Bible Strands
John 7:16
“My teaching is not My own,” Jesus replied. “It comes from Him who sent Me.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the Jewish crowd that was amazed at his learning without formal study. He speaks to them directly to clarify the origin of his instruction.
The words — Ἀπεκρίθη (Apekrithē) means "answered" and οὖν (oun) means "therefore." These Greek terms mark his response as a direct reply to their preceding question.
The thread — This denial of independent authority appears in John 14:10 and John 14:24, where Jesus again states his words come from the Father. John 5:23 links this authority to the requirement that all honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
Why it lands — The text presents a conditional test: anyone who desires to do God's will will recognize the divine source of the teaching. It requires the reader to submit to the sender's authority rather than judge the message by human standards.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
Cross-references
- John 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works.
- John 14:24 Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. The word that you hear is not My own, but it is from the Father who sent Me.
- John 5:23 so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
- John 5:30 I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
- John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
- John 12:49 I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.
- John 17:8 For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.
- John 3:11 Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony.
- John 8:28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me.
- John 17:14 I have given them Your word and the world has hated them. For they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.