without circumcision would be a breach of the law.--=Because I have made an entire man= (ὅλον ἄνθρωπον) =well on the Sabbath day=. We can hardly suppose, with Bengel and Olshausen, that the _entire man_ here signifies the healing of both soul and body; for there is no evidence in the original account that the physical was accompanied with a spiritual healing, and no likelihood that Christ’s auditors would have understood him here to refer to spiritual healing. The contrast rather seems to be between circumcision as an act of wounding, which brought only ceremonial cleanness, and the miracle at the pool of Bethesda, which gave relief from the consequences of sin (ch. 5:14), and gave health to the whole body.--=Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.= See Zech. 7:9. One of Christ’s Sabbath laws; we are ourselves to avoid, but we are not to condemn in others, the appearance of evil. What is Sabbath observance and what Sabbath transgression is to be determined, not by the external act, but by the inward motive and the ultimate end. 25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? 26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do[279] the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? [279] verse 48. 27 Howbeit[280] we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. [280] Matt. 13:55. =25-27. Then said some of them of Jerusalem.= Residents of Jerusalem, who were therefore more likely than the pilgrim strangers to know the designs of the hierarchy.--=Whom they seek to kill.= See chaps. 5:18; 7:19, 32.--=Surely= (μήποτε) =the rulers do not know that this is indeed the Messiah=? The form of the sentence is an inquiry, strongly implying a negative answer.--=Howbeit as to this fellow, we know whence he is; but when the Messiah cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.= It is true that prophecy foretold that the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matt. 2:6); but according to the Rabbinical teaching he was straightway to be snatched away by spirits and tempests, lie hidden for a while, and unexpectedly and supernaturally reappear to enter upon his miraculous mission (Lightfoot on Matt. 2:1). The people here bore an unconscious testimony to the Messiahship of Jesus; for they neither knew his earthly nor his heavenly origin. They believed him who was born in Bethlehem to be a native of Nazareth, and the Son of God to be the son of a carpenter. 28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and[281] I am not come of myself, but he that sent me[282] is true, whom[283] ye know not. [281] ch. 5:43. [282] Rom. 3:4. [283] chaps. 1:18; 8:55. 29 But[284] I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. [284] ch. 10:15; Matt. 11:27.