John 7:19
Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus turns their supposed devotion to Moses' Law back on them, pointing out their hypocrisy: they claim to uphold the Law but are actively plotting to kill him, a direct violation of its most fundamental commands. He exposes their selective outrage, highlighting that their pursuit of him is far more contrary to the Law than anything he's done.
Jesus has just taught in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, causing confusion among the people about his origins and authority. He asserts his teaching comes from God, not himself, and that those who genuinely seek God's will will recognize its divine source. Jesus then confronts his listeners directly, pointing out their hypocrisy: they claim to uphold the Law given by Moses, yet they are actively plotting to kill him, demonstrating they don't truly keep the Law themselves.
Jesus confronts the religious leaders with a shocking accusation: they don't actually follow the Law they so fiercely defend. How can this be?
Jesus points out a deep hypocrisy. The Jewish leaders accused Jesus of breaking the Law, specifically concerning the Sabbath, and used this as justification to seek His death. But Jesus turns their accusation back on them. He reminds them that Moses himself gave them the Law, and yet, 'none of you keeps the law.'
This isn't just about one rule; it's about a fundamental failure to uphold the spirit and letter of God's commands. They were so focused on their interpretation of the Law and using it to condemn Jesus, that they were blind to their own pervasive disobedience. Their desire to kill Jesus was a far greater violation than any Sabbath healing.
Jesus cuts through the religious arguments to expose the true, dangerous motive behind the leaders' actions. It wasn't about the Law at all.
After challenging their claim to be law-keepers, Jesus asks the piercing question: 'Why do you seek to kill me?' This wasn't a question seeking information; it was a bold declaration exposing their murderous intent.
The leaders were using their accusations about Jesus violating the Law (like healing on the Sabbath) as a pretext. Their real goal was to eliminate Him because His message and power threatened their authority and worldview. Jesus shows that their actions were not driven by a genuine zeal for God's Law, but by a malicious desire to silence Him.
Understand the original words
torah · Hebrew Noun
The divine instructions, statutes, and commandments given by God through Moses. It serves as the standard of righteousness for the covenant people and reveals the character and requirements of God.
Jesus' confrontation with the Jewish leaders in John 7:19 highlights their hypocrisy. They accused Him of breaking the Law (specifically regarding the Sabbath) while actively plotting to murder Him, a clear violation of the very Law they claimed to uphold.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus Heals Man at Pool of Bethesda
Jesus heals a man who had been an invalid for 38 years on the Sabbath. This act, though compassionate, drew severe criticism from Jewish authorities who accused Him of violating Mosaic Law.
c. AD 28
Jews Seek to Kill Jesus
Following the healing at Bethesda, the Jewish authorities (scribes and Pharisees) began actively plotting to kill Jesus, seeing His actions and teachings as a threat to their authority and interpretation of the Law.
c. AD 28
Jesus Teaches at Feast of Tabernacles
Jesus attends the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, teaching publicly in the Temple. This teaching occurs amidst ongoing tension and attempts by the authorities to arrest Him.
This passage speaks of Moses commanding the law to be read every sabbatical year at this very festival, highlighting the irony of the Jews present, professing obedience to the Law while seeking to kill Jesus.
John 5:16This verse directly links the Jews' persecution of Jesus to His healing on the Sabbath, the very action that prompted their desire to kill Him and which Jesus uses here to expose their hypocrisy.
Romans 2:21-23Paul echoes Jesus' accusation here, highlighting the hypocrisy of those who teach others not to steal or commit adultery but do it themselves, and who boast in the law while dishonoring God by breaking it.
Matthew 23:23Jesus rebukes the Pharisees in this passage for meticulously tithing mint and dill but neglecting 'the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness,' mirroring the accusation in John 7:19 that they do not keep the law despite their outward show.
barnesJohn 7:19: "Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?"
Did not Moses give you the law? - This they admitted, and on this they prided themselves. Every violation of that law they considered as deserving of death. They had accused Jesus of violating it because he had healed a man on the Sabbath, and for that they had sought his life, John 5:10-16 . He here recalls that charge to their recollection, and shows them that, though they pretended g…
vincentJohn 7:19: "Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?"
Did - give (δέδωκεν)Some texts read the aorist tense ἔδωκεν, in which case this rendering is correct. If with others we read the perfect, we should render hath not Moses given you the law, which you still profess to observe.Keepeth (ποιεῖ)Rev., rightly, doeth. Compare do in John 7:17.Go ye about (ζητεῖτε)Properly, seek ye. So Rev.
Jesus turns their supposed devotion to Moses' Law back on them, pointing out their hypocrisy: they claim to uphold the Law but are actively plotting to kill him, a direct violation of its most fundamental commands. He exposes their selective outrage, highlighting that their pursuit of him is far more contrary to the Law than anything he's done.
Jesus has just taught in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, causing confusion among the people about his origins and authority. He asserts his teaching comes from God, not himself, and that those who genuinely seek God's will will recognize its divine source. Jesus then confronts his listeners directly, pointing out their hypocrisy: they claim to uphold the Law given by Moses, yet they are actively plotting to kill him, demonstrating they don't truly keep the Law themselves.
Jesus has just taught in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, causing confusion among the people about his origins and authority. He asserts his teaching comes from God, not himself, and that those who genuinely seek God's will will recognize its divine source. Jesus then confronts his listeners directly, pointing out their hypocrisy: they claim to uphold the Law given by Moses, yet they are actively plotting to kill him, demonstrating they don't truly keep the Law themselves.
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"Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?”" — Jesus turns their supposed devotion to Moses' Law back on them, pointing out their hypocrisy: they claim to uphold the Law but are actively plotting to kill him, a direct violation of its most fundam…
