Joh 7:22-23 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 22. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision . Moses commanded you to circumcise your children, . The word "therefore" in this place--literally " on account of this "--means, "Moses on this account gave you circumcision, not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;" that is, the reason was not that he himself appointed it as a new institution, but he found it already in existence, and incorporated it in his institutions and laws. Not because , &c. Not that it is of Moses. Though Jesus spoke in accordance with the custom of the Jews, who ascribed the appointment of circumcision to Moses, yet he is careful to remind them that it was in observance long before Moses. So, also, the Sabbath was kept before Moses, and alike in the one case and the other they ought to keep in mind the design of the appointment. Of the fathers . Of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, . Ye on the sabbath-day , &c. The law required that the child should be circumcised on the eighth day. If that day happened to be the Sabbath , yet they held that he was to be circumcised, as there was a positive law to that effect; and as this was commanded , they did not consider it a breach of the Sabbath. A man . Not an adult man, but a man-child. See : "She remembereth no more the anguish for joy that a man is born into the world." (q) "Moses" (r) "but of the fathers"

John 7:22-23

Verse 22. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision. Moses commanded you to circumcise your children, Lev 12:3. The word "therefore" in this place--literally "on account of this"--means, "Moses on this account gave you circumcision, not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;" that is, the reason was not that he himself appointed it as a new institution, but he found it already in existence, and incorporated it in his institutions and laws.

Not because, &c. Not that it is of Moses. Though Jesus spoke in accordance with the custom of the Jews, who ascribed the appointment of circumcision to Moses, yet he is careful to remind them that it was in observance long before Moses. So, also, the Sabbath was kept before Moses, and alike in the one case and the other they ought to keep in mind the design of the appointment.

Of the fathers. Of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Gen 17:10.

Ye on the sabbath-day, &c. The law required that the child should be circumcised on the eighth day. If that day happened to be the Sabbath, yet they held that he was to be circumcised, as there was a positive law to that effect; and as this was commanded, they did not consider it a breach of the Sabbath.

A man. Not an adult man, but a man-child. See Jn 16:21: "She remembereth no more the anguish for joy that a man is born into the world."

(q) "Moses" Lev 12:3 (r) "but of the fathers" Gen 17:10 Verse 23. That the law of Moses' should not be broken. In order that the law requiring it to be done at a specified time, though that might occur on the Sabbath, should be kept.

Are ye angry, &c. The argument of Jesus is this: "You yourselves, in interpreting the law about the

Sabbath, allow a work of necessity to be done. You

do that which is necessary as an ordinance of religion

denoting separation from other nations, or external

purity. As you allow this, you ought also, for the

same reason, to allow that a man should be completely

restored to health--that a work of much more importance

should be done."

We may learn here that it would be happy for all if they would not condemn others in that thing which they allow. Men often accuse others of doing things which they themselves do in other ways.

Every whit whole. Literally, "I have restored the whole man to health," implying that the man's whole body was diseased, and that he had been entirely restored to health.

(2) "that the law of Moses" or, "without breaking the law of Moses"