Bible Study series: John 7:32-36. Then Jesus said he is about to go to the one who sent him. The Jewish establishment was puzzled by his statement.
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Scripture: John 7:32-36
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd grumbling these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to seize him. 33 So Jesus said, “I am still with you a little time longer, and I am going to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me and you will not find me, and where I am, you cannot come.” 35 So the Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? He does not intend to go to the dispersed Greeks and teach the Greeks, does he? 36 What is this statement which he said, ‘You will look for me and you will not find me, and where I am, you cannot come’?” (John 7:32-36)
Comments:
32:
You can learn about all these two groups at this link:
Quick Reference to Jewish Groups in Gospels and Acts
Both of them were the Watchdogs of Theology and Behavior (David E. Garland, Luke: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament [Zondervan, 2011], p. 243). The problem which Jesus had with them can be summed up in Eccl. 7:16: “Be not overly righteous.” He did not quote that verse, but to him they were much too enamored with the finer points of the law, while neglecting its spirit (Luke 11:37-52; Matt. 23:1-36). Instead, he quoted this verse from Hos. 6:6: “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matt. 9:13; 12:7, ESV). Overdoing righteousness damages one’s relationship with God and others.
So it looks like the ruling Jews—now clarified at long last—did send officers to arrest him. In v. 26, the crowds were drawing the conclusion that the ruling Jerusalem establishment must approve of him because they took no action against him. The rulers heard these things and sprang into action.
“officers”: they are the temple police. They were also sent to arrest the apostles, but an angel released them, prompting the guards or officers or temple police to re-arrest them (Acts 5:17-26). They were drawn from the Levites.
33-34:
Jesus took action in his own way. He stands his ground and speaks of his true origins and his destiny which will be accomplished soon enough. After his crucifixion, he is going or returning to the one who sent him. The one who sent him is the Father, and the religious authorities, who are so deceived and ignorant that they sent officers to arrest him, will not go where he “intends” or “about to” go. He is going back from where he came from: heaven and the throne of his Father.
He uses the present tense “I am” from my Father. It expresses a timeless fact.
35-36:
Those dispersed among the Greek were Jews who spread around the Mediterranean world, particularly in Babylon, after the exile. They refused to return. But we don’t need to go so far away. Jewish communities dotted the Mediterranean world. Saul / Paul himself was from Tarsus, in southern Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Or worse, could he intend to go among the Gentile (non-Jew) Greeks and teach them (cf. Deut. 28:25; 30:4; Jer. 34:17)? If so, then he really is a radical. John may be anticipating the Greeks who will approach Philip during the Passover, six months later (John 12:20-26).
But once again we have irony. These members of the Jerusalem religious establishment should have quickly figured his destiny if they would but only recognize the Messiah standing among them; their training should lead them to connect the dots, but they did not know as much as they thought they did. For more on irony, please see v. 27.
In John 12:26, Jesus will promise his followers that where is he, his servant will also be. But the religious establishment will be excluded because of their unbelief. They will die in their sins (John 8:21).
“statement” it is the Greek noun logos, and it could mean “word” or “message” or “statement.” I chose the latter term.
GrowApp for John 7:32-36
1. You must be ready to go where Jesus is going—back to heaven. Are you ready to go there? How do you get there?
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SOURCES
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