Sermon LXXXIII.
[CXXXIII. Ben.]
On the words of the Gospel of John vii. 6, etc., where Jesus said that He was not going up
unto the feast, and notwithstanding went up.
1. I Purpose by the Lord’s assistance to treat of this section3961 of the Gospel which has
just been read; nor is there a little difficulty here, lest the truth be endangered, and falsehood
glory. Not that either the truth can perish, nor falsehood triumph. Now hearken for a while
what difficulty this lesson has; and being made attentive by the propounding of the difficulty,
pray that I may be sufficient for its solution. “The Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand;”3962
these it seems are the days which they observe even to this day, when they build huts.3963
For this solemnity of theirs is called from the building of tabernacles; since σκηνὴ means a
“tabernacle,” σκηνοπηγία is the building of a tabernacle. These days were kept as feast days
among the Jews; and it was called one feast day, not because it was over in one day, but be-
cause it was kept up by a continued festivity; just as the feast day of the Passover, and the
feast day of unleavened bread, and notwithstanding, as is manifest, that feast is kept
throughout many days. This anniversary then was at hand in Judæa, the Lord Jesus was in
Galilee, where He had also been brought up, where too He had relations and kinsfolk, whom
Scripture calls “His brethren.” “His brethren, therefore,” as we have heard it read, “said
unto Him, Pass from hence, and go into Judæa; that Thy disciples also may see Thy works
that Thou doest. For no man doeth anything in secret, and himself seeketh to be known
openly. If Thou do these things, manifest Thyself to the world.”3964 Then the Evangelist
subjoins, “For neither did His brethren believe in Him.”3965 If then they did not believe in
Him, the words they threw out were of envy. “Jesus answered them, My time is not yet come;
but your time is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but Me it hateth, because I testify
of it that the works thereof are evil. Go ye up to this feast day. I go3966 not up to this feast
day, for My time is not yet accomplished.”3967 Then follows the Evangelist; “When He had
said these words, He Himself stayed in Galilee. But when His brethren were gone up, then
went He also up to the feast day, not openly, but as it were in secret.”3968 Thus far is the
extent of the difficulty, all the rest is clear.
3961 Capitulo.
3962 John vii. 2.
3963 Casas.
3964 John vii. 3, 4.
3965 John vii. 5.
3966 In the Greek it is οὔπω, nondum, and so in some Latin copies (Ben. note); Griesbach and Scholz place
οὐκ in the text, as having the authority of the mss. D, K, most Verss., and the Fathers.
3967 John vii. 6–8.
3968 John vii. 9, 10.
On the words of the Gospel of John vii. 6, etc., where Jesus said that He was not going up unto the feast, and notwithstanding went up.
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On the words of the Gospel of John vii. 6, etc., where Jesus said that He…