Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
The verse belongs to the account of the Feast of Tabernacles. That feast brought large crowds to Jerusalem from Palestine and other lands. The discussion about Jesus described in the verse took place while he was absent from the city. The people were divided over him, with some defending him as good and sent by God and others accusing him of deceiving the people and denouncing him.
The dispute about him was already intense, yet it was carried on quietly rather than openly. The Jews who were feared were the Jewish leaders and authorities, the priests and rulers. Fear of those in authority kept people from speaking openly in his favor and from openly declaring or confessing faith in him. Fear specifically kept people from openly acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah. Although his works testified that his work was from God, no one at the feast dared avow belief in him publicly. The rulers were watching for grounds and seeking an opportunity to condemn him.
The same fear that silenced open speech led believers to receive teaching secretly in their homes, even while the disciples continued to preach publicly. Because Jesus comes to the feast and is present at yearly sacred gatherings, all who possibly can should come to those sacred meetings to find him, for he will be present to do for them what they most need to have done and to make them strong in him and in the power of his grace. The higher interests of the soul, peace and hope, a strong clear sense of eternal things, and a heart of willing obedience yielding all to Christ are of more value than farms and all riches, pleasures and glories of this world, even if gained at the cost of all one has and the toils and sufferings of a lifetime.
The verse belongs to the account of the Feast of Tabernacles. That feast brought large crowds to Jerusalem from Palestine and other lands. The discussion about Jesus described in the verse took place while he was absent from the city. The people were divided over him, with some defending him as good and sent by God and others accusing him of deceiving the people and denouncing him.
The dispute about him was already intense, yet it was carried on quietly rather than openly. The Jews who were feared were the Jewish leaders and authorities, the priests and rulers. Fear of those in authority kept people from speaking openly in his favor and from openly declaring or confessing faith in him. Fear specifically kept people from openly acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah. Although his works testified that his work was from God, no one at the feast dared avow belief in him publicly. The rulers were watching for grounds and seeking an opportunity to condemn him.
The same fear that silenced open speech led believers to receive teaching secretly in their homes, even while the disciples continued to preach publicly. Because Jesus comes to the feast and is present at yearly sacred gatherings, all who possibly can should come to those sacred meetings to find him, for he will be present to do for them what they most need to have done and to make them strong in him and in the power of his grace. The higher interests of the soul, peace and hope, a strong clear sense of eternal things, and a heart of willing obedience yielding all to Christ are of more value than farms and all riches, pleasures and glories of this world, even if gained at the cost of all one has and the toils and sufferings of a lifetime.