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
Being convicted by their own conscience - So it is likely they were all guilty of similar crimes. Their own is not in the original, and is needless: being convicted by conscience is expressive enough. Beginning at the eldest even unto the last - Απο των πρεσβυτερων ἑως των εσχατων , from the most honorable to those of the least repute. In this sense the words are undoubtedly to be understood. The woman standing in the midst - But if they all went out, how could she be in the... read more
Neither do I condemn thee - Bishop Pearce says: "It would have been strange if Jesus, when he was not a magistrate, and had not the witnesses before him to examine them, and when she had not been tried and condemned by the law and legal judges, should have taken upon him to condemn her. This being the case, it appears why Jesus avoided giving an answer to the question of the scribes and Pharisees, and also how little reason there is to conclude from hence that Christ seems in this case not... read more
Verse 9 9.And being reproved by their conscience. Here we perceive how great is the power of an evil conscience. Though those wicked hypocrites intended to entrap Christ by their cavils, yet as soon as he pierces their consciences by a single word, shame puts them to flight. This is the hammer with which we must break the pride of hypocrites. They must be summoned to the judgment-seat of God. Though it is possible that the shame, with which they were struck before men, had greater influence... read more
Verse 11 11.Neither do I condemn thee. We are not told that Christ absolutely acquitted the woman, but that he allowed her to go at liberty. Nor is this wonderful, for he did not wish to undertake any thing that did not belong to his office. He bad been sent by the Father to gather the lost sheep, (Matthew 10:6;) and, therefore, mindful of his calling, he exhorts the woman to repentance, and comforts her by a promise of grace. They who infer from this that adultery ought not to be punished with... read more
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
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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