John 8:22

In this verse we have their taunting reply to this sad threatning. They think there is no good place (nay nor heaven) to which he can go, but they may well follow, if not go before him; and therefore they alleadge that he will take some black course of cutting himselfe off, and they will let him go to that without their company. Whence learn, 1. None are more ready to despise threatnings, then they who most deserve them, and lie nearest the danger of them; for, so appears in the answer given by these hearers, 2. Such as do once breed themselves to a despising of threatnings, will grow still the longer the more hardened and insolent, till the execution of vengeance discover their folly; for, now they are grown worse then in their former reply, Chap. 7. 35. It is but cold matter of comfort, that the more a man habituate himselfe in sinne, he grows the more bold and impudent, for that is a spiritual plague upon him. 3. Obdurate sinners may come to that height, that instead of trembling at threatnings, they may mock at them, and bitterly taunt the carriers of these sad tidings; for, to such an height do these come, will he kill himselfe? because he saith, whether I go ye cannot come. 4. Loftie pride, in mocking at the Word, and taunting the messengers thereof, will not go away without exemplare punishment, and such scoffers may meet with that plague in reality, which they in reproach cast upon the servants of God; for, so befell these scoffers; They tauntingly suppose Christ will kill himselfe, but within few yeares, in the siege of Jerusalem, many of them were redacted to such despair in their extremities, that they did indeed cut off themselves. 5. It is a great delusion among men, hindering the successe of threatnings, and making them insolent and bitter when they are threatned, that they entertain a great conceit of their own worth, and will not be perswaded but it will be as well with them as any; for, this was the cause of all this peoples miscarriage; They conceived Christ could go to no good place from whence they would be secluded, and therefore they do so taunt him.