But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
At the time Jesus spoke openly in Jerusalem, the rulers were watching Him with hostile intent to kill Him, seeking to silence Him and humble Him before the people, and had challenged His authority to teach. Against that hostility He spoke openly and boldly while they said nothing in reply or against Him, and onlookers who knew they wanted Him dead were surprised at their silence. What He spoke so boldly included a defense of His healing on the Sabbath, given with dignified teaching and bearing that silenced the rulers themselves.
The people of Jerusalem noticed the bold speaking and the rulers' silence and wondered whether it meant the rulers had indeed recognized Him as the very Christ. His teaching and dignified bearing drew many hearers and inclined them to accept or consider Him as the Son of God. At the same time false expectations about the Messiah's origin prepared many to doubt, for although many expected the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem, they also believed He would later appear from an unknown place and have no natural connection to humanity, so Jesus' known human origin did not match their popular idea of messianic glory and led many to question Him.
The chapter containing this incident teaches believers to love one another as Christ loved them. When His love fills the heart, backbiting and criticism cease and believers strengthen rather than weaken one another. Christ's glory, His character, shown in daily life proves they are not of the world, and when He dwells in the heart His joy becomes theirs. The verse also warns against imperiling God's cause and one's own influence by perverted ideas, meaning the Lord God of heaven will work with a person just as long as he follows Him and heeds His counsel.
At the time Jesus spoke openly in Jerusalem, the rulers were watching Him with hostile intent to kill Him, seeking to silence Him and humble Him before the people, and had challenged His authority to teach. Against that hostility He spoke openly and boldly while they said nothing in reply or against Him, and onlookers who knew they wanted Him dead were surprised at their silence. What He spoke so boldly included a defense of His healing on the Sabbath, given with dignified teaching and bearing that silenced the rulers themselves.
The people of Jerusalem noticed the bold speaking and the rulers' silence and wondered whether it meant the rulers had indeed recognized Him as the very Christ. His teaching and dignified bearing drew many hearers and inclined them to accept or consider Him as the Son of God. At the same time false expectations about the Messiah's origin prepared many to doubt, for although many expected the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem, they also believed He would later appear from an unknown place and have no natural connection to humanity, so Jesus' known human origin did not match their popular idea of messianic glory and led many to question Him.
The chapter containing this incident teaches believers to love one another as Christ loved them. When His love fills the heart, backbiting and criticism cease and believers strengthen rather than weaken one another. Christ's glory, His character, shown in daily life proves they are not of the world, and when He dwells in the heart His joy becomes theirs. The verse also warns against imperiling God's cause and one's own influence by perverted ideas, meaning the Lord God of heaven will work with a person just as long as he follows Him and heeds His counsel.