Verse:
John 7:18
He that speaketh of himself seeketh (seek /zeteo) his own glory: but he that seeketh (seek / zeteo) his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
Commentary by Adam Clarke
Verse 18. He that speaketh of himself, another rule, whereby you shall know whether I am from God or not: If I speak so as to procure my own glory, to gratify vanity, or to secure and promote my secular interests, then reject me as a deceiver and as a false prophet. But if I act only to promote the glory of God, to induce all men to love and obey him; if I propose nothing but what leads to the perfection of his law, and the accomplishment of its ordinances, you cannot help acknowledging me at least for a true prophet; and, if you add to this the proofs which I have given of my mission and power, you must acknowledge me as the mighty power of God, and the promised Messiah.
And no unrighteousness is in him.Source
Or, there is no falsehood in him: so the word ?????? should be translated here; and it is frequently used by the Septuagint for sheker, a lie, falsehood, Psalms 52:3;; Psalms 119:29,69,104,163; ; Psalms 144:8. This is its meaning in Romans 2:8; where ??????, falsehood, is put in opposition to ???????, truth.
Psalms 52:3 Psalms 144:8
3 You love evil rather than good,
falsehood rather than speaking the truth.
Selah
8 whose mouths are full of lies,
whose right hands are deceitful.
Commentary by Barnes
That speaketh of himself. Seeketh his own glory.
This does not mean about or concerning himself, but he that speaks by his own authority, without being sent by God, as mere human teachers do. No unrighteousness.
His own praise, or seeks for reputation and applause. This is the case with mere human teachers, and as Jesus in his discourses manifestly sought to honour God, they ought to have supposed that he was sent by him. 1st. In his retiring, unobtrusive disposition; in his not seeking the applause of men.
This word here means, evidently, there is no falsehood, no deception in him. He is not an impostor. It is used in the same sense in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12. It is true that there was no unrighteousness, no sin in Jesus Christ, but that is not the truth taught here. It is that he was not an impostor, and the evidence of this was that he sought not his own glory, but the honour of God. This evidence was furnished,
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie
12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
2nd. In his teaching such doctrines as tended to exalt God and humble man.
3rd. In his ascribing all glory and praise to God.
"but he that seeketh" Proverbs 25:27Source
Proverbs 25:27
It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.
Commentary by Coffman
He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory; but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
The third person, instead of the first, indicates the statement of a general principle of truth. In all ages, those ministers who proclaimed God's word, relying on the inherent authority of that word to win people - those have been true ministers. Another class of teachers, cutting and plucking at the word of God with their scissors and editing pencils, claiming for themselves the right to declare what is or is not the word of God, glorifying themselves with their revisions and theories - such men are of Satan.
Source
Commentary by Fourfold Gospel
7:18 He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory. Those who bear their own message seek their own glory. Those who bear God's message seek God's glory, and such seeking destroys egotism.
Source
Commentary by Geneva Study Bible
7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Source
The true doctrine of salvation differs from the false in this, that the true doctrine sets forth the glory of God, and the false doctrine by puffing up men, dishonouring the glory of God.
Commentary by David Guzik
c. My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me: Jesus doesn't point to His credentials, but to His doctrine. It is as if He says, "I don't have a seminary degree, but judge Me by My doctrine." If the Jewish leaders listened carefully to the doctrine of Jesus, they would know that it was all rooted in the Old Testament Scriptures, and that it was from God.
Source
Commentary by Jamieson, Faussett, Brown
18. seeketh his own glory--(See on Joh 5:41-44). Source
Joh 5:41-44
41 "I do not accept praise from men,
42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.
43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.
44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God ?
Commentary by John Gill
He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory;
What he himself has devised, and is a scheme of his own; for which he has no divine warrant and commission: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him;
honour and applause from men; as did the Scribes and Pharisees, who taught for doctrines the commandments of men, the traditions of the elders, their own glosses upon the law, and their own decisions and determinations: and as did the false teachers, who had nothing else in view but themselves, their worldly interest, or vain glory; these suited their doctrines to the minds and lusts of men, in order to gain their point: the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him;
that gave him in commission what he should say and speak, and his only; as did Christ, and so his apostles after him: Source
he is an upright and faithful man, and what he says is truth; he brings true doctrine along with him, and there is no fraud or imposture in him; nor any insincerity "in his heart", as the Syriac and Persic versions render it; nor any dishonesty in his conduct; he is no cheat or deceiver; was he, he would seek his own glory and interest; but as he appears to be a man of no design, his doctrine is to be depended on and received; and such was Christ.
Commentary by John Wesley
There is no unrighteousness in him Source
- No deceit or falsehood.
Commentary by Matthew Henry
That hereby it appeared that Christ, as a teacher, did not speak of himself, because he did not seek himself, John 7:18. First, See here the character of a deceiver: he seeketh his own glory, which is a sign that he speaks of himself, as the false Christs and false prophets did. Here is the description of the cheat: they speak of themselves, and have no commission nor instructions from God; no warrant but their own will, no inspiration but their own imagination, their own policy and artifice. Ambassadors speak not of themselves; those ministers disclaim that character who glory in this that they speak of themselves. But see the discovery of the cheat; by this their pretensions are disproved, they consult purely their own glory; self-seekers are self-speakers. Those who speak from God will speak for God, and for his glory; those who aim at their own preferment and interest make it to appear that they had no commission form God. Secondly, See the contrary character Christ gives of himself and his doctrine: He that seeks his glory that sent him, as I do, makes it to appear that he is true. Source
1. He was sent of God. Those teachers, and those only, who are sent of God, are to be received and entertained by us. Those who bring a divine message must prove a divine mission, either by special revelation or by regular institution.
2. He sought the glory of God. It was both the tendency of his doctrine and the tenour of his whole conversation to glorify God.
3. This was a proof that he was true, and there was no unrighteousness in him. False teachers are most unrighteous; they are unjust to God whose name they abuse, and unjust to the souls of men whom they impose upon. There cannot be a greater piece of unrighteousness than this. But Christ made it appear that he was true, that he was really what he said he was, that there was no unrighteousness in him, no falsehood in his doctrine, no fallacy nor fraud in his dealings with us.
Commentary by Robertsons
From himself (ap' eautou). The same (outov).
This kind of teacher is self-taught, pushes his own ideas, presses his own claims for position and glory, "blows his own horn" as we say. Jesus is the other type of teacher, seeks the glory of the one who sent him, whose herald and ambassador he is. Unrighteousness (adikia).
"This one." Source
Old word from adikov (a privative and dikh). Here in contrast with "true" (alhthv). See 2 Thessalonians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 13:6 for the deceit of unrighteousness in contrast with truth as here.
2 Thessalonians 2:10 1 Corinthians 13:6
and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
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Prepared by William C. Barman for George Young Memorial United Methodist Church -- Palm Harbor, FL on 9/15/03; 1:27:56 PM