Ver. 1. For he would not walk in Jewry] The Roman rule in battle was, Nec fugere, nec sequi, Neither to flee dangers nor to follow them. The Christian’s motto is, Nec temere, nec timide, Neither timorous, nor temerarious (reckless). As we must not basely desert the cause of Christ when called out to defend it, but η ταν η επι ταν, as she said to her son (Plutarch), Either vanquish or die, as the Black Prince’s father said to him, Either live with the gospel or die for it; so we may not rashly run ourselves upon unnecessary dangers, but decline them where we can with a good conscience. He that flees may fight another time, said Demosthenes, ριψασπις. Christians also are permitted to flee, when they are sought for to the slaughter, so it be with the wings of a dove and not with the pinions of a dragon. It was a masculine resolution of that good woman celebrated by Jerome, Non ideo negare vole, ne peream: sed ideo mentiri nolo, ne peccem. I will rather die than lie.
Ver. 2. The feast of tabernacles] The Jews at this feast dwelt without doors, in booths and bowers, in remembrance of their wandering of old through the wilderness. This gave occasion to Plutarch, and other profane heathens, to devise and broach so many base lies of the Jews, as if they were worshippers of Bacchus. Florus calls the temple of Jerusalem, impiae gentis arcanum. Another tells us that the Jews were forced to rest every seventh day, for an evil disease they had cleaving unto them.
Ver. 3. Depart hence] Saucily enough, and sarcastically too; pricked on by ambition, likely, which ever rideth without reins, and cares not whose ruins it buildeth upon.
Ver. 4. For there is no man, &c.] Here they proceed to charge Christ with folly; and presume to lesson him with their “ Vile latens vlrtus: quid enim submersa latebris Proderit? Obscuro veluti sine remige puppis: Vel lyra quae reticet, vel qui non tenditur arcus.” Claudian.
Ver. 5. For neither did his brethren believe] This the Jews of this day read with much wonderment; and take occasion from this text to slander our Saviour’s miracles, as nothing so manifest as we conceive them, since his own kindred believed not in him.
Ver. 6. My time is not yet come] sc. My time of journeying to Jerusalem; I must take my best opportunity, when I may go up with most safety. You may take your own time: you can hardly take amiss, since the world loveth his own, John 15:19; and huggeth them to death, as the ape doth her young.
Ver. 7. But me it hateth, because I testify] Obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit, Truth breeds hatred, as the fair nymphs are feigned to bring forth the ill-favoured fauns and satyrs. An expectes ut Quintilianus ametur? said he; Canst thou expect that I with my plain dealing should be favoured? Quintilian saith of Vespasian the emperor, that he was patientissimus viri, a man most patient, one that could well endure to be told his own. And of Gerson (that great Chancellor of Paris) it is recorded that he rejoiced in nothing so much as in a round reprehension by some faithful friend. But few such to be found today. Praedieare iam nihil aliud est, quam totius orbis furorem in se derivare, said Luther out of his own daily experience. They “hate him that reproveth in the gate.” Preachers are called lights, which sore eyes cannot look upon without offence. Salt also they are called, which cast upon wounds, maketh them smart grievously. Hence the world’s hatred, as Zechariah 1:11; all the earth was at rest, and desired not to be disquieted by the sound of a trumpet.
Ver. 8. I go not up yet] q.d. I will ere long: lest haply they should think that he disliked the public services, and would not come at them, because of the manifold corruptions that were then crept into them. All which notwithstanding, Christ never separated, nor commanded others so to do, but the contrary: “Go show thyself to the priest,” Matthew 8:4 “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ chair; hear them,” Matthew 23:2. It is noted as a great fault in Eli’s time, that men “abhorred the offering of the Lord,” though the sin of the priests was very great before the Lord, and all was out of order; yet in abhorring the sacrifice, they “transgressed, even to a cry,” 1 Samuel 2:17.
Ver. 9. He abode still in Galilee] Which he needed not to have done, could he but have complied with the world, as his kinsmen did. But that man purchaseth his peace at too dear a rate that payeth his honesty to get it.
Ver. 10. Not openly, but as it were in secret] To kindle the desire of seeing and hearing him so much the more; or to discover whether there were any numbers disposed by his first preaching to receive him, to the end he might not show himself in vain. He had lost most of his hearers, who thenceforth walked no more with him, John 6:66; yet might haply afterwards have a better mind to him.