For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.”
Parallel translations
- WEB For no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world.”
- KJV For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
- NKJV For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”
- NASB For no one does anything in secret when he himself is striving to be known publicly. If You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.”
- NLT You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
His brothers reason that one seeking recognition should act openly, and urge Jesus to reveal Himself to the world. They press Him toward self-promotion rather than the Father's path.
Overview
The brothers' logic is worldly: prove yourself publicly to gain a following. They misunderstand both Jesus's mission and the nature of His coming glory, which would be revealed through the cross. Their challenge highlights the gap between human ambition and the humble obedience by which Jesus would truly be made known.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- John 18:20“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.
- Prov 18:1–2He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
- Matt 23:5All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
- Matt 6:5And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
- Luke 6:45The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
- Matt 6:1–2“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
- Matt 4:6“If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
- 1 Kgs 22:13Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold now, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”
- Matt 6:16When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
- Acts 2:4–12And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
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John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
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Original language
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