John 7:16 kjv
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
John 7:16 nkjv
Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.
John 7:16 niv
Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.
John 7:16 esv
So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
John 7:16 nlt
So Jesus told them, "My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me.
John 7 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 3:34 | For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God... | Jesus' words are God's words. |
| Jn 5:19 | ...The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do... | Jesus' actions/teachings originate from the Father. |
| Jn 6:38 | For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. | Jesus' will is perfectly aligned with the Father's. |
| Jn 8:28 | ...I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father has taught Me, I speak these things. | Jesus' teaching is direct divine instruction. |
| Jn 8:42 | ...I proceeded forth and came from God; for I have not come of Myself, but He sent Me. | Jesus' origin and mission are from God. |
| Jn 12:49 | For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command... | Jesus speaks with delegated divine authority. |
| Jn 14:10 | ...The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority... | Reiteration of not speaking on His own initiative. |
| Jn 14:24 | ...the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. | All of Jesus' words are the Father's. |
| Jn 17:3 | ...that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. | Jesus' identity tied to being sent by the Father. |
| Jn 17:7-8 | Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You... | Disciples recognized the divine source of Jesus' message. |
| Deut 18:18 | I will raise up for them a Prophet... and will put My words in His mouth... | Prophecy of a prophet (Jesus) speaking God's words. |
| Mt 7:15-20 | Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing... | Contrast: false prophets speak their own, Jesus speaks God's. |
| Jer 14:14 | The prophets prophesy lies in My name... from the deceit of their heart. | False prophets speak from themselves, not from God. |
| Jer 23:16 | They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the LORD. | Emphasizes the origin of the message (human vs. divine). |
| Acts 5:38-39 | For if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God... | Principle of testing the origin of works and teachings. |
| 1 Jn 4:1-3 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits... | Discerning spirits and doctrines for divine origin. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | God... has in these last days spoken to us by His Son... | Jesus is God's ultimate and authoritative word. |
| Phil 2:6-8 | ...He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant... | Jesus' humility and submission in His earthly mission. |
| Gal 4:4 | But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son... | Emphasizes the Father's sending of the Son into the world. |
| Jn 7:17 | If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God... | Connects moral disposition to discerning the truth of the doctrine. |
| Jn 10:36 | ...Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world... | The Father consecrating and sending Jesus for His mission. |
John 7 verses
John 7 16 Meaning
Jesus here asserts that the teachings He delivers are not independently conceived by Himself but originate from God the Father who has commissioned and sent Him into the world. His "doctrine" or instruction is entirely derived from and faithful to the divine will, demonstrating His complete submission and perfect alignment with the Father's purpose and truth.
John 7 16 Context
John chapter 7 opens with Jesus in Galilee, avoiding Judea because Jewish authorities sought to kill Him. During the Feast of Tabernacles, a major Jewish festival, Jesus eventually goes up to Jerusalem privately and then openly teaches in the Temple courts. His public teaching leads to widespread discussion and division among the people regarding His identity. In John 7:15, the Jews marvel at His learning, specifically wondering how He could know so much without having studied in their formal rabbinic schools. It is in direct response to this challenge regarding His qualifications and authority that Jesus delivers verse 16, immediately revealing the divine source of His wisdom and teaching. This declaration directly addresses their doubt by shifting the focus from human credentials to divine commission, setting the stage for further explanations about how one can discern the truth of His doctrine.
John 7 16 Word analysis
- Jesus answered them, and said: This is not a casual remark but a direct, authoritative response to the questions and unspoken challenge to His authority posed by the questioning crowd or Jewish leaders in Jn 7:15. It highlights Jesus' deliberate engagement with His critics.
- My doctrine (διδαχή - didachē): This term refers to the teaching or instruction. It encompasses not only the content of what Jesus taught—His ethical imperatives, theological pronouncements, and revelation of God's character—but also the manner of His teaching and the authority behind it. It refers to the entirety of His transmitted message.
- is not mine (οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὴ - ouk estin emē): This phrase profoundly states that Jesus' doctrine does not originate from His own independent human will or wisdom. It is not a product of His personal invention or private scholarship. This does not diminish His divine nature but clarifies the operational mode of the Son within the Trinity in His incarnate state—one of perfect submission to the Father's will and message. It denies self-proclamation as the source of His authority.
- but his that sent me (ἀλλὰ τοῦ πέμψαντός με - alla tou pempsantos me): This points directly to God the Father as the ultimate and sole origin of Jesus' teaching. The concept of "sending" (pempsantos) is fundamental in John's Gospel, consistently highlighting Jesus' divine commission and role as the Father's emissary and spokesperson. It confirms that Jesus' teachings are fundamentally divine revelations, authenticated by their source.
- Words-group: My doctrine is not mine: This grouping emphasizes the distinction between human origin and divine origin. Jesus is not asserting an absence of ownership over His words in general but clarifying their ultimate source of authority. His words are truly His, but they are His as derived from the Father. It's a statement of dependent, not independent, authority within the mission He was sent to accomplish.
- Words-group: but his that sent me: This clarifies the prior negation. It points unequivocally to the Father's sovereignty over Jesus' message and mission. It grounds Jesus' authority, authenticity, and truthfulness entirely in God. The "sending" underscores not only origin but also divine appointment and purpose.
John 7 16 Bonus section
- This verse anticipates the method of discernment offered in John 7:17, where Jesus states that if anyone genuinely wills to do God's will, they will know whether His teaching is from God or from Himself. The source of the doctrine, therefore, becomes the critical criterion for its authenticity, linked to the moral and spiritual disposition of the hearer.
- Jesus' emphasis on being "sent" by the Father (a consistent theme throughout John's Gospel) underlines the Christological truth that He did not come on His own initiative but was commissioned by the Father for a specific redemptive mission. His every word and action are inextricably linked to this divine appointment, giving them ultimate weight and authority.
- The profound humility in Jesus' statement—not claiming the teaching as His own independent creation despite His divinity—highlights His perfect submission within the Trinitarian relationship, especially in His incarnate state. This is a crucial aspect of understanding His service and obedience.
John 7 16 Commentary
John 7:16 is a foundational statement of Christ's authority, directly addressing the question of His teaching credentials. Rather than justifying Himself by human standards (e.g., formal rabbinic training), Jesus transcends these by asserting the divine origin of His "doctrine." His teaching is not self-derived, a product of His own human intellect or theological speculation, but rather a direct revelation from God the Father who sent Him. This declaration emphasizes His complete oneness of purpose with the Father, affirming that His words are, in essence, the Father's words, and His will, the Father's will. It refutes any notion of an independent human teacher and establishes Jesus as the authoritative spokesperson for God Himself. For the hearers, it challenges them to consider the ultimate source and implications of His teachings. Practically, this means all who seek truth about God should examine Jesus' doctrine as directly from God, and align their will to God's to properly discern it.