Matthew Poole and continuators on John 7:10

10 ¶ But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast , not openly, but as it were in secret .

He went up to shew his Obedience to his Fathers Commands, Exod. 23.17. The Feast of Tabernacles, was the same with the Feast of Ingathering in the end of the Year, when they had gathered their Labours out of the Field, mentioned Exod. 23.16. and that was one of those three times (as appears from that Chapter) when all the Males in Israel were to appear before the Lord, v. 17. Christ being born under the Law, sheweth a punctual Obedience to it; and therefore in Obedience to it, he would go up: But his Wisdom dwelt with Prudence; and therefore

he did not go up openly, not in any croud of Company, so as a publick notice could be taken of him; but secretly, to teach us, that we are not so strictly tyed up to Ritual Precepts, which concern onely Rites and Circumstances of Worship, that we may not abate them sometimes for the performance of Moral Duties. It was a Moral Duty incumbent upon our Saviour to preserve himself with what Wisdom and Prudence he could, from the rage of his Enemies, till his time should fully come to yield up himself to their rage; which was the reason why he, who went up now singly, without any company, when he went up to the last Passover, where he was to Suffer, went up with all imaginable boldness and alacrity; leading the way, to their amazement, Mark 10.32.