Jesus' Statement on the Jews Seeking Him in John 7-8
Jesus' Statement on the Jews Seeking Him in John 7-8
Jesus' statement to the Jews seeking him, "I go away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin" (John 8:21, ESV), is part of a larger discourse in John 7-8. In this passage, Jesus is teaching in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Jews are seeking to arrest or kill him [2].
The context of Jesus' statement is crucial to understanding its meaning. The Feast of Tabernacles was a significant Jewish festival, and Jesus' presence at the temple was a deliberate act of witness to the Jewish leaders and people. The Jews' desire to seek him and their subsequent reaction to his statement reveal their spiritual state [7].
Jesus says, "You shall seek me" (John 7:34, 8:21), which is a phrase that echoes throughout the Old Testament. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge notes that this phrase is cross-referenced with several Old Testament passages, including Leviticus 13:10, 1 Kings 21:20, and Isaiah 49:7, highlighting the theme of rejection and subsequent seeking [1].
In John 7:34, Jesus says, "You will seek me and you will not find me" (ESV). Adam Clarke interprets this as a reference to the Jews' future calamities, when they will seek Jesus' help but will be unable to find him because they have rejected him [4]. This interpretation is supported by Augustine, who notes that Jesus is speaking to the Jews' spiritual blindness and their inability to understand his divine nature [3].
The phrase "you will die in your sin" (John 8:21) is a warning to the Jews that their rejection of Jesus will have severe consequences. According to Augustine, this statement highlights the Jews' spiritual death, which is a result of their sin [6]. John Chrysostom notes that Jesus' statement is not just a prediction but a warning, emphasizing the importance of faith and repentance [5].
The Jews' reaction to Jesus' statement is one of confusion and misunderstanding. They ask, "Will he kill himself?" (John 8:22, ESV), demonstrating their lack of understanding of Jesus' divine nature and his mission. This reaction is consistent with the theme of spiritual blindness that pervades John 7-8 [7].
The patristic interpretation of this passage emphasizes the importance of understanding Jesus' divine and human natures. Augustine notes that Jesus is both God and man, and his statement in John 8:21 highlights his divine nature [3]. John Chrysostom emphasizes Jesus' power and authority, demonstrating that he is not just a human being but the Son of God [5].
Sources
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “John 7:7 cross-references: Leviticus 13:10, 1 Kings 21:20, 1 Kings 22:8, Proverbs 8:36, Proverbs 9:7, Proverbs 15:12, Isaiah 29:21, Isaiah 49:7, Jeremiah 20:8, Amos 7:7, Zechariah 11:8, Malachi 3:5, Luke 6:26, Luke 11:39, John 3:19, John 15:18, John 15:23, John 17:14, Acts 5:28, Acts 7:51, Romans 8:7, Galatians 4:16, James 4:4, 1 John 3:12, 1 John 4:5, Revelation 11:5”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 7 (introduction): Jesus continues in Galilee, Joh 7:1. He is desired to go to the feast of tabernacles, Joh 7:2-5. His answer, Joh 7:6-9. He goes up, and the Jews seek him at the feast, Joh 7:10-13. He teaches in the temple, Joh 7:14-24. The Jews are confounded by his preaching, Joh 7:25-27. He continues to teach; they wish to slay him, Joh 7:28-30. Many of the people believe on him, Joh 7:31. The Pharisees murmur, and our Lord reasons with them, Joh 7:32-36. His preaching on the last day of the feast, Joh 7:37-39. The people are greatly divided in their opinions concerning”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER VII. 25-36. (part 8): as regards His visible flesh, on the earth: as regards His invisible majesty, He was in heaven and on earth; and therefore He says, "Where I am, thither ye cannot come." Nor did He say, "Ye shall not be able." but "ye are not able to come;" for at that time they were such as were not able. And that ye may know that this was not said to cause despair, He said something of the same kind also to His disciples: "Whither I go ye cannot come."(1) Yet while praying in their behalf, He said, "Father, I will that where I am they ”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 8:21: Then said Jesus again unto them - He had said the same things to them the day before. See Joh 7:34. Ye shall seek me - When your calamities come upon you, ye shall in vain seek for the help of the Messiah, whom ye now reject, and whom ye shall shortly crucify.”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: if they did not know it, how could Judas be ignorant, who had been so continually with Him? for he too stood with them, and knew Him no more than they, but with them fell backward. And Jesus did this to show, that not only they could not seize Him, but could not even see Him when in the midst, unless He gave permission. Ver. 7 . “He saith again, Whom seek ye?” 2392 2392 “Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.” N.T. What madness! His word threw them backward, yet not even so did they turn, when they had learnt that His power was so great, bu”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — Chapter VIII. 13, 14. (part 1): 1. You who were present yesterday, bear in mind that we were a long while discoursing of the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, where He says, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life;" and if we wished to go on discoursing of that light, we might Still speak a long time; for it would be impossible for us to expound the matter in brief. Therefore, my brethren, let us follow Christ, the light of the world, that we may not be walking in darkness. We must”
- John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on John 7 (introduction): In this chapter we have, I. Christ's declining for some time to appear publicly in Judea (Joh 7:1). II. His design to go up to Jerusalem at the feast of tabernacles, and his discourse with his kindred in Galilee concerning his going up to this feast (Joh 7:2-13). III. His preaching publicly in the temple at that feast. 1. In the midst of the feast (Joh 7:14, Joh 7:15). We have his discourse with the Jews, (1.) Concerning his doctrine (Joh 7:16-18). (2.) Concerning the crime of sabbath-breaking laid to his charge (Joh 7:19-24). (3.) Concerning himself, bo”