John 8:8-11

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:1-11

The accusers condemned and the accused absolved. Whatever view be taken of the genuineness of this passage of the Gospel, there can be little doubt as to the authenticity of the narrative, and no doubt as to the justice of the picture it presents of the ministry and character of Jesus Christ. I. HERE IS A REPRESENTATION OF THE SINFUL SOCIETY IN WHICH THE SAVIOUR DEIGNED TO MIX . The scene was the temple; the company gathered together were composed of those... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:1-23

Excluded from the destination of Jesus. In one sense Jesus was very near to men, very closely connected with them. At the same time he was very far from them, separated in many ways. The Gospel of John abounds in indications of this felt difference and superiority. Yet there is much to help and cheer even in words like these: "Whither I go, ye cannot come." The truth of Jesus is the same, spoken to friends or to enemies, and everything Jesus said on the earth has something of gospel in it.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:3-11

A miserable sinner and a merciful Saviour. Notice on this occasion— I. THE CONDUCT OF HIS ENEMIES . 1 . It was brutally gross. 2 . It was utterly hypocritical. Hypocrisy is to speak or do one thing but mean another. If so, the conduct of these men was utterly hypocritical. 3 . It was utterly irreligious. Religion, if it means anything, means true respect for man and profound reverence for God. Their conduct manifested neither, but the very reverse; they made... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:7-8

But when they continued asking him; he lifted up himself, £ and said unto them, He that is without sin, let him first c ast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and with his finger £ was writing on the ground. The imperfect tense of ἔγραφεν , twice repeated, seems more in harmony with the symbolic meaning of the act than with the record on his part of any special sentence of his supreme wisdom. Christ refused to act the part of the civil magistrate, or to countenance... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:9

And they when they heard it ( being convicted by their £ own conscience ), they went out one by one. Their conscience convinced them that the spirit of the Law is greater than its letter. The phrase expressing the action of conscience was probably an explanatory and true gloss, which accounted for the sudden change of front. It was a proof of the ally which Divine law has within the human breast. The whole crowd, rather than the humbled woman, is condemned, but self-condemned and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:10-11

And Jesus lifted up himself, £ and said to her, Where are they? ( these thy accusers). £ The question (with or without the additions) implied that our Lord had not seen the obvious effect of his words upon the accusing party. There was no triumph in his eye, no flush of victory over his enemies. Hath no one condemned thee? pronounced upon thee the sentence of condemnation? Has no one declared that thine is a case of stoning?— No one? Then the judgment has yet to be uttered, if it... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 8:9

Beginning at the eldest - As being conscious of more sins, and, therefore, being desirous to leave the Lord Jesus. The word “eldest” here probably refers not to age, but to benefit - from those who were in highest reputation to the lowest in rank. This consciousness of crime showed that the state of the public morals was exceedingly corrupt, and justified the declaration of Jesus that it was an adulterous and wicked generation, Matthew 16:4.Alone - Jesus only was left with the woman, etc.In the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 8:10

Hath no man condemned thee? - Jesus had directed them, if innocent, to cast a stone, thus to condemn her, or to use the power which he gave them to condemn her. No one of them had done that. They had accused her, but they had not proceeded to the act expressive of judicial condemnation. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 8:11

Neither do I condemn thee - This is evidently to be taken in the sense of judicial condemnation, or of passing sentence as a magistrate, for this was what they had arraigned her for. It was not to obtain his opinion about adultery, but to obtain the condemnation of the woman. As he claimed no civil authority, he said that he did not exercise it, and should not condemn her to die. In this sense the word is used in the previous verse, and this is the only sense which the passage demands. Besides,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 8:7-9

John 8:7-9. When they continued asking him That is, pressed him with great importunity to give an answer, thinking, no doubt, that they had him at a great advantage; he lifted up himself, and, without replying directly to their demand, said, He that is without sin among you He that is not guilty (his own conscience being the judge) either of the same sin or of some nearly resembling it; let him As a witness; first cast a stone at her He alludes to the law, (Deuteronomy 17:7,) which... read more

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