Rivers of Living Water

Rivers of living water will flow out of his heart

JOHN 7 COMMENTARY ◄
John 7:32-36 Pharisees

John 7:37-49 Rivers of Living Water

John 7:50-53 Nicodemus

JOHN 7:37-38 37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and shouted, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Where did Jesus already talk about coming to Him to drink water?
At the well in Sychar, to the Samaritan woman.

But that was at a well. What about here? Why would Jesus suddenly shout about drinking and "rivers of living water" (John 7:38)?
There was water here too. “On the last day, that great day of the feast” (John 7:37), the priests walked around the altar seven times while chanting Psalm 118:25 - “I pray, LORD, save now; I pray, LORD, send prosperity now” - and then poured out water they had drawn and carried up from the Pool of Siloam in a golden vessel.

What did that water symbolize?
The water that God gave to the Jews when they thirsted in the wilderness after being freed from slavery in Egypt and Moses hit a rock with his rod as God instructed hiim: “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel” (Exodus 17:6). Most likely, as people watched the water being poured out at the temple, Jesus stood and shouted, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38).

JOHN 7:39 39 Now this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.

What did Jesus mean by “out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38)?
The flow of the Holy “Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive” (John 7:39).

When will the Holy Spirit be given?
At the Pentecost as described in Acts 2.

JOHN 7:40-43 40 Then many from the crowd, having heard this saying, said, “This is truly the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” And others said, “Is the Christ to come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a division in the crowd because of Him.

What was the effect of Jesus' declaration in John 7:37-38?
It caused a division in the crowd and made at least some of them question deeper, including about the Bethlehem prophecy.

To which “Scripture” (John 7:42) about Bethlehem are they referring?
See Bethlehem.

What do they mean by, “This is truly the Prophet” (John 7:40)?
See the Prophet like Moses.

JOHN 7:44-49 44 And some of them wanted to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him. 45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why didn't you bring Him?” 46 The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken like this Man!” 47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”

Did the crowd keep “the officers” (John 7:45) from arresting Jesus?
No, Jesus' “spoken” (John 7:46) words kept them from arresting Him.

How do the chief priests and the Pharisees sound in this passage?
Angry ... frustrated ... helpless.

What criterion for truth do they imply in John 7:48?
Whether or not the learned religious leaders believe it.

Did the learned religious leaders know the truth?

Is what you believe based on your own investigation of the Bible or based on what some “learned” person claimed about it?