John 8:6–9

In the second place, we have Christs dealing with them who brought the woman, and propounded the case. And, 1. He writes upon the ground as if he heard them not, in testimony of his sleighting them, ver. 6. 2. When his silence seemed to them to flow from some advantage they had of him in this matter, and therefore they importune him the more: He leaves the question, and turnes to the questioners, bidding them search their own bosomes, and since they needed not witnesses, who were to cast the first stone, Deut. 17.7. He bids those among them, who were without sinne, supply that office; and again writes upon the ground, in testimony of his dislike of them, ver. 7, 8. Upon this, 3. Followeth the effect of Christs answer, which is the conviction of these wicked men, who being conscious to themselves what they were, and not willing to confesse it, nor to debate with him who could bring them out to light before the people, they take advantage of his stooping down, to slip quietly away, leaving the woman and Christ alone (not simply alone, for the multitude stayed and the woman in the midst, but all the accusers left them) And this they did, beginning at the eldest, who were most guilty, and most prudent to discerne what was in this answer, ver. 9. For clearing this answer a little, Consider, 1. As for that phrase, he that is without sinne, which imports a compleat purity, we need not here curiously distinguish it, from that blamelesnesse and being irreprehensible, which is elsewhere urged, 1 Tim. 3.2. Tit. 1.6. seeing the Law of God requires both, and it was their great presumption to insult so over the woman, and over Christ as an enemy to the Law, when yet they were not only not sinlesse, but not free of the like grosse crimes, if not the same, wherein the woman was taken. 2. Christs requiring they should be without sinne who execute this sentence, doth not condemne Magistrates, who execute justice, though themselves be sinners; Yea, though they be vitious themselves. For he doth not speak, as a Magistrate, prescribing that none should be punished but by innocent and blamelesse men; nor doth he condemne the doing of justice and punishing of sinne in it selfe: But as a teacher, he sheweth what God will finde culpable in Magistrates; to wit, if they make little conscience of their own sinnes, when yet they punish sinne in others 3. Albeit Christs discourse doth not answer directly to their question, yet it fully breaks their snare laid for him, and brings a snare upon themselves. For it doth not strike against Moses Law, seeing he acknowledgeth the equity of the sentence of stoning, though he was not a Judge to pronounce it, and as a Minister would have them look to their own consciences. Nor doth this rough dealing contradict his doctrine of free-grace, seeing he is speaking to unhumbled Pharisees, that he may fit them for his mercy, and he deales sweetly with the woman afterward. But as for them, his discourse doth indeed pinch them, while as they who boasted so much of respect to the Law, are found to regard it so little in their own practice, that their consciences sends them away confounded. Doctrine, 1. As Christ knoweth who propound questions, only to tempt him, and who desire to be taught; So he who warmely entertains the one, doth justly sleight the other, as unworthy of an answer: for, But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. It is but curiosity to enquire what he wrote; but his end in it, was, not only to shew, that it is fitter Ministers do any thing, then employ themselves in civil affaires; but chiefly to shew, that their question was idle, and deserved no answer. 2. Christs enemies may get leave to think that they have some notable advantage of him and his followers, only that their own disappointment may be the more shameful and sad: for, before they are convinced, they think Christ is silent because he knew not what to say, and therefore they continued asking him, as insulting over him in their own mindes, if not also in their expressions. 3. Albeit Christ be tender and gracious toward humbled sinners; Yet he will strictly presse the Law upon all such as conceit of their righteousnesse, and will not come to him; Therefore doth he deal so roughly with those men, and points out what the Law required of them. 4. The perfect and spiritual Law of God doth require of men, not only that they be without publike and visible blemish: but that they be without sinne or spot: for so much doth Christ require of these unhumbled men, that they be without sinne, 5. It is the will of God, that these who punish sinne in others, should be sensible of their own failings and that the sense of their own sinnes make them tender toward others: And it is a token of unsanctified Spirits, when men who censure or punish others, do not look upon their own wayes, nor do abstain from all lewd practices themselves, nor look upon the worst of sinners as their own picture, if they were left to themselves: for, this is the scope of Christs answer, as is before explained. 6. In our necessary medling with wicked men, it is our duty to take heed we do nothing that may seeme to approve them in their wicked wayes: Therefore, again he stooped down and wrote on the ground, to testifie that as at first he liked not their discourse; So yet he approved it not (however he had answered it) nor would keep up conference with them. 7. As without Christs power, the most spiritual doctrine will do no good to the best of men; so when he pleaseth, he can put an edge upon a very short sentence, to make it waken the most benummed conscience, and cause it imprint inward challenges upon the heart, and outward shame upon the foreheads of men: for, so doth it here appear, they are convicted by their own conscience, and glad of an opportunity to steal away. 8. A wakened conscience will get other things to think upon, then to be taken up with idle cavils about Religion, or descanting upon the faults of others onely, for, they quit both their tempting of Christ, and accusing of the woman, and steal away. 9. A wakened conscience will tell a man, that the longer he liveth, his guilt is still encreasing, and he hath daily the more cause to be ashamed of himself for it, for, so much is imported that they went out, beginning at the eldest, even to the last. 10. Every conviction of conscience is not saving, nor is every one in a state of grace, whose conscience findes the edge of the word, to make him ashamed of sin; for, these men are convicted; and went out, as being ashamed, who yet are but in the gall of bitternesse. 11. It is a sure evidence of an unsound wakening of conscience, when mens convictions make them flee from Christ, and shun either his further convictions or comforts; Whereas it is good not to go away from him, when sin is discovered, and the truly humbled sinner is kept with him till he finde favour: for, so appears in them, being convicted, they went out from Christ, and that one by one, without noise, when he was now stooping down, that so he might not have occasion to say any more to them: whereas the poor woman, though let go, stands still in the midst, in the place where she was sifted as a guilty person, till she hear what Christ will say to her. 12. All the plots of wicked men against Christ, will at last tend to their own visible and open shame: for, this was the issue of their enterprise. They came in with a resolution to have entrapped Christ, and they are sent out with much shame and confusion on their own faces.