And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. As before, having said enough to confound them; and yet unwilling to pursue the matter any further, or publicly expose them in any other way; and that they might have an opportunity of withdrawing themselves without any further notice of his, he took this method. read more
And they which heard it ,.... Not all, not the disciples of Christ, nor the multitude, but the Scribes and Pharisees: being convicted by their own conscience ; that they were not without sin, nor free from this; they had a beam in their own eye, who were so forward to observe the mote in another's; and oftentimes so it is, that those who are most forward to reprove, and bear hardest on others for their sins, are as culpable in another way, if not in the same; when sin lies at the door,... read more
When Jesus had lift himself up ,.... From the earth, towards which he stooped, and on which he had been writing: and saw none but the woman ; that is, none of those that had brought her there, and had accused her to him: he said unto her, woman, where are those thine accusers ? the Syriac and Arabic versions read only, "where are these?" these men, that brought thee here, and charged thee with this crime: hath no man condemned thee ? has no one offered to do unto thee what I... read more
She saith, no man, Lord ,.... No man said a word to me, or lift up his hand against me, or moved a stone at me: and Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee ; Christ came not into the world to act the part of a civil magistrate, and therefore refused to arbitrate a case, or be concerned in dividing an inheritance between two brethren, Luke 12:13 . Nor did he come into the world to condemn it, but that the world, through him, might be saved, John 3:17 ; nor would he pass any... read more
Then spake Jesus again unto them ,.... Syriac fragment of Bishop Usher's, published by De Dieu, prefaces this verse thus, "when they were gathered together", Jesus said, &c.; that is, the Scribes and Pharisees, who went out and returned again; or some others of them, who came after this, to whom Christ addressed himself thus: I am the light of the world ; which he might say, on occasion of the rising sun, which was now up, and might shine brightly in their faces; see John 8:2 ;... read more
The Pharisees therefore said unto him ,.... On account of his declaring himself the light of the world: these were either the same who went out of the temple, filled with remorse of conscience, and were now returned, and bearing him a grudge, came to take some advantage against him, if they could; or they were others of the same complexion, sent by them, to make their observations on him: thou bearest record of thyself . The Ethiopic version renders it, "dost thou thyself?" which does... read more
Jesus answered and said unto them ,.... In vindication of himself, and his testimony: though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true ; which seems contradictory to what he says, in John 5:31 , and may be reconciled thus; there he speaks of himself as man, and in the opinion of the Jews, who took him to be a mere man; and also as alone, and separate from his Father, as the context shows; therefore his single testimony, and especially concerning himself, could not be admitted as... read more
Ye judge after the flesh ,.... According to their carnal affections and prejudices; taking the Messiah to be a temporal prince, and his kingdom to be of this world, they judged that Jesus could not be he; they looked upon him as a mere man, and seeing him in much outward meanness, in his human nature, they judged of him according to this outward appearance: or "ye" that are "after the flesh judge"; to which sense the Persic version agrees, "for ye are carnal"; and so judged as carnal men,... read more
And yet if I judge, my judgment is true ,.... Because he saw not as man did, nor looked unto, and judged according to the outward appearance of things; but looked into the heart, and knew what was in it, being the searcher and trier of it; to whom all things are naked and open, and therefore cannot be deceived or imposed upon; his judgment must be sure and infallible: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me ; he was not separate from the Father, or at a distance from him,... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:7
So when they continued asking him ,.... For observing that he put himself in such a posture, they concluded that they had puzzled and perplexed him, and that he knew not what to say; and therefore they were more urgent for a speedy answer, hoping they should get an advantage of him; and that they should be able to expose him, and that his confusion would appear to all the people: he lift up himself and said unto them ; having raised up himself, he looked wistly at them, and returned them... read more