John 7:10–13

¹⁰ But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. ¹¹ Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” ¹² And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” ¹³ However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

Commentary

Vs. 10 “But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.”

 Now when Jesus’ brothers departed and went to the feast of Tabernacles at Jerusalem, He also went up, but not with them, but secretly. For had He gone up there with them, the Jews, that is their leaders, would have seized Him and tried to kill, however as He previously said to His brothers His time had not yet come. And so, when it was time for Him to be Crucified, and thus revealed to one and to all, then He would allow them to do so.

Vs. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?”

 Obviously, the Jews wanted to seize Jesus, and so knowing that this was a feast that all the covenant males in Israel were required to attend they sought Him there, however they did not find Him.

Vs. 12-13 ¹² And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” ¹³ However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

 Here we see that the people were divided about Jesus, with some seeing His good works and hearing His Words, saying He is good! While others not liking the things that He as the Son of God was saying to them, said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” Now this division is not unique to them, as people in every generation will either find Jesus and His disciples to be good or not, which is really more revealing about them and their faith and character (or lack thereof) than Him. And even though the people were divided about Him, no one had the courage to speak openly of Him for they feared the Jews, that is they feared being identified with Him and what their leaders might do to them if they acknowledged Him.

Scripture Quotations

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.