14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. 15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? 16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. (John 7:14-18 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, 1. Though Christ went up to Jerusalem privately, lest he should stir up the jealousy of the Pharisees against himself unseasonably; yet went he into the temple and taught publicly; his example teaches us thus much, “that although the servants of Christ may for a time, and in some cases, withdraw themselves from apprehended danger: yet, when God calls them to appear openly; they must do it courageously, without shrinking, though the danger be still impending.” Jesus went up to Jerusalem, entered the temple and taught.
Observe, 2. So admirable was our holy Lord’s doctrine, that the Jews marvel how he should come to the knowledge of such divine mysteries, considering the meanness of his education. They were struck with admiration, but they wanted faith; whereas the least degree of saving faith is beyond all admiration without it.
Observe, 3. Our Lord vindicates his doctrine, telling the Jews, That the doctrine he delivered was not his own; that is, not of his own inventing and devising; it was no contrivance of his, nor was it taught him by men: but received immediately from the Father, whose ambassador and great prophet he was.
Again, when Christ says, My doctrine is not mine, that is, not only mine, but my Father’s and mine. For as he was God equal with the Father, so he naturally knew all his counsels; and as man had knowledge thereof by communication from his godhead.
Learn hence, That the doctrine of the gospel is a doctrine wholly from God; he contrived it, and sent his own Son into the world to publish and reveal it. Christ was sent, and his doctrine was not his own, but his that sent him.
Observe, 4. A double rule given by our Saviour, whereby the Jews might know, whether the doctrine he preached, were the doctrine of God.
First, If a man walk uprightly, and doth the will of God in the best manner according to his knowledge; If any man will do his will, he shall know of my doctrine whether it be of God. There is no such way to find out truth, as by doing the will of God.
The second rule by which they might know that his doctrine was from God was this. Because he sought his Father’s glory, and not his own in the delivery of it. He that seeketh his glory that sent him, that same is true.
Hence learn, That the nature and scope of that doctrine which Christ delivered, eminently tending not to promote his own private glory, but the glorifying of his Father, is an undoubted proof and evidence that his doctrine was of God.