How Does This Man Know Letters? - John 7:15

John the apostle wrote how in the middle of the feast, “Jesus went up into the temple, and taught”, and in chapter seven and verse fifteen of his book, John shared how the Jews asked, “how knows this man letters” where we read:

And the Jews marveled, saying, How knows this man letters, having never learned?

The verse reads, “And the Jews marveled, saying, ...” John began with the words, “and the Jews marveled” or “and the people within the Jewish nation by origin, birth or religion were in amazement and wondered”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring, proclaiming and asking” the following question. John shared how the “Jewish people” who listened to Jesus “wondered with amazement” at His teaching.

The verse continues, “... How knows this man letters, having never learned?” John added the words, “how knows this man letters” which means “in what way and manner does this male human being understand, perceive and discern the documents of sacred learning”, “having never learned” or “when He has not at any time been informed, increased in knowledge, used by practice or been apprised of the letters”? John shared how the Jewish people “wondered” how Jesus could “know” the “scriptures” because they believed He was “never” taught or given instruction in them.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus taught the people so well that they began to wonder how He knew the “Holy scriptures” without being taught. They had never seen Him being instructed in the scriptures either by teaching or application, so they “marveled” that He knew them so well. God, through His Holy Spirit, gave the scriptures to mankind, (See 2 Timothy 3:16-17), so Jesus not only “knew” the scriptures, He wrote them. God provided the scriptures so they would know Him, His Son Jesus, His Holy Spirit and His plan to save them for all eternity. Those who are wise will not only listen to what Jesus said, but also study the scriptures to discover they all pertain to Him and His plan of “redemption” for man.

Next time John shares how Jesus says, “my doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".