Where Did Jesus Get Educated? - John 7:14-24

John 7 - Jesus Teaches at the Festival

14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” 16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?” 20 “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?” 21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” 

When Jesus was ready to go the festival. he went and immediately he began to teach. The Jews were amazed at his knowledge and exposition of the scriptures. Usually teachers were trained at a particular rabbinical school. For instance, we know the apostle Paul was taught by the famous rabbi, Gamaliel. 

"If they could have condemned Jesus on some false doctrine or wrong understanding of Scripture, they would have. Since they could not, they attack the credentials of Jesus." (Alford)

Jesus takes the focus off of himself credits his teaching and its origin with God. God had not only sent Jesus to earth, but also equipped with the knowledge and purpose of the Scriptures. Jesus was an eloquent and gifted teacher, because he was taught by God. Jesus gives them a simple test to determine whether his teaching is from God or not. Apply it in their lives and then they will see God's will being done.  I.e. The "proof is in the pudding" 

“Spiritual understanding is not produced solely by learning facts or procedures, but rather it depends on obedience to known truth.” (Tenney)

Jesus points to the Jewish scriptures, specifically the Law of Moses, also called the Pentateuch. He points out that none of them keep the Mosaic Law, so why are they trying to judge him and ultimately kill him. He is sinless and they are sinful. The crowd didn't know the leaders were trying to kill Jesus, so they think he is delusional or paranoid. 

Jesus uses something that just happened to show them how double minded their teachers. The Jews made a provision that a boy could be circumcised on the Sabbath, and it was not breaking the Sabbath laws, because it was commanded by the patriarchs. Yet, they are judging Jesus for healing a whole man on the Sabbath. 

It is as if Jesus is saying to them,

“If you may wound a man on the sabbath-day, may not I heal one?” (Trapp)

Jesus finishes by telling that if they are going to judge, at least do it fairly. Don't use one standard for one person and one for another. “No righteous judgment can be come to if appearances decide.The iconic figure of Justice has a blindfold for this reason." (Dods)

Why should Christians be the least judgmental people? Why do judgmental and critical tend to be hypocritcal applying a different standard for themselves than others? How can you be judgmental without first looking in the mirror?