Matthew Poole and continuators on John 7:5

5 For neither did his brethren believe in him .

Not all his own Friends and Kindred; he came not onely amongst his own Countrey-men, but among his own Relations, and they received him not: Or if they had some Opinion of him, and some little hopes concerning him, yet they did not believe as they ought to have believed. Certainly there cannot be a greater Proof and Demonstration, that Faith is not of our selves, nor a thing in our own power; no, not with all the external Aids of Gospel Doctrine and Arguments, than is in this Text. We cannot imagine but our Lords Brethren were willing enough to have believed in Christ as the true Messiah and Saviour of the World (the very Honour of their Family would have so far inclined them.) It is impossible that they, or any others should have had greater external means, aids, and assistances for their Faith, than Christs Preaching amongst them; and confirming his Doctrine by Miraculous Operations before them, if now they had a power in their own wills, to have loo[illegible: 1 letter]t upon Christ as the true Messiah, and Saviour of the World; and accordingly to have received and embraced him; what was the matter they believed not, or as yet at least they believed not in him?

Marginal references: Mark 3.21.