Sunday School Lesson
March 29
Lesson 5 (KJV)
Need for Just Leaders
Devotional Reading: Psalm 50:1–15
Background Scripture: Malachi 2; 3
Malachi 2:1–9
1. And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
2. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
3. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.
4. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
5. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
6. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
7. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
8. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
9. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
Malachi 3:5, 6
5. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.
6. For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Key Verse
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.—Malachi 2:2
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Describe the conduct of the Judean priesthood of the late fifth century BC.
2. Explain why God held the priesthood to a high standard.
3. Create a plan to improve one aspect of his or her own priestly ministry (1 Peter 2:5).
HOW TO SAY IT
| Artaxerxes | Are-tuh-zerk-seez. |
| Levites | Lee-vites. |
| Levitical | Leh-vit-ih-kul. |
| Malachi | Mal-uh-kye. |
| Nehemiah | Nee-huh-my-uh. |
| Persia | Per-zhuh. |
| Shechem | Shee-kem or Shek-em. |
Introduction
A. A Model for Leadership
In the late 1940s, Billy Graham’s ministry was becoming well known. Graham realized that he needed to hold himself and his ministry to an extremely high standard of conduct for the sake of the gospel message he proclaimed. In 1948, Graham and his staff created what they called the “Modesto Manifesto.” They pledged themselves to follow the highest standards of conduct in every area of their lives.
When the evangelist died in 2018, tributes to Graham poured in. Many of them cited his uncompromising integrity. Even those who did not accept Graham’s message had to acknowledge that he was a man who practiced what he preached. During a time when many public figures were caught up in scandalous behavior, Graham remained a consistent model of faithfulness to Christ.
In the days of the prophet Malachi, the leaders of God’s people took the polar opposite approach. What we might call “Malachi’s Manifesto” exposed the corruption of these leaders and called attention to what God has always desired.
B. Lesson Context
Malachi mentions no kings at the beginning of his book. This makes establishing an approximate date for the prophet’s ministry challenging. Even so, the book’s contents offer some clues.
The issues addressed by Malachi are similar to those facing God’s people in the time of Nehemiah in the fifth century BC. With permission from King Artaxerxes of Persia, Nehemiah had traveled from Persia to Judah around 445 BC to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.
Some issues addressed by both Nehemiah and Malachi include mixed marriages (Nehemiah 13:23–27; Malachi 2:11), the failure to tithe (Nehemiah 13:10–14; Malachi 3:8–10), and corrupt priests (Nehemiah 13:4–9; Malachi 1:6–2:9). These similarities point to a date for Malachi that is post-exilic. That means the setting is an era after the exile in Babylon (Chaldea) ends in 538 BC (see Ezra 1:1–4).
Bolstering the conclusion that Malachi is post-exilic is the use of the title “governor” (Malachi 1:8). This was Nehemiah’s official title (see Nehemiah 5:14; compare Haggai 1:1; 2:21); before the exile, Judah had kings, not governors. Based on these and other facts, scholars conclude that Malachi is chronologically the last of the prophets, of about 430 BC.
The Babylonian (Chaldean) captivity occurred between the ministries of Micah (see lesson 4) and Malachi. The delinquent leadership against which Micah spoke so passionately had resurfaced in Malachi’s day. And it was just as displeasing to the Lord in Malachi’s time as it had been in Micah’s.
I. Failing the Call
(Malachi 2:1–9)
Up to the point where our lesson text begins, Malachi has written in dialogue format. This involves first stating a proposition from the Lord or presenting a scenario, then anticipating a response. That response is followed by the Lord’s rejoinder. Variations of this technique are found throughout the book. This is Malachi’s method of challenging his audience to rethink their practices and alter their way of living.
A. Hear the Lord (vv. 1–4)
1. And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
At the point where our lesson begins, Malachi has already said much about the poor quality of leadership demonstrated by the priests. When the prophet first mentions the priests, he describes them as despising the Lord’s name (Malachi 1:6). The priests are abusing their sacred office by offering defective, unacceptable sacrifices (1:7, 8).
God has made it clear in the Law of Moses that only the best is to be brought to Him in worship. In the case of animals, only those unblemished are to be brought (examples: Leviticus 1:3, 10; 3:1). But instead of finding delight in the privilege of preparing such offerings, these priests look on their work as a “weariness” (Malachi 1:13). The commandment about to be voiced is an invitation to hear God anew and repent. The verse before us therefore begins the transition from problem to solution—or consequences for allowing the problem to continue.
2. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
The Lord issues a solemn warning to the delinquent priests. Their ministry is intended to bring glory to the Lord’s name (compare Matthew 15:7–9; 1 Timothy 6:16; Revelation 5:12, 13). He is the one they serve. The work they do is to be viewed as a privilege.
But if the priests are unwilling to lay it to heart—take seriously—what the Lord says, then the Lord will send a curse upon them and even curse their blessings (compare Deuteronomy 11:26; 28:20; Jeremiah 13:17). This may refer to the blessing that the priests are to pronounce on the Israelites (Numbers 6:22–27). If so, then God will make that declaration null and void. The unfortunate truth is that unholy priests cause suffering for all the people.
Another possible interpretation is that God will curse the harvest so that the crops will not produce as they should. This happened in the time of Haggai nearly a century earlier (Haggai 1:5–11). Since the Law of Moses commands that a tithe of the harvest be given to the Levites (Numbers 18:21), a poor crop means a reduced provision for them. (We remind ourselves that all priests were Levites but not all Levites were priests.)
| What Do You Think? What are some ways to discern a pending problem of cursed blessings today? Digging Deeper |
Referring to God as the Lord of hosts emphasizes His power, especially as a warrior in prophetic books (examples: Isaiah 10:24–26; Jeremiah 11:20; Nahum 2:13). So serious is the heart condition of these priests and the shameful conduct that is the outcome, God says He has already cursed their blessings.
3. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.
Sinful behavior of a person or group often has consequences for their seed (or descendants; example: 1 Kings 14:9, 10). God declared this to be so in His instructions that accompanied the second commandment (Exodus 20:4, 5). The Hebrew word behind the rendering corrupt is usually translated “rebuke” (examples: Genesis 37:10; Zechariah 3:2), and that is the sense here.
The Lord’s rebuke is depicted in a most shocking manner. Normally the dung of animals that are sacrificed, along with the contents of their intestines, is to be taken outside the camp of the Israelites and burned (Exodus 29:14; Leviticus 4:11, 12). If human waste is in view rather than that of animals, the picture is more shocking still (compare Deuteronomy 23:12–14; Ezekiel 4:12–15). To have dung on one’s face is to be massively dishonored. The language is probably not to be viewed in literal, physical terms. Rather, it is a way of vividly describing how repulsed the Lord is by the priests’ conduct.
| What Do You Think? How can churches do a better job in the area of holding their leaders accountable? Digging Deeper |
Take That!
In the early twentieth century, the pie-in-the-face sight gag was introduced as a staple of slapstick comedy. Later, it became an act of political protest. Though pieing was originally intended primarily to be funny, as a political act it is intended to make an opponent look foolish.
Thomas King Forcade was probably the first to employ this method of political protest. In 1970, he pied Otto N. Larsen, chairman of the Commission on Obscenity. Aron Kay witnessed the event and went on to have a storied pieing career himself, hitting the likes of William Buckley Jr., E. Howard Hunt, G. Gordon Liddy, and Andy Warhol. Noel Godin, another noted pie thrower, hit Bill Gates and several others.
Malachi spoke of God’s threatening to smear the faces of His delinquent priests with something far less palatable than a whipped cream-topped pie! Such a humiliation would be accompanied with very real consequences.
In what way does your conduct most invite humiliation—or worse—from the Lord?
—J. E.
4. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
The delinquent priests have forgotten, either through passive carelessness or by active intent, the roots of their sacred office and heritage. The priestly covenant goes back to Jacob’s son Levi, some of whose descendants are assigned the priesthood (Numbers 3:5–13). Anytime a role is inherited instead of earned by merit, the danger is greater that a person will simply go through the motions. Those of the Levitical priesthood are not immune to this pitfall.
B. Fear the Lord (vv. 5–7)
5. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
The special blessings promised to Levi were life and peace, spiritual blessings associated with the Levites’ special place in God’s service. Levi’s descendants in turn were to respond to these favors with fear, expressed as grave respect for the godly tasks they were given (compare Hebrews 12:28, 29).
When one looks at the life of Levi himself, he does not appear to exemplify a great deal of fear toward the Lord. He and his brother Simeon misused the covenant sign of circumcision to avenge the cruel treatment of their sister, Dinah, by Shechem (Genesis 34; 49:5). The Lord’s words here perhaps describe what was true of Levi’s descendants when Moses pronounced his final blessing on that tribe (Deuteronomy 33:8–11). Later, the Levites did prove themselves to be a God-fearing tribe (see Exodus 32:25–29; Numbers 25:6–13).
6a. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips.
Three important responsibilities for priests are highlighted in this verse. First, they are to teach the law of truth faithfully (Deuteronomy 33:10). That involves communicating the Lord’s requirements to His people (17:9–13). No iniquity is to be found in a priest’s speech, a characteristic highly commended by James for the new covenant era (James 3:2).
6b. He walked with me in peace and equity.
Second, the priest’s daily walk is to be consistent with his faith profession (compare Genesis 5:22). To be a person of peace goes hand in hand with loving God’s law (Psalm 119:165). The Hebrew word underneath the translation equity can also be translated “straight” as opposed to “crooked” (see Isaiah 40:4; 42:16), and that is the sense here. It indicates that the person is virtuous and lacks any deceit (compare John 1:47). The faithful priest exhibits high moral character (compare Psalm 25:21).
6c. And did turn many away from iniquity.
Third, the faithful priest is dedicated to helping others (compare James 5:19, 20). The priest is to set the kind of example that draws others to follow and imitate his righteous lifestyle.
7. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
The priests in Malachi’s day neglect and even abuse the divinely given role they are called to fulfill: every priest is the Lord’s messenger. Priests are, in a very real sense, the Lord’s representatives to the people as those priests bring God’s message (examples: Ezra 7:11; Nehemiah 8). Priests are to look to Him for the knowledge and instruction found only in His law (compare Leviticus 10:11).
| What Do You Think? In what ways is the admonishment to the priests applicable to Christians today, given the reality of our own priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)? Digging Deeper |
Reliable Delivery
In most parts of the United States, packages can be delivered efficiently by car or truck. But in the central business districts of crowded metropolitan areas, motor vehicles can be hindered. In such areas, businesses often count on bicycle messengers for reliable delivery.
In 1945, one of the earliest recorded American bicycle courier companies was founded. Carl Sparks began Sparkies, an all-bicycle delivery service in San Francisco. By the late 1970s, bicycle messenger and delivery services existed in many of this country’s major cities.
Though the end of bicycle couriers has been predicted, technological innovation has not yet significantly reduced the demand for their services. Many items can be sent most efficiently by bike: corporate gifts, original artwork, clothes for photo shoots, and original signed documents are but a few. Some companies would rather send sensitive information by courier to avoid the risk of having their email hacked.
God established a type of delivery service when He founded the nation of Israel. Priests were to transmit God’s law from generation to generation. Theirs was precious cargo that the people needed. But there’s an even bigger picture to consider: the nation as a whole was to communicate the future arrival of the Messiah to the waiting world.
C. Follow the Lord (vv. 8, 9)
8. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
The task of keeping the covenant of Levi means nothing to the delinquent priests (compare Jeremiah 2:8). Whether the problem is one of mere negligence or of active rebellion, the result is the same: many people stumble (compare 18:15; Hosea 4:6).
| What Do You Think? What are some good ways your church can acknowledge its leaders who are doing the opposite of Malachi 2:8? Digging Deeper |
Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.This verse makes the case that the problem is not just one of negligence; if it were, the verse could stop with the phrase ye have not kept my ways. The phrase but have been partial in the law points to conscious, intentional disregard of God’s ways (compare, from the era of the judges, 1 Samuel 2:27–33). To be partial in applying the law is abhorrent to the Lord; frequent warnings against doing so are found within the Law of Moses (examples: Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 16:19).
II. Renewing the Call
(Malachi 3:5, 6)The Lord does not merely state a problem and stop there. He goes on to state the solution, which begins in Malachi 3:1 (not in today’s text): His “messenger” will “prepare the way” before Him. John the Baptist is the one who will fulfill Malachi’s prophecy (Matthew 11:10).
Malachi goes on to speak about a second messenger’s coming, actions, and results. The refining, purifying, and purging mentioned fit Jesus’ work in raising up in His church those who will faithfully serve Him (Malachi 3:3, 4). Though judgment will be brought against all individuals who have violated the covenant, the sons of Levi are still called out specifically (3:3); as teachers, theirs is the greater accountability.A. Trying Offenders (v. 5)
3:5a. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers.
This half-verse and the next elaborate on the judgment to be carried out by the second messenger (see Malachi 3:2, not in today’s text). Sorcery and related practices are strictly forbidden in the Law of Moses (example: Deuteronomy 18:9–14). This prohibition in part prevents Israel from seeking to manipulate the Lord with “enchantments” (examples: Exodus 7:11; Isaiah 47:9). Adultery violates the seventh commandment (Exodus 20:14; compare James 2:11; 2 Peter 2:12–14); to swear falsely breaks the ninth (Exodus 20:16; compare Leviticus 19:11, 12; Jeremiah 7:9).
5b. And against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.
The Lord also calls to account all who take advantage of the most vulnerable in Israelite society. The Law of Moses included specific directives to care for each of these groups (examples: Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:14–22).
Although the hireling, the widow, and the fatherless are likely fellow Israelites, the stranger refers specifically to someone who does not belong to the covenant people by lineage. God shows a special concern for the strangers who live in Israel. He calls His people to remember their own time of oppression while they lived as strangers in Egypt and to treat strangers in their own land quite differently (Exodus 22:21).
Ultimately such disregard for these peoples in need and for the principles found in the Law of Moses can be traced to a lack of reverence for the lawgiver, the Lord himself (compare Deuteronomy 31:12, 13; Isaiah 1:2). The fear of the Lord has always been “the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7); lack of such fear leads to certain ruin (example: James 5:1–6).
| What Do You Think? In what ways can you use Malachi 3:5 as a source of comfort or encouragement in the face of today’s negative headlines? Digging Deeper |
Unchanging God (v. 6)6a. For I am the Lord, I change not.
God can change His mind (example: Jonah 3:10), but He does not change His character (see James 1:17). His standards of right and wrong always hold true. He will be consistent in carrying out judgment on those who violate these standards, as He has made abundantly clear throughout Scripture.
6b. Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
The sons of Jacob, referring to the Israelites, have not been consumed by God’s wrath—yet (compare Hosea 11:8, 9). The Lord is merciful because of His promises—and His unchanging character means He will keep those promises.
Conclusion
A. “Familiarity Breeds Contempt”
Malachi’s words should serve as sobering warnings to leaders in the church. Dangers abound when we become casual about doing God’s work. It’s a small step from an attitude of indifference to one of antibiblical rationalizing by those who serve the Lord in leadership positions. The late Dallas Willard once observed, “The greatest threat to devotion to Christ is service for Christ.”
Those who earn wages by serving the church or a parachurch ministry can come to see what they do merely as a source of income. They forget that theirs is a ministry done in service to the Lord and for His glory. Certain words and actions become part of the routine, of what is expected according to their job description. It’s a slippery slope.
One source of help may be for the leader to arrange to meet with a group of fellow leaders (either within or outside of the congregation) for mutual prayer and encouragement. Many have found such accountability groups greatly beneficial in keeping them spiritually sharp and providing valuable counsel when temptations or other challenges occur (compare Malachi 3:16).
Speaking honestly to one another can be of immeasurable value in avoiding the spiritual barrenness that brought God’s harsh criticism of the priests in Malachi’s day. Inviting candid feedback from a fellow servant of Christ is always preferable to being on the receiving end of God’s correction!B. Prayer
Father, keep us from handling sacred duties in such a way that we lose sight of You. Empower our church to remember our covenant with You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
C. Thought to Remember
Working for God requires faithfulness.
KID’S CORNER
Why Some People Hate Jesus
Sunday March 29, 2020
John 7:1-13
John 7:1-13
(John 7:1) After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.
By teaching deeper and more personal truths, Jesus reduced His crowd size and had more time to teach His twelve disciples and those who saw the value of what He said and kept following Him. In Judea, Jesus would have faced constant debate and opposition that would have interfered with the time He had left on earth to teach those the Father drew to Him—eventually leading to His death. Jesus had come to die at His time, the time His Father and He chose before He came (during Passover), not the time of those wanting to kill Him in Judea. Jesus preferred to stay in Galilee and did not “wish” to go to Judea any more than He “wished” to die on the cross, but Jesus came into our world wanting to do the will of His Heavenly Father, and He chose to obey the will of His Father in heaven no matter how He was tempted to do otherwise or what the personal cost. Before His arrest in the garden, Jesus prayed and said in Matthew 26:39, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want (or wish) but what you want (or wish).” May Jesus be our constant example and guide.
(John 7:2) Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near.
The Festival of Booths, also called the Feast of Tabernacles, was a harvest festival held in late September and/or early October. It lasted eight days from a Sabbath through the following Sabbath. The festival celebrated and remembered the LORD’s care for the Hebrews when they traveled through the wilderness after the LORD freed them from slavery in Egypt. In the wilderness, the LORD traveled with them and fed them manna while they lived in tents or tabernacles. According to the LORD’s instructions, Moses also constructed a tabernacle or tent for the worship of the LORD in the wilderness. During the festival, the Jews made tents or booths (sometimes out of palm branches) in which to live. The Festival of Booths was one of three required festivals for the Jews to attend in Jerusalem if they lived within fifteen miles of the city (Passover and Pentecost were the other two).
(John 7:3) Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing.
Jesus’ brothers may have been mocking Jesus when they told Jesus to go to Judea so His disciples in Judea could see the works He was doing. They may not have seen any of Jesus’ works or did not recognize Jesus’ works as signs that their brother was the Messiah. They may or may not have considered how dangerous it would be for Jesus to go to the festival. Even though they were His brothers, they certainly did not understand Jesus or His teaching. They thought Jesus was self-centered and seeking fame.
(John 7:4) “For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”
Jesus’ primary goal was not to be “widely known;” otherwise, Jesus would not have taught truths that offended the crowds that followed Him. Jesus came to teach the truth despite opposition and give believers in Him eternal life. Jesus often healed people in secret so He would continue to have time to teach the truth to His disciples, for they would soon begin teaching His truths after His death and resurrection. Jesus did not intend to do things just to draw great crowds, which would interfere with His teaching. As unbelievers, Jesus’ brothers did not understand Jesus’ purposes. When they said, “IF you d0 these things,” they expressed doubt that Jesus did the things that were reported of Him.
(John 7:5) For not even His brothers were believing in Him.
In John 6: 41-44, we learned that the Jews claimed to know Jesus’ parents and brothers. In John 7:5, we learn that Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him. In this verse, we learn why Jesus’ brothers misunderstood Him and why Jesus did as He did. Jealousy of their older brother may have blinded their eyes and stopped their ears from seeing and hearing the truth. Joseph, and later King David, also suffered ridicule from their brothers. Jesus was persecuted in this way too, and He must have felt deep sorrow for His brothers who rejected Him. In Galatians 1:19, we learn that after Jesus’ resurrection, James, the Lord’s brother, believed in Jesus; and he later wrote the Letter of James in the New Testament. We do not learn if any of Jesus’ other brothers came to believe in Him. Jesus put his mother, Mary, under the care of John (writer of this gospel), so it seems none of His brothers believed in Him before His resurrection from the dead (more good evidence to believe in the resurrection of Jesus and the truths He taught). Many would only believe in Jesus after they saw Him raised from the dead.
(John 7:6) So Jesus *said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune.
The Greek word for “time” in this verse is closer to meaning “opportunity” or “opportune time” or “right time.” The “opportune time” or “right time” had not yet come for Jesus to go to Judea. Jesus’ brothers could go to the festival or visit Judea anytime they chose. The right time for Jesus to go to Judea had not yet come. Jesus’ brothers could go to any festival whenever they wanted because they were not in danger from the Jews and no one was looking for them or interested in them. Jesus needed to finish teaching His disciples as much as possible before He was crucified, and His time for doing anything was always based on the time set by His Father.
(John 7:7) “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.
Jesus told His brothers a general truth. The world hated and hates Jesus and all God’s children because this world’s works are evil. By the actions of Jesus’ followers, if not also by their words, the children of God testify or bear witness to the fact that the works of those committed to living according to “this world” are doing evil. God’s children are hated for speaking out against evil. Those of “this world” will not hate those who go along with the world to get along with the world. Christians follow the true God and the teachings of the Bible. Jesus did not wish to go where He was hated, though He knew He had to keep testifying that the works of “this world” are evil to influence people to repent and turn to Him for salvation from sin and doing evil works. Eventually, Jesus would go where He was hated, and His teaching would eventually lead to His crucifixion and death.
(John 7:8) “Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.”
This verse has confused some people who have concluded that Jesus told a falsehood. However, we know that Jesus never lied, but always spoke the truth. Jesus was telling His brothers that He was not going with them to the festival because it was not the right time or the opportune time for Him to go to the festival. If Jesus had gone with them, we can only imagine how His brothers could have mocked Jesus and have drawn unfavorable attention to Jesus as they traveled with the other pilgrims. It was not an opportune time for Jesus to travel with His brothers. His time had not fully come. Let us remember, for good reasons Jesus did not wish to go to Judea, and perhaps planned not to go to the festival when He spoke to His brothers. However, after His brothers left, Jesus’ Heavenly Father may have told Jesus that it was now the right time to go to the festival, for Jesus did go to the festival and began teaching about four days after the festival began. John does not tell us all the details of Jesus’ discussion with His brothers but abbreviated their discussion. We know that Jesus never told a lie despite what this verse seems to say. The Bible does not answer all our questions about the meaning of every verse, but we know Jesus’ character, and Jesus’ holy nature would not permit Him to tell a lie. It seems obvious to me that most probably Jesus only went to the festival when He did because after His brothers left His Father told Him it was time to go.
(John 7:9) Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.
Jesus did what He told His brothers. He remained in Galilee with His disciples. As the crowds made their pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Jesus continued to teach His disciples privately in Galilee. His time to go to the festival would not come until His Father said it was time for Him to go. Jesus always obeyed His Father and when it was time to go Jesus went, despite what He might have wished to do.
(John 7:10) But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret.
We learn in John 7:14, “About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach.” Jesus’ brothers wanted Him to go publicly and probably show works and do healings as He went to the festival and in Jerusalem at the festival. Like other unbelieving Jews, His brothers wanted Jesus to show signs, which, as unbelievers in Jesus, they doubted He could do. In Matthew 4:5-7, we learn how Satan tempted Jesus to make a big show in Jerusalem, which His brothers also tempted Jesus to do, but Jesus did not succumb to their temptations. Jesus obeyed His heavenly Father and did not go publicly to the festival. Jesus went secretly and quietly and about four days after the crowds arrived, He began to teach in the temple.
(John 7:11) So the Jews were seeking Him at the feast and were saying, “Where is He?”
John often used “the Jews” when referring to the religious leaders in Jerusalem, for Jesus and His disciples were also Jews. Jesus always did what His Father wanted, and at the opportune time Jesus arrived at the festival while the Jews wondering about where Jesus was. Since the festival would have been a natural and obligatory place for Jesus to appear, they expected to see Jesus there. But Jesus would not enter Jerusalem in a public way that proclaimed He was the Messiah until Palm Sunday before the Passover Festival and His crucifixion.
(John 7:12) There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray.”
Depending on your translation, there was considerable murmuring, grumbling, whispering, or complaining about Jesus at the festival. If Jesus had gone to the festival with his brothers, He probably would have experienced people complaining and demanding signs the entire way to Jerusalem. Before attending the festival, Jesus gave the crowds an opportunity to discuss among themselves what type of person they thought Jesus to be. Then, while they were wondering about Him, Jesus would begin teaching them publicly in the temple. Notice: Jesus gave people time and opportunity to consider carefully what He had done and what He had said before making decisions about Him. Jesus did not force people to make decisions about Him without giving them enough good evidence to satisfy reasonable minds. But at some point, people need to choose whether they will accept and receive Jesus as described in the Bible or not. At the very minimum, the crowds argued about whether Jesus’ actions, healings, and words indicated that Jesus was a good or bad person. Of course, Jesus is far more than a good person, and He would continue to reveal who He was to the people by His words and actions.
(John 7:13) Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
The people knew that the religious leaders, “the Jews,” opposed Jesus. They knew the consequences of saying very loud that Jesus was a good man. They could be expelled from the synagogue and shunned by others if they said a good word in Jesus’ behalf. Speaking openly in behalf of Jesus could lead to great hardships, economic hardships and persecution. They believed that if they were expelled from worship in the temple and fellowship in the synagogues that they would lose all access to God. They believed they would not be able to make the sacrifices required by the law at the temple to remain acceptable to God. To say Jesus was a good man or the possible Messiah was dangerous. Later, proclaiming the truth about Jesus would cost some believers their life or at least imprisonment. With the consequences of belief and unbelief being so high, by obeying His Heavenly Father, Jesus entered the festival in Jerusalem at the right or most opportune time under the best circumstances possible and began to teach.
Why Some People Hate Jesus
Sunday March 29, 2020
John 7:1-13
The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil (John 7:7—KJV). The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil (John 7:7—NASB). The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil (John 7:7—NRSV).
From Jesus’ discussion with His brothers, who did not believe in Him, we learn the second and perhaps major reason the religious leaders in Judea wanted to kill Jesus. Jesus bore witness (testified) that their works were evil. The Pharisees enacted rules and regulations that reinterpreted and replaced the Law of God in the Scriptures. Whereas the Law of God required love for God and others, the Pharisees even reinterpreted the Law of Love so they would not need to help their parents if they became financially needy. When Jesus healed the sick on the Sabbath, He revealed their selfishness. They did not love, know, or honor God, but they accused Jesus of evil for making himself equal to God. When they used religious accusations and debate to direct attention away from the fact that their deeds were evil, Jesus unmasked them. When they said they wanted to kill Jesus for blasphemy, they really wanted to keep Jesus from exposing their hypocrisy. In much the same way, the works of the Sadducees, who also wanted to kill Jesus, were evil. As priests, the Sadducees collaborated with the Romans to maintain political power and wealth. The last thing they wanted was a Messiah to come and disturb their power over the people and the wealth they could gain from having turned the temple into a den of thieves. When Jesus cleansed the temple and exposed their corruption, they joined with the Pharisees to kill Jesus. Jesus came to take away the sin of the world; in doing so, Jesus revealed the evil works that must be turned from to turn to God.
Thinking Further
Why Some People Hate Jesus
Sunday March 29, 2020
John 7:1-13
Name _________________________
- Why did Jesus not wish to go to Judea?
- Why did Jesus’ brothers want Him to go to the festival?
- Why did Jesus choose not to go to the festival with His brothers?
- Why did the world then and the world now hate Jesus (and Christians)?
- What did the crowds say about Jesus during the festival?
Discussion and Thinking Further
- Why did Jesus not wish to go to Judea? The Jews (Jewish leaders) were looking for an opportunity to kill Jesus. His time had not yet come.
- Why did Jesus’ brothers want Him to go to the festival? They did not believe in Him and said that if He wanted to be widely known He needed to go to the festival to show himself and His works.
- Why did Jesus choose not to go to the festival with His brothers? His time had not yet come. He wanted to go secretly and not publicly. He wanted to go at the right time. His Father had not yet told Him the time to go, which He must have done later because Jesus would not tell a lie.
- Why did the world then and the world now hate Jesus (and Christians)? Jesus and Bible-believing Christians taught and teach the Word of God, which testify or bear witness that the works of this world are evil.
- What did the crowds say about Jesus during the festival? Some said He was a good man and others said He was deceiving the crowds.
Word Search
Why Some People Hate Jesus
Sunday March 29, 2020
John 7:1-13
Name _________________________
X K Y T I N U T R O P P O N D
L S Q O S U S E J U E A D Y S
C H A E W Z Q F Q E B M U P U
L U S T X A O M L I Q L D F S
P W F A J H S I W E J V Q G E
Z A B H D N L R V Y G K Y K J
G O E P L A U I L X I X B D X
H A N R G H K Z V N T R L Q W
D E C E I V I N G H O G L Y A
S K R O W X Y S P T O F I J M
M N A N A K H B H O B E K B L
J E W S Q T I E D S F C V N C
B A M G O H R P B W A Z Y I M
X J L O V S M O M J U D E A L
Y P B M D F E S T I V A L K U
Jesus
Galilee
Judea
Jews
Opportunity
Kill
Jewish
Festival
Booths
Brothers
Hate
Works
Evil
Good
Deceiving
True and False Test
Why Some People Hate Jesus
Sunday March 29, 2020
John 7:1-13
Name _________________________
Circle the True or False answers. Correct the False statements by restating them.
- Jesus did not want to go to Judea, because it was not yet time for the crowd to make Him their king. True or False
- Jesus’ brothers believed in Him and wanted Him to show His good works to the crowds in Jerusalem so they would believe in Him too. True or False
- Jesus’ brothers wanted Jesus to go to the festival publicly with them. True or False
- Jesus told His brothers that they could go to the festival whenever they wanted to, but His time had not yet come. True or False
- The world hated and hates Jesus because He testifies against it that its works are evil. True or False
- Those of this world want to obey Jesus. True or False
- Jesus’ time would fully come when it was time for Him to die and rise again. True or False
- Instead of going to the Passover Festival with His brothers, Jesus remained in Galilee. True or False
- Some people at the festival said Jesus was good, others said He was deceiving. True or False
- 10. The crowds thought they should vote on Tuesday so their leaders would do what ordinary people wanted done with Jesus. True or False
True and False Test Answers
- False
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
Prayer
Father, keep us from handling sacred duties in such a way that we lose sight of You. Empower our church to remember our covenant with You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.