and go away to Judea, that thy disciples also may behold thy works that thou dost; GWN John 7:3 So Jesus' brothers told him, "Leave this place, and go to Judea so that your disciples can see the things that you're doing. BBE John 7:3 So his brothers said to him, Go away from here into Judaea so that your disciples may see the works which you do. RSV John 7:3 So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples may see the works you are doing. NKJ John 7:3 His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. ASV John 7:3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may behold thy works which thou doest. MIT John 7:3 His brothers said to him, "Move on out from here, and go to the southern province so your disciples might see the works you do. His brothers: John 7:5 Mt 12:46,47 Mk 3:31 Lu 8:19 Ac 2:14 Leave here and go into Judea: Ge 37:5-11,20 1Sa 17:28 Jer 12:6 Mt 22:16,17 John 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 13:55 (NOTE: MARY HAD OTHER CHILDREN - SHE WAS NOT A PERPETUAL VIRGIN!) “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James (AUTHOR OF LETTER OF JAMES) and Joseph and Simon and Judas (AUTHOR OF JUDE)? John 2:12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days. Matthew 12:46-47 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.” WORLDLY WISDOM: GO AS A MIRACLE WORKER Therefore - Term of conclusion. Why did His brothers come to a conclusion now? They wanted to maximize His exposure and His reputation as a miracle worker. They may have wanted Him to show Himself to be the Messiah who would defeat Rome. His brothers (adelphos - see above) said to Him, "Leave (aorist imperative) here (Galilee) and go (aorist imperative) into Judea (Jerusalem) - More accurately there were Jesus' half-brothers. Note that they don't just suggest, but actually give Jesus two commands both of which mean "Do this now!" or "Don't delay!" It often conveys a sense of urgency. Worldly wisdom from unbelievers - Jesus says "I'll pass," and so too should we (contrast James 3:15-16+ with James 3:17-18+). As an aside clearly Mary had other children and was not a perpetual virgin as is falsely taught. THOUGHT - If an institution has false teaching concerning Mary, is it not conceivable that there is might also be false teaching on other theological subjects, some of which could determine a person's eternal destiny? Clearly that is a rhetorical question! So that (hina) - Term of result or purpose. What was the purpose of the brother's commanding Jesus to leave and go? Note that we can surmise (as many commentaries do) but we cannot state with certainty what motives lay behind the brothers’ comments. Your disciples (mathetes - "learners") also may see (theoreo) Your works (ergon) which You are (present tense - continually) doing (poieo) - The brothers reason is go so you can show! They wanted a theatrical (cf theoreo) display of His miraculous powers. They did not understand that Jesus' mission was that they know Him as their Messiah Who came to die for them so that they might live forever. Clearly the brothers had witnessed Jesus' miracles, but sadly still did not believe. In this context their designation Your disciples is unclear but could relate to the small band that did not depart as most of the professed disciples did in John 6:66+. THOUGHT- What is the lesson for us today? Don't say that if you saw the miracles Jesus performed, you would believe. You might believe in the miracles but you would not necessarily believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Even His brothers did not. In fact most of Israel witnessed one miracle after another, loved the miracles, but rejected the Miracle Worker as their Savior and Redeemer. Steven
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Vernon McGee - The world is hostile to Christ. The reason is that our Lord Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. He turns on that Light, and that Light reveals everything that is wrong; it reveals sin. He condemns sin. That is the reason He is hated even today. He condemns sin by His very presence, by His very life. This raises a hostility in man because the heart of man is evil (Jer 17:9). Christ went to the Cross because He loved the human family. Redeeming love is what has broken the heart of hostile man. We see this so clearly in the life of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:3-6+). He was breathing out threatenings. He hated the Lord Jesus and anyone who followed Him (Acts 9:1-2+). But when he came to know the Lord Jesus as his Savior, it broke his heart, and he could say, "He loved me, and gave himself FOR (huper = in my place = substitutionary atonement!) me" (see Gal. 2:20+). J C
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Vernon McGee - To reject the message of Jesus is to reject the message of God. In chapters 4 and 5, He has insisted that to reject Him is to reject God. Don't ever tell me that He didn't make Himself equal with God. You may reject that He is, but you can never say that the Bible does not declare Him to be equal with God. Adam
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Vernon McGee - We have an adage that says, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating of it." Jesus invites you; come and make a laboratory test. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine." There must be an attitude of love for the Word of God. Someone has said that human knowledge must be known to be loved, but divine knowledge must be loved to be understood. Here we have the steps: knowledge, love, obedience. That is what He asks you to do. It's so easy to sit on the sidelines and be a Monday morning quarterback. We love to tell others how it should have been done or to speak our mind without really knowing. Jesus says, "Taste the Lord!" "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." That is the wonder of the Word of God. Friend, if you are willing, God will make it real to you. The Holy Spirit will confirm it to you. (Ibid) Warren
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Vernon McGee says Jesus' "invitation is open to everyone, but it's limited to those who are thirsty. Are you thirsty? Are you discontent?...Oh, friend, go to Him! He has the water of life....If you are enjoying drinking at the cistern of this world, you will never come to Him, but if you are thirsty, come to Him, the (Ed: ONLY) One Who can and will satisfy." (David a Man After God's Own Heart) Thirsting and hung’ring for Thee, Jesus, With blessed hunger here, Looking for home on Zion’s mountain No thirst no hunger there. -J L Lyne "If Any Man Thirst" - "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty." Isa. 44:3 But who is thirsty? Casually wanting a drink of water is not thirsting. We know nothing of thirst, with water on tap at our elbows. When every pore cries, "water"; when lips swell; when every thought, hope and desire is concentrated in a fever for one cooling drink—that is thirst. Do we have such craving for fulness of the Spirit? Do we pant after God as the hart after the water brooks? We talk lightly about the need of more power. Five minutes later we have changed to some other subject; it is merely a topic for polite conversation among the saints. We are too shallow, we do not go to the deeps of any subject, we flit like butterflies from theme to theme. And never even in dreams have seen, The things which are more excellent. We are inclined nowadays to discount the experiences of the giants of another day who were so consumed with fever for deeper blessing that food lost its taste and sleep could not be had. More comfortable routes to Beulah Land, have been devised. But deep desire brings deep delight and when one compares the mighty preaching of those days with the thin pipings of these times it is evident that a shallow sense of poverty has brought a shallow sense of power. The living water has not been poured upon us for we are not thirsty. (Vance Havner - Consider Jesus) Ray Pritchard on what how to experience a river of living water flowing out from our innermost being (Jn 7:38) - The first step is coming to Jesus. It’s all very personal. Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me.” He doesn’t say, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to the church.” Or “let him come to the pastor.” Or “let him walk an aisle or sign a card.” Or even “let him learn Bible doctrine.” Jesus invites a thirsty world to come to him. Christianity is Christ. It’s not a religion; it’s a relationship. (When God Comes Near- “I Believe in the Holy Spirit”) Is thirsty (1372) (dipsao from dipsa = thirst) is used to refer to literal thirst (Mt 25:35, 37, 42, 44; Jn 19:28) and figurative thirst (Mt 5:6, Jn 4:13, 14, 6:35, 7:37, Rev 7:16, 21:6, 22:17). And so we see that dipsao is used to describe both physical thirst and the deep spiritual longing that is in every heart. Thayer - Figuratively, those are said to thirst who painfully feel their want of, and eagerly long for, those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, strengthened: John 4:13f; 6:35; 7:37; Rev. 7:16; 21:6; 22:17; It is worth noting that in John 7:37 in Jesus' invitation He uses three verbs, each one in the present tense. One could amplify His invitation this way "If anyone is continually thirsting, let him keep coming to Me and keep drinking from Me." Note that in Jn 7:38 the verb believe (which parallels the verb drink in Jn 7:37) is also in the present tense, conveying the sense of "keep on believing in Me," something genuine believers are enabled to accomplish by the Spirit. May the Spirit Who ever seeks to glorify Jesus, continually make us thirsty for more of Him, and less of the world, so that we keep coming to Him, drinking from Him, believing in Him, that His Name might be glorified among the nations. Amen. Dipsao - 16x in 16v - Usage: am thirsty(1), thirst(5), thirsts(1), thirsty(9). Matthew 5:6-note "Blessed (makarios = fully satisfied, independent of one's circumstances) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Comment: Note that both hunger and thirst are in the present tense which calls for these longings of our soul to be our lifestyle (this reason alone indicating that Jesus refers not to justification but to sanctification). Think for a moment - if you eat only one meal, does it satisfy you for the rest of the week? Of course not. Even though that meal might have satiated you for the moment (especially if you gorged yourself like I do on my favorite dishes), your body will naturally grow hungry again as time passes. In the same way, as believers we will continually (and I would submit daily) hunger and thirst for God's righteousness, ultimately found in the Righteous One, Christ Jesus. Notice that the prerequisite condition to receive blessing and satisfaction is thirst, and a thirsty soul Jesus promises to satisfy. (Mt 5:6) Are you thirsty? More on point, are you thirsty for Jesus? Christ is the answer to the cry of our soul for God. As noted, in Mt 5:6 Jesus gives two benefits which should motivate continual thirst for the Righteous One, first blessedness (which itself conveys the idea of fully satisfied independent of one's circumstances) and second, satisfaction, not of the physical appetite but of the deeper hunger of our soul, a hunger which is only satisfied by a Jesus kind of righteousness. The idea is to long earnestly for or have strong desire for divine (Christ's) righteousness, which in theological terms is another way to describe progressive sanctification or growth in righteousness or growth in holiness and Christ-likeness. Stephen Olford on hunger and thirst in Mt 5:6 - This calls for spiritual appetites created by the Spirit of God....The fullness of God has been made available to us in Christ, for we read: “For in Him [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and [we] are complete in Him …” (Col. 2:9–10). Hungering and thirsting after righteousness is another way of expressing a deeper and fuller commitment to God and, consequently, a deeper and fuller satisfaction in God."...Hunger and thirst are not feelings that go away. They are an evidence of spiritual health, and represent a desire that is deep and continuous. In fact, they become greater by what they feed on. We can test our spiritual position before God by asking the questions: Do I hunger and thirst after God? Did I meet Him in the Word this morning? Did I drink deeply of the Spirit? Am I desperate for God, for revival, for blessing? By contrast, a sick person has no appetite. Spiritually speaking, if he ceases to hunger after God, to pray, to obey, to serve, or to witness, he will be a living corpse. Alive, yes, but dead even while he lives. This accounts for the sterility in the Christian church today. We are hungry for so many other things: pleasure, power, popularity, prosperity (Stephen Olford - Institutes of Biblical preaching, Vol 7) Matthew 25:35 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 44 "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' John 4:13-note Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw." Comment: Notice that the world's "water" does not satisfy our soul thirst (Jn 4:13), but only Jesus' living (life giving) water can satisfy a weary soul. John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. John 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. John 19:28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, "I am thirsty." Romans 12:20-note "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." 1 Corinthians 4:11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; Revelation 7:16-note "They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; A T
João 7:37-39
Vernon McGee says Jesus' "invitation is open to everyone, but it's limited to those who are thirsty. Are you thirsty? Are you discontent?… Oh, friend, go to Him! He has the water of life… If you are enjoying drinking at the cistern of this world, you will never come to Him, but if you are thirsty, come to Him, the (Ed: ONLY) One Who can and will satisfy." (David a Man After God's Own Heart) Thirsting and hung’ring for Thee, Jesus, With blessed hunger here, Looking for home on Zion’s mountain No thirst no hunger there. -J L Lyne "If Any Man Thirst" - "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty." Isa. 44:3 But who is thirsty? Casually wanting a drink of water is not thirsting. We know nothing of thirst, with water on tap at our elbows. When every pore cries, "water"; when lips swell; when every thought, hope and desire is concentrated in a fever for one cooling drink—that is thirst. Do we have such craving for fulness of the Spirit? Do we pant after God as the hart after the water brooks? We talk lightly about the need of more power. Five minutes later we have changed to some other subject; it is merely a topic for polite conversation among the saints. We are too shallow, we do not go to the deeps of any subject, we flit like butterflies from theme to theme. And never even in dreams have seen, The things which are more excellent. We are inclined nowadays to discount the experiences of the giants of another day who were so consumed with fever for deeper blessing that food lost its taste and sleep could not be had. More comfortable routes to Beulah Land, have been devised. But deep desire brings deep delight and when one compares the mighty preaching of those days with the thin pipings of these times it is evident that a shallow sense of poverty has brought a shallow sense of power. The living water has not been poured upon us for we are not thirsty. (Vance Havner - Consider Jesus) Ray Pritchard on what how to experience a river of living water flowing out from our innermost being (Jn 7:38) - The first step is coming to Jesus. It’s all very personal. Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me.” He doesn’t say, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to the church.” Or “let him come to the pastor.” Or “let him walk an aisle or sign a card.” Or even “let him learn Bible doctrine.” Jesus invites a thirsty world to come to him. Christianity is Christ. It’s not a religion; it’s a relationship. (When God Comes Near- “I Believe in the Holy Spirit”) Is thirsty (1372) (dipsao from dipsa = thirst) is used to refer to literal thirst (Mt 25:35, 37, 42, 44; Jn 19:28) and figurative thirst (Mt 5:6, Jn 4:13, 14, 6:35, 7:37, Rev 7:16, 21:6, 22:17). And so we see that dipsao is used to describe both physical thirst and the deep spiritual longing that is in every heart. Thayer - Figuratively, those are said to thirst who painfully feel their want of, and eagerly long for, those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, strengthened: John 4:13f; 6:35; 7:37; Rev. 7:16; 21:6; 22:17; It is worth noting that in John 7:37 in Jesus' invitation He uses three verbs, each one in the present tense. One could amplify His invitation this way "If anyone is continually thirsting, let him keep coming to Me and keep drinking from Me." Note that in Jn 7:38 the verb believe (which parallels the verb drink in Jn 7:37) is also in the present tense, conveying the sense of "keep on believing in Me," something genuine believers are enabled to accomplish by the Spirit. May the Spirit Who ever seeks to glorify Jesus, continually make us thirsty for more of Him, and less of the world, so that we keep coming to Him, drinking from Him, believing in Him, that His Name might be glorified among the nations. Amen. Dipsao - 16x in 16v - Usage: am thirsty(1), thirst(5), thirsts(1), thirsty(9). Matthew 5:6-note "Blessed (makarios = fully satisfied, independent of one's circumstances) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Comment: Note that both hunger and thirst are in the present tense which calls for these longings of our soul to be our lifestyle (this reason alone indicating that Jesus refers not to justification but to sanctification). Think for a moment - if you eat only one meal, does it satisfy you for the rest of the week? Of course not. Even though that meal might have satiated you for the moment (especially if you gorged yourself like I do on my favorite dishes), your body will naturally grow hungry again as time passes. In the same way, as believers we will continually (and I would submit daily) hunger and thirst for God's righteousness, ultimately found in the Righteous One, Christ Jesus. Notice that the prerequisite condition to receive blessing and satisfaction is thirst, and a thirsty soul Jesus promises to satisfy. (Mt 5:6) Are you thirsty? More on point, are you thirsty for Jesus? Christ is the answer to the cry of our soul for God. As noted, in Mt 5:6 Jesus gives two benefits which should motivate continual thirst for the Righteous One, first blessedness (which itself conveys the idea of fully satisfied independent of one's circumstances) and second, satisfaction, not of the physical appetite but of the deeper hunger of our soul, a hunger which is only satisfied by a Jesus kind of righteousness. The idea is to long earnestly for or have strong desire for divine (Christ's) righteousness, which in theological terms is another way to describe progressive sanctification or growth in righteousness or growth in holiness and Christ-likeness. Stephen Olford on hunger and thirst in Mt 5:6 - This calls for spiritual appetites created by the Spirit of God… The fullness of God has been made available to us in Christ, for we read: “For in Him [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and [we] are complete in Him …” (Col. 2:9–10). Hungering and thirsting after righteousness is another way of expressing a deeper and fuller commitment to God and, consequently, a deeper and fuller satisfaction in God."… Hunger and thirst are not feelings that go away. They are an evidence of spiritual health, and represent a desire that is deep and continuous. In fact, they become greater by what they feed on. We can test our spiritual position before God by asking the questions: Do I hunger and thirst after God? Did I meet Him in the Word this morning? Did I drink deeply of the Spirit? Am I desperate for God, for revival, for blessing? By contrast, a sick person has no appetite. Spiritually speaking, if he ceases to hunger after God, to pray, to obey, to serve, or to witness, he will be a living corpse. Alive, yes, but dead even while he lives. This accounts for the sterility in the Christian church today. We are hungry for so many other things: pleasure, power, popularity, prosperity (Stephen Olford - Institutes of Biblical preaching, Vol 7) Matthew 25:35 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 44 "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' John 4:13-note Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw." Comment: Notice that the world's "water" does not satisfy our soul thirst (Jn 4:13), but only Jesus' living (life giving) water can satisfy a weary soul. John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. John 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. John 19:28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, "I am thirsty." Romans 12:20-note "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." 1 Corinthians 4:11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; Revelation 7:16-note "They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; A T