What is the meaning of John 7:17? If anyone desires to do His will • The verse opens with a call to the heart: genuine longing to obey God. Psalm 40:8 says, “I delight to do Your will, O my God,” showing that obedience begins with desire, not duty. • Romans 12:2 reminds believers to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” A surrendered will unlocks spiritual understanding. • Because Scripture is accurate and trustworthy, this condition is not optional; it is the doorway into the promise that follows. He will know • Jesus promises certainty, not guesswork. Proverbs 3:5-6 declares that when we trust the Lord wholeheartedly, “He will make your paths straight.” • John 16:13 echoes the same guarantee: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.” • 1 Corinthians 2:15 states, “The spiritual man judges all things,” confirming that the obedient believer can confidently recognize truth. Whether My teaching is from God • Jesus points directly to His divine source. John 12:49-50 affirms, “I have not spoken on My own authority, but the Father who sent Me commanded Me what to say and how to say it.” • Deuteronomy 18:18-19 foretold a prophet whose words would carry God’s authority; Hebrews 1:1-2 further clarifies that God now speaks “through His Son.” • Those who seek God’s will discover that Christ’s words align perfectly with all previous revelation, underscoring Scripture’s cohesive, literal unity. Or whether I speak on My own • Jesus acknowledges the alternative—that He could be merely self-promoting—but immediately rules it out. John 5:30 establishes, “I can do nothing of Myself.” • John 7:18 in the same chapter states, “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory,” contrasting self-generated messages with God-breathed truth. • Matthew 15:9 warns of “teachings as doctrines the commandments of men,” highlighting the danger of human opinion masquerading as divine truth. Obedient hearts can tell the difference. summary When a person truly desires to do God’s will, God grants discernment. This certainty unveils the divine origin of Jesus’ teaching and exposes mere human opinion. The promise in John 7:17 rests on the flawless reliability of Scripture: surrender precedes insight, and obedience unlocks assurance that Christ’s words are indeed from God. |
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