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.”
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.
- BSB For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing 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 18:20Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret.
- Prov 18:1–2An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
- Matt 23:5But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,
- Matt 6:5“When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.
- Luke 6:45The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.
- Matt 6:1–2“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
- Matt 4:6and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you.’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”
- 1 Kgs 22:13The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “See now, the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak good.”
- Matt 6:16“Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
- Acts 2:4–12They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
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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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