_Jesus went unto the mount of Olives_ Went to lodge there, that he might be out of the reach of his enemies, and that in retirement he might, by secret converse with his heavenly Father, be animated to all the labours and dangers before him. _And early in the morning_ In order that his retirement mi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman,_ &c. While he was thus employed, the scribes and Pharisees set a woman before him, that had been taken in the act of adultery; and standing round him, desired his opinion of the affair, which, it appears from John 8:6, they did with an insidio... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now Moses commanded that such should be stoned_ If they spoke accurately, this must have been a woman who, having been betrothed to a husband, had been guilty of this crime before the marriage was completed, for such only Moses commanded to be stoned. He commanded, indeed, that other adulteresses s... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Jesus saw none but the woman_ None of those who had been soliciting his judgment, but only the woman they had brought before him; _he said, Where are those thine accusers?_ Is there no one remaining to bear witness against thee? _hath no man condemned thee_ Hath no judicial sentence been passe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then spake Jesus again_ Addressing himself to his disciples and the multitude; _I am the light of the world_ It was with singular propriety that our Lord spake thus, after the wonderful display which he had just made, by the above-mentioned remarkable decision, of his wisdom and knowledge, as well... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Pharisees, therefore_ Namely, some of them who were then present, but different persons from those who had brought in the woman, being enraged at the late disappointment of their brethren; _said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself_ And therefore, by thine own confession, _thy record_ Or te... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye judge after the flesh_ As the flesh, that is, corrupt nature, dictates. The same carnal prejudices still prevail in the minds of the Jews, and prevent their reception of Christ; they laying it down as a first principle, that he is to be a great temporal prince and deliverer. And the admission of... [ Continue Reading ]
_These words spake Jesus in the treasury_ Which was a certain part of the women's court, where the chests were placed for receiving the offerings of those who came to worship; and consequently was a place of great concourse. _And no man laid hands on him_ Though he so plainly intimated that God was... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Jesus again_ Probably in the same place where the preceding discourse was pronounced; and still confiding in the protection of Divine Providence; _I go my way_ That is, I shall speedily go away from among you; _and ye shall seek me_ Shall inquire after the Messiah; _and shall die in your... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said the Jews_ Showing at once the great perverseness of their disposition, and their contempt of his declaration; _will he kill himself?_ &c. Thus they made a jest of his threatening, and instead of trembling at his word, turned it into ridicule. _He said, Ye are from beneath_ The slaves of e... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said they, Who art thou?_ This question they ask in derision, and not with any desire to be instructed. _And Jesus saith, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning_ Namely, of my public ministry, or from the time I first spake to you. Or, as Whitby renders it, _I am what I before t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Jesus, When ye have lifted up the Son of man_ From the earth on the cross; and have proceeded so far as to put him to a violent death, then, instead of seeing his cause and interest overborne by that outrageous attempt, _shall ye know_ By some new and convincing tokens; _that I am he_ Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
_As he spake these words, many believed on him_ Believed that he was the Messiah, and were strongly inclined to follow him as such. Some have supposed that the ambiguity of the expression, in John 8:28, (_When you have lifted up the Son of man,_) induced those here spoken of to believe him to be the... [ Continue Reading ]
_They answered him_ Namely, the other Jews that were present, not those that believed, as appears by the whole tenor of the conversation; _We be Abraham's seed_ A person always free, and a peculiar favourite of Heaven; _and were never in bondage to any man_ A bold, notorious untruth. At that very ti... [ Continue Reading ]
_I know that ye are Abraham's seed_ That ye are descended from Abraham, as Ishmael and Esau, and their posterity also were, I know; but what can that avail you, while you are so unlike Abraham, in your spirit and conduct, as it is plain you are? For _you seek to kill me_ Who am not only an innocent... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye do the deeds of your father_ By your deeds ye show whose children ye are. _They said, We be not born of fornication_ We are not bastard Jews, a mixed, spurious blood, descended from Gentile idolaters or apostate Israelites; nor are we ourselves worshippers of idols: but _have one Father, even Go... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye are of your father the devil_ Ye are the genuine children of Satan; _and the lusts_ Τας επιθυμιας, _the desires; of your father ye will do_ Namely, resolutely and obstinately, as the words, θελετε ποιειν, evidently imply. The account which Josephus gives of the wickedness of the Jews, about this... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then answered the Jews, Say we not well_ Have we not just cause to say; _Thou art a Samaritan_ An enemy to our church and nation; _and hast a devil?_ Art possessed by a proud and lying spirit? The Jews and Samaritans bearing a mortal hatred to one another on account of religion, it happened, that i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus answered, If I honour myself_, (referring to their words, _Whom makest thou thyself?_) _my honour is nothing_ If I should speak in praise of myself, you would call it vain and foolish; and say to me as the Pharisees did lately, (John 8:13,) _Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day_ Ηγαλλιασατο ινα ιδη την ημεραν, _exulted with desire, to see my day._ “The words ινα ιδη, _that he might see_, immediately following the verb, show,” as Dr. Campbell observes, “that it cannot mean here, _rejoiced_, but rather signifies, _desired earnestly... [ Continue Reading ]