Verse 32. Hearing the Pharisee, the people murmured about Him... 11 They heard it probably the next day; murmuring, i.e. speaking with murmurs against the superiors.

Verse 32... And he sent servants to the Pharisee and the bishop, that they might have him,12 as dividing the people into parties. This is rage, or rather madness! After they themselves had often tried to take Jesus Christ, but could not, they now entrust the matter to servants in order to console their anger and hide their powerlessness.

Verse 33. For Jesus said, "I am still a little time with you... 13 He spoke to the people, but he meant the servants who were sent. With these words, Jesus Christ wanted to shame them and thus soften their rage. I am still a short time with you, that is, until Pascha; Just wait for her.

Verse 33... And I go to Him who sent Me, when I ascend into heaven.

Verse 34. You will seek Me and you will not find... 14 It is likely that many of them remembered him and asked him for help, especially when Jerusalem was besieged.

Verse 34... And where I am, you cannot come... E-15 Where I'll be then. By this He signifies His sitting in heaven at the right hand of God the Father.

Verses 35-36. And the Jews said unto themselves, Wherefore this one willeth to go, that we shall not find him; food for the dispersion of the Greeks wants to go and teach the Greeks; What is this word, if it is said, 'Ye shall seek me, and ye shall not find: and where I am, ye cannot come?'2 Having failed at the Saviour's former utterances, with which He had shamed them, they now speak among themselves, not understanding what is said. By the Hellenic dispersion they called the pagans, who were scattered everywhere and freely entered into communion with one another, while they themselves lived only in Palestine and were by law restrained from communion with other nations.

Verse 37. On the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and called to you, saying, 'If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink.'3 The first and last days of the above-mentioned feast of the setting up of tabernacles were considered great, since all those gathered on these days were more zealous in worship, spending the intermediate days of the feast more in feasting. Thus, when everyone intended to go home at the end of the feast, Jesus Christ wanted to give guidance to those who wished to be saved, and He proclaimed in order to show His boldness and so that everyone would hear, since there were many people. He said, "If any man thirst for learning, let him come to me and drink spiritual drink; I do not summon those who are thirsty, but only those who greatly desire such drink.

Verse 38. Believe in Me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living waters shall flow out of his womb.4 The heart is called the belly, as it is said, "Thy law is in the midst of my womb" (Psalm 39:11),5 – and by rivers of water He calls the abundance of the Holy Spirit, the fullness of Divine grace; living, i.e. always active, eternally moving, for when Divine grace is established in the soul, it becomes a source and always flows. And Peter, and Paul, and all their followers, having abundant grace in their hearts, did not pour out a river, but rivers of words, rushing with great force, carrying away everything that came across, flooding and drowning the idle talk of unbelievers. And in the fourth chapter (v. 14) Jesus Christ said to the Samaritan woman: "The water which I will give him, there shall be in him a fountain of water flowing into eternal life." Read again the explanation of these words. After the words, "As the Scripture speaks," one must pause. In various ways, the Scriptures commanded us to believe in Jesus Christ.

Verse 39. And this is the word of the Spirit, Whom the believer in His name desires to receive... 6 This, that is, that rivers shall flow forth from His womb living waters; about the Douce, i.e. spiritual gifts.

Verse 39... For the Holy Spirit is not with him... 7 He was not yet among those who believed in Jesus Christ, He was not yet given to His disciples.

Verse 39... For Jesus is not glorified... 8 Jesus Christ was not yet glorified through the Cross, since here He calls the Cross glory. For all others, the cross was a reproach, as a retribution for great crimes, but for Jesus Christ alone it became glory, as a reward for His great love for us. Who, having a thankful soul, hearing that He Who stands above all honor, endured such dishonor for the salvation of men, will not glorify Him? Before His sufferings on the Cross, Jesus Christ did not give His disciples the Holy Spirit, but only power over unclean spirits, in order to cast them out and heal every sickness and every infirmity (Matt. 10:1), and after His sufferings on the Cross He also gave them the Holy Spirit. Because we have sinned and offended God, we have become His enemies; but the grace of the Holy Spirit is a gift, and the gift is given to friends. Therefore, it was necessary first to offer a sacrifice for us, to reconcile and destroy enmity, for which the slaughter of the Intelligent Lamb, the death of Jesus Christ, served, and then it was necessary to give a gift.

Verse 40. And many of the people heard the word, saying, This is truly a prophet,1 of whom Moses wrote, as we have often said. And indeed, He was a prophet; but they imagined Him to be a mere prophet, like Moses, but not God.

Verse 41. The Druses said: This is Christ... 2 And indeed, He was the Christ; but even these considered Him a simple man.