Having said thisThis phrase refers to the preceding conversation Jesus had with His brothers, who were urging Him to go to Judea for the Feast of Tabernacles. His brothers did not yet believe in Him, and their suggestion was likely sarcastic or skeptical. This highlights the tension between Jesus and His family, a theme seen elsewhere in the Gospels (e.g.,
Mark 3:21,
John 7:5). It also underscores the theme of divine timing, as Jesus often acted according to the Father's will rather than human expectations.
Jesus remained in Galilee
Galilee was a region in northern Israel, known for being less politically charged than Judea. Jesus often conducted His ministry here, performing miracles and teaching. This decision to stay in Galilee reflects His awareness of the growing hostility in Judea, particularly from the religious leaders who sought to kill Him (John 7:1). Galilee was also prophesied as a place of great light (Isaiah 9:1-2), fulfilled in Jesus' ministry. This setting emphasizes Jesus' strategic approach to His mission, balancing public ministry with necessary caution.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
JesusThe central figure of the New Testament, the Son of God, who is teaching and performing miracles during His earthly ministry.
2.
GalileeA region in northern Israel where Jesus spent a significant portion of His ministry. It is known for being less hostile than Judea at this time.
3.
Feast of TabernaclesA Jewish festival that commemorates the Israelites' wilderness wanderings and God's provision. It is the context for the events in
John 7.
Teaching Points
Divine TimingJesus' decision to remain in Galilee demonstrates His commitment to God's timing rather than human expectations. We should seek God's timing in our own lives.
Strategic MinistryJesus' actions show the importance of being strategic and wise in ministry, avoiding unnecessary conflict while still fulfilling God's mission.
Obedience and PatienceJesus models obedience to the Father's will, even when it means waiting. We are called to be patient and trust in God's plan.
Safety and WisdomJesus' choice to stay in Galilee reflects a balance between boldness and wisdom. We should also seek God's wisdom in knowing when to act and when to wait.
Lists and Questions
Top 10 Lessons from John 7
Did Jesus deceive His brothers?
Was Jesus considered a rabbi?
Luke 9:7-9: Why does Herod's confusion about Jesus remain unresolved if these events truly occurred, and where is the historical evidence?
What did Jesus mean by 'I am the Door'?(9)
He abode still in Galilee.--We find Him in Jerusalem between the 16th and 20th of Tishri (
John 7:14), and He could not therefore have remained behind them more than three or four days. We have no record of any companion with Him until
John 9:2; but it is probable that some at least of the Apostolic band remained with Him in Galilee and went with Him to Jerusalem. (Comp. Note on
Luke 9:51.) If John returned to Jerusalem after the discourse at Capernaum (comp.
Introduction)
, we have an explanation of the brevity with which he treats the period between Passover and Tabernacles.
Verse 9. -
Having said these things to them, he abode in Galilee. Such a respite cannot mean a few days only. Not until after this period, and possibly after the brethren had started on the pilgrimage, did "he steadfastly set his face to go up to Jerusalem." A great question arises as to the possibility of harmonizing this journey with the great intercalated portion of Luke's Gospel (
Luke 9:51-18:31). This is not the place to consider the numerous and complicated problems involved. One thing is certain - that the synoptists all describe the final departure from Galilee, which followed a period of partial retirement from the multitude, and of instructions, miracles, and advice rendered in the inner circle of his immediate followers. They also (
Matthew 17:24;
Matthew 19:1;
Matthew 20:17; and
Mark 10:1 especially) indicate that, on our Lord's journey to Jerusalem after closing his Galilaean ministry, he went into Judaea, and thence to the land of Peraea on the other side of the Jordan. This latter statement is perfectly in harmony with John's representation (
John 10:40), where, after an extended journey in Judaea and the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, we hear that he spent three months beyond Jordan Numerous critics, whose views are well entitled to consideration, urge that on this occasion our Lord did resume his Galilaean ministry and effect his final departure as described in
Matthew 19:1. Now, the circumstantial way in which Luke describes incidents upon the last journey to Jerusalem leads many to look for the full chronological detail of this last transaction. It contains, however, many incidents between
John 9:51 and John 18:31, where the final events of the last approach to Jerusalem are brought into chronological relations with the other three Gospels, which could not all have been connected with the journey to the Feast of Tabernacles. Edersheim and Weiss alike infer that, since Luke says nothing of the Feast of Tabernacles, he has reckoned in this period the events appertaining to the Peraean ministry and the return to the Feast of Dedication, as well as the final determination to challenge the authorities at Jerusalem, with his assertion of true Messiahship, and the last approach to Jerusalem. Luke does not describe the route taken, but implies on several occasions Christ's growing determination to confront Jerusalem; and also implies that he had visited it "often" (
Luke 13:31-34), with the purpose of gathering it under his gracious sway and protection. There are, moreover, a few incidents mentioned which synchronize with the journey to the Feast of Tabernacles. He went through Samaria instead of by the frequented Peraean route on the other side of Jordan (
Luke 9:52). There the Samaritans refuse to receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem, and the Boanerges are rebuked for their Elijah-like desire. The incident of the cure of ten lepers, one of them a
Samaritan, probably belongs to the same journey; and, above all, the interesting fragment of the visit to Martha and Mary at a certain village. This village may, as Edersheim suggests, have been the retirement from which our Lord emerged in the midst of the Feast of Tabernacles. Many other of the narratives belong to the closing period of our Lord's life. The most difficult event to harmonize with the suggestions of this passage of John and with the subsequent hints of chronological arrangement, is the choice of the seventy disciples, which Weiss regards as a kind of misapprehension, but which Edersheim (
loc cit.,vol. 2:135) believes to have been one of the great events of this journey to the Feast of Tabernacles. It must be admitted that it is strangely inconsistent with the journey which was conducted as it were "in secret." It would be more natural to believe that it was one of the incidents of the ministry in Peraea, of which Mark gives traces, and for which John provides the true place (
John 10:40). Lunge and Godet argue that between the departure from the capital (ch. 9.) and the Feast of Dedication, our Lord resumed his work in Galilee, and there pursued the abundant ministry recorded between
Luke 10. and 18. (see notes of Godet and Lunge, 10:22; 10:40); and that the final departure from Galilee was with a great convoy. Ewald and Meyer regard this as a violent attempt at harmonistic arrangement of the details before us. To resume the narrative -
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Having saidεἰπὼν(eipōn)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2036:Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.[this],Ταῦτα(Tauta)Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3778:This; he, she, it.[Jesus] remainedἔμεινεν(emeinen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3306:To remain, abide, stay, wait; with acc: I wait for, await. A primary verb; to stay.inἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.Galilee.Γαλιλαίᾳ(Galilaia)Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1056:Of Hebrew origin; Galiloea, a region of Palestine.
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NT Gospels: John 7:9 Having said these things to them he (Jhn Jo Jn) 
