7:18John 7:18

He who speaks from himself to advance himself seeks his own glory and acts selfishly, but he who seeks the glory of the One who sent him is true and has no unrighteousness in him.LC1 85.2+2 Jesus met this test, for though He had not learned from the scribes His teaching was not self-originated or aimed at personal honor, but His doctrine, words and ministry came from the Father who sent Him and gave Him strength and wisdom.LC1 85.2+2 Joined to the call to do God's will, this gives the way to discern teaching, for willing obedience in heart and true faith united with Christ opens the mind to sincere inquiry and makes known whether doctrine is of God or spoken for selfish glory.LC1 85.2+2 In Christ living for the Father's honor instead of His own is revealed that giving is the glory of God, the law of life for the universe in which all He received He took to give and the Father's life flows out to all and returns in praise and joyous service.DA 19.1–20.1 Those who bear God's message are to speak in the same spirit, doing the work God appoints without selfishness and seeking God's glory rather than their own, for a life that reveals Christ through love glorifies God.STGC 49.1–2+1

The saying was spoken in the exchange at the feast in Jerusalem, where the rulers challenged the right to teach and tried to turn attention to their own authority while they were plotting to silence and publicly humble the speaker.DA 455.1–2 It was given in answer to those who questioned the teaching and sought to trap the teacher, and it supports the claim that the doctrine comes from God and not from self.DA 455.1–2+1

The contrast is that one who speaks from himself in order to promote or advance himself seeks his own glory and acts selfishly and from a self-centered motive.LC1 85.2+4 By that mark, seeking self-glory reveals that a teacher speaks only from himself.DA 455.3–456.1 The other side is that one who seeks the glory of the One who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him, being true and free from unrighteousness.LC1 85.2+4 This gives the test for distinguishing a true teacher from a deceiver.DA 455.3–456.1

Jesus fulfills the true side, for His teaching and reasoning from Scripture were not self-originated or aimed at personal honor, though He had not studied under the learned scribes and doctors.Ms 72, 1895, par. 16 His doctrine, words, and ministry came from the Father who sent Him, whom He identified as the source of strength and wisdom.LC1 85.2+4 By seeking God's glory and speaking God's words He showed His authority as a teacher of truth.Lt 376, 1906, par. 3–8+1

Joined with the statement before it about doing God's will, the verse teaches that willing obedience to God opens the mind and heart to sincere inquiry and diligent search for truth.LC1 85.2+4 Doing the will of God in the heart, in true faith united with Christ, gives understanding to know whether doctrine is of God or spoken of self.LC1 85.2+4 With that openness, a person can discern whether a teacher speaks for God or speaks from self for selfish glory.LC1 85.2+4 The haughty priests and Pharisees exemplified the self-seeking side, speaking only from themselves for personal glory rather than for God.LC1 85.2+3

Those with only superficial faith and no spiritual life unite expecting temporal advantage, and therefore do not understand the words and are offended by the requirements of the gospel.Ms 25, 1897, par. 20–22+1 Christ's words were not spoken for self-glory, and receiving them calls for obedience rather than seeking temporal advantage.Ms 25, 1897, par. 20–22+1

The verse reveals God in Jesus by showing that giving is the glory of God.DA 19.1–20.1 Christ lived not for His own honor but for the Father's honor, and in doing so set forth the great principle that is the law of life for the universe.DA 19.1–20.1 All things Christ received from God He took in order to give, and through the beloved Son the Father's life flows out to all created beings.DA 19.1–20.1 That life returns to the great Source of all in praise and joyous service, completing the circuit of beneficence that represents the character of the great Giver.DA 19.1–20.1

Those who carry God's message are to speak sacred truth in the same spirit, seeking the glory of God who sent them rather than their own glory.STGC 49.1–2+1 A messenger who speaks on his own behalf seeks personal glory, while the one who seeks the glory of the One who sent him is true and has no unrighteousness in him.STGC 49.1–2+1 Believers are therefore to do the work God appoints without selfishness and without self-centered seeking of their own glory.STGC 49.1–2 They are to show Christ's character through love for one another, for a life that reveals Christ glorifies God.STGC 49.1–2

In the setting of this chapter the verse warns not to imperil God's cause and one's influence with perverted ideas.Lt 73, 1900, par. 1