John 7:3-5 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

His brethren therefore said, &c.— By brethren we are to understand only cousins-german, or kinsfolk. As they did not believe on him, they condemned him in their own minds, and said that he acted altogether absurdly in passing so much of his time in Galilee and other remote corners of the country, while he pretended to so public a character as that of the Messiah: that it would be much more for his interest to make disciples in Judea and Jerusalem; and that he ought to work his miracles there in as public a manner as possible before the great and learned men of the nation, whosedecision in his favour would have great influence to induce others to believe on him. The word rendered openly, John 7:4. παρρησια, has a variety of senses: it signifies intrepidity, or fearlessness of danger;—freeness of speech, as opposite to restraint and reserve;—perspicuity or plainness of speech, divested of figures or allegories;—speaking in public, in the character of an orator; and lastly, authority, consisting in popularity, dignity of character, and civil power: perhaps the last sense is that which belongs to this verse. The present passage seems to be a very invidious and groundless insinuation, as if our Lord was actuated by ostentatious views; the contrary to which appeared so evidently from the whole of his conduct, that nothing but the meanest envy could suggest such a charge. It is astonishing that these relations of Christ, who must have had so many opportunities of seeing the glory both of his character and miracles, which last they here expressly acknowledge, should continue in unbelief. But they unhappily laid it down as a first principle, that the Messiah must be a temporal prince; and finding this mark of his mission wanting, and seeing more strongly than others could do, (who were not so intimately conversant with him,) his aversion to any such scheme, they would yield to no other proofs, and are, it is to be feared, on the fatal list of those who perished, as thousands now do, by opposing hypothesis to fact through worldly and carnal views of things. However, this circumstance serves to illustrate the character of ourSaviour; for had his relations been unanimous in owning his claims, it mighthave been objected by infidelity, that the pretension which Jesus made to the character of Messiah was an imposture carried on by him and his family to deceive mankind; but when we find that he did not owe his success to their concurrence, but that they were rather obstacles in his way, all suspicion of collusion is removed, and the divinity of his mission shines forth with redoubled lustre.