John 8:3–6

Followeth the history it selfe: wherein, first, (in these verses) we have the case propounded to Christ by the Scribes and Pharisees, who while he is preaching, do present a woman taken in the act of adultery unto him, and pointing out what was determined in Moses law, they do in an insinuating way ask his judgement, only that they might take some advantage of him by his answer. For, if he should, according to his wonted offers of clemency assoile her, they would condemne him as contrary to Moses; and if he condemned her to die, then they thought to make him odious to the people, as contradicting his own practice, in eating with Publicans and sinners, and his Doctrine, in offering mercy and grace so freely. We need not be inquisitive why they present only the woman, though it be probable, that however they were taken in the very act, yet the man had escaped from among their hands. Doctrine. 1. Christs servants ought not to think it strange, when they get not through spiritual duties with ease, but do meet with many temptations and interruptions in them; for, Christ himselfe was interrupted by these wicked men; They brought in a woman taken in adultery, &c. 2. It gives just ground of suspition, when men, who were violent enemies, do on a suddain become flattering and insinuating friends; for, it was for little good that they who, even now, were seeking to kill him, do in a flattering way call him Master, and do set this woman in the mids, or, in open judgement, before him, and do seek resolution concerning her from him. 3. Such is the perversity of fallen man, that whatever God do testifie of his displeasure, by word or judgements, against grossest sinnes; Yet they are continued in and followed, yea, and committed in times when God calls them to solemne-exercises of his worship: for, albeit adultery be expressely prohibited, as a grosse iniquity, and albeit that and the like uncleannesse had oftentimes drawn down very remarkable judgements, as on Sodom and the tribe of Benjamin; Yet there is a woman taken in adultery, and that in the time of their solemne feast. 4. Albeit men think to carry their sinnes very closly; and albeit uncleannesse in particular, be a work of darknesse; Yet the Lord, when he pleaseth can easily bring it out to light; for, she is taken in the very act. And albeit many may escape this, yet the Lord can make their sinne finde them out, and make their own consciences bring it out many years after it is committed. 5. Albeit the Lord may justly bring out hidden sinne, that the sinner may be made a spectacle of his vengeance; Yet oft-times it proves a great mercy to the sinner, when he gets not liberty to lurk in a sinful course, but is brought out to light with it: As here it proved in the issue, this woman being discovered, is brought to Christ even by his very enemies, and (in appearance) gets good of him, which she had missed, if she had not been found out. 6. The Lord doth so far detest the sinne of adultery, violating the Covenant of marriage, and especially in women, who do corrupt a family, by bringing in an illegitimate issue into it; That it is his will, that such, a transgression be punished with death: for, so do they repeat his Law given by Moses, that such should be stoned; and being a punishment of a moral transgression, it should stand in force so long as the transgression is still the same: The law concerning the putting of adulterers to death, is clear from Levit. 20.10. Deut. 22.22. But for the particular way of it, by stoning, it seems to be gathered from that particular Law, concerning the betrothed Virgin, and him that lay with her, Deut. 22.23, 24. 7. It is the disposition of wicked men, to make it their study to lay snares, whereby they think to entrap Gods people, and to seek advantages against them; partly, by faire language, and partly, by cunning tentations, that so they may make them and their way odious: for, so do they deale with Christ, they flatter him, and ask but what sayest thou? but they did it tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. And albeit they gained nothing at Christs hand in this; Yet his followers have need to be cautious, and to beware of subtile insinuaters: Not that it is best to countermine subtilty with subtilty, but they should look on honesty as great safety, and divine policy, in such cases. 8. Christ doth easily discerne the drift of his enemies, and doth know which are tempting curious questions, and which are propounded out of necessity: Therefore doth John, being taught of him, record what was their drift, This they said tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. And indeed, when any come to Christ with cases, he first looks into the questioners heart, that he may know how it is affected with what he propounds, before he answer it.