The Pulpit Commentary on John 7:37-39

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The address of Jesus.

He makes no reply to Jewish objection.

I. OCCASION OF THIS ADDRESS. "The last and great day of the feast."

1. It was the eighth day, and was kept as a sabbath.

2. It was designed to commemorate the entrance of the Israelites into Canaan.

3. It was usual on this day for the people to go, under the guidance of the priest, to the fountain of Siloam, where a pitcher was filled with water, and brought back with joy to the temple. This usage probably suggested the figure used by our Lord in his address.

II. CHRIST OFFERS THE ONLY SATISFACTION THAT CAN MEET THE SPIRITUAL WANTS OF MAN. "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink"

1. The language implies the sense of spiritual need.

2. The language implies float Christ is himself the Rock in the wilderness, out of which the waters of salvation flow. (1 Corinthians 10:4.)

3. It implies that the thirst can only be relieved by the actual drinking of the living water. Our Lord refers directly to faith.

III. THE BELIEVER HIMSELF IS TRANSFORMED INTO A ROCK. "He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

1. We have here the refreshing vigour of faith.

2. The reception of blessing from Christ leads to its fuller distribution of believer's to all within their influence. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

IV. THE EXPLANATION OF THE NEW VIGOUR AND INFLUENCE OF THE BELIEVER. "But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." The reference is to the approaching Pentecost.

1. The language does not imply that the Spirit had not yet existed in believers, for Old Testament saints were raved in the same manner as New Testament saints. It is the Spirit's office in all dispensations alike to apply the redemption of Christ to believers.

2. It implies that the Spirit was to come, not for mere sanctifying work, but as the fountain of gifts to the Church. This was the peculiarity of the Pentecostal gifts. This was the origin of the "unction" of believers (1 John 2:20).

3. The gift of the Spirit was essentially connected with the glorification of Christ. "Because that Jesus was not yet glorified." Jesus must first die, rise again, and ascend to heaven before the Holy Ghost would descend upon the Church. This is the first allusion to Christ's glorification.

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