John 8:6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 8:1-11

Though Christ was basely abused in the foregoing chapter, both by the rulers and by the people, yet here we have him still at Jerusalem, still in the temple. How often would he have gathered them! Observe, I. His retirement in the evening out of the town (John 8:1): He went unto the mount of olives; whether to some friend's house, or to some booth pitched there, now at the feast of tabernacles, is not certain; whether he rested there, or, as some think, continued all night in prayer to God, we... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:6

This they said, tempting him ,.... For they brought this woman, and exposed her in this manner, not because of their abhorrence and detestation of the sin; nor did they put the above question to Christ, out of their great respect to the law of Moses; which in many instances, and so in this, they in a great measure made void, by their traditions; for they say, that for such an offence as adultery, they did not put to death, nor beat, unless there was a previous admonition; the use of which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:6

That they might have to accuse him - Had our Lord condemned the woman to death, they might have accused him to Pilate, as arrogating to himself the power of life and death, which the Romans had taken away from the Jews; besides, the Roman laws did not condemn an adulteress to be put to death. On the other hand, if he had said she should not be put to death, they might have represented him to the people as one who decided contrary to the law, and favored the crime of which the woman was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 8:6

Verse 6 6.And Jesus stooping down. By this attitude he intended to show that he despised them. Those who conjecture that he wrote this or the other thing, in my opinion, do not understand his meaning. Nor do I approve of the ingenuity of Augustine, who thinks that in this manner the distinction between the Law and the Gospel is pointed out, because Christ did not write on tables of stone, (Exodus 31:18,) but on man, who is dust and earth. For Christ rather intended, by doing nothing, to show... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 8:1-11

The woman caught in adultery. This narrative, if not inspired Scripture, bears all the traces of a genuine tradition. I. THE PLOT OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES . They brought to Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery, and demanded his judgment concerning her act. "They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the Law commanded us, that such should be stoned: what sayest thou?" 1 . Theft conduct was not dictated by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 8:6

But this they said tempting him, that they might have ( whereof ) to accuse him . They sought a ground of formal accusation against Jesus. This implies some court before which the charge they desired to formulate it might be brought. The precise accusation is difficult to determine, and sundry distinguished scholars, Lucke, De Wette, and Alford, declare the problem or question insoluble. Augustine has been followed by a great body of expositors, who have supposed that an affirmative... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 8:6

Tempting him - Trying him, or laying a plan that they might have occasion to accuse him. If he decided the case, they expected to be able to bring an accusation against him; for if he decided that she ought to die, they might accuse him of claiming power which belonged to the Romans - the power of life and death. They might allege that it was not the giving an opinion about an abstract case, but that she was formally before him, that he decided her case judicially, and that without authority or... read more

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