71 After this, Jesus went from place to place in Galilee. He did not go about in Judaea, because the Jews were looking for a chance to put him to death. 2 But the feast of the Jews, the feast of tents, was near. 3 So his brothers said to him, Go away from here into Judaea so that your disciples may see the works which you do. 4 Because no man does things secretly if he has a desire that men may have knowledge of him. If you do these things, let yourself be seen by all men. 5 For even his brothers had no belief in him. 6 Jesus said to them, My time is still to come, but any time is good for you. 7 It is not possible for you to be hated by the world; but I am hated by it, because I give witness that what it does is evil. 8 Go you up to the feast: I am not going up now to the feast because my time has not fully come. 9 Having said these things to them, he still kept in Galilee.
10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he went up, not publicly, but in secret. 11 At the feast the Jews were looking for him and saying, Where is he? 12 And there was much discussion about him among the mass of the people. Some said, He is a good man; but others said, No, he is giving people false ideas. 13 But no man said anything about him openly for fear of the Jews.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 7:1-13
Commentary on John 7:1-13
(Read John 7:1-13)
The brethren or kinsmen of Jesus were disgusted, when they found there was no prospect of worldly advantages from him. Ungodly men sometimes undertake to counsel those employed in the work of God; but they only advise what appears likely to promote present advantages. The people differed about his doctrine and miracles, while those who favoured him, dared not openly to avow their sentiments. Those who count the preachers of the gospel to be deceivers, speak out, while many who favour them, fear to get reproach by avowing regard for them.