Albert Barnes Commentary John 8

Mount of Olives. The mountain about a mile directly east of Jerusalem. See Barnes, Matthew 21:1.

This was the place where he probably often passed the night when attending the feasts at Jerusalem. The Garden of Gethsemane, where he was accustomed to go (John 18:2), was on the western side of that mountain, and Bethany, the home of Martha and Mary, was on its east side (John 11:1).

Moses in the law, etc. The punishment of adultery commanded by Moses was death (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22). The particular manner of the death was not specified in the law. The Jews had themselves, in the time of Christ, determined that it should be by stoning. See this described in Barnes on Matthew 21:35.

See Barnes on Matthew 21:44.

The punishment for adultery varied. In some cases it was strangling. In the time of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 16:38–40), it was stoning and being thrust through with a sword. If the adulteress was the daughter of a priest, the punishment was being burned to death.

Tempting him. Trying him, or laying a plan that they might have occasion to accuse him. If he decided the case, they expected to be able to bring an accusation against him; for if he decided that she ought to die, they might accuse him of claiming power which belonged to the Romans—the power of life and death.

They might allege that it was not giving an opinion about an abstract case, but that she was formally before him, that he decided her case judicially, and that it was without authority or form of trial. If he decided otherwise, they would have alleged that he denied the authority of the law, and that it was his intention to abrogate it.

They had a controversy with him about the authority of the Sabbath, and they perhaps supposed that he would decide this case as he did that one—against them.

It may be further added that they knew that Jesus allowed publicans and sinners to eat with him. One of their charges was that he was friendly to sinners . They doubtless wished to make it appear that he was gluttonous, and a wine-bibber, and a friend of sinners, and disposed to relax all the laws of morality, even in the case of adultery.

Seldom was a plan more artfully laid, and never was more wisdom and knowledge of human nature displayed than in the manner in which it was met.

Wrote on the ground. This took place in the temple. The "ground," here, means the pavement, or the dust on the pavement. By this, Jesus showed them clearly that he was not solicitous to pronounce an opinion in the case, and that it was not his wish or intention to interfere with the civil affairs of the nation.

As though he heard them not. This phrase is added by the translators. It is not in the original and should not have been included. There is no indication in the original, as seems to be implied by this addition, that his object was to convey the impression that he did not hear them. What his object was is unknown, and conjecture is useless. The most probable reason seems to be that he did not wish to interfere, that he intended to show no solicitude to decide the case, and that he did not mean to decide it unless he was constrained to.

They continued asking him. They pressed the question upon him. They were determined to extort an answer from him, and showed a perseverance in evil which has been unhappily often imitated.

Is without sin. That is, without this particular sin; he who has not himself been guilty of this very crime—for in this place the connection evidently demands this meaning.

Let him first cast a stone at her. In the punishment by death, one of the witnesses threw the culprit from the scaffold, and the other threw the first stone, or rolled down a stone to crush him. See Deuteronomy 17:6-7. This was in order that the witness might feel his responsibility in giving evidence, as he was also to be the executioner.

Jesus therefore put them to the test. Without pronouncing on her case, he directed them, if any of them were innocent, to perform the office of executioner. This was said, evidently, well knowing their guilt, and well knowing that no one would dare to do it.

Beginning at the eldest. Being conscious of more sins, they therefore desired to leave the Lord Jesus. The word eldest here probably refers not to age, but to honour—from those who were in highest reputation to the lowest in rank. This consciousness of crime showed that the state of public morals was exceedingly corrupt and justified the declaration of Jesus that it was an adulterous and wicked generation (Matthew 16:4).

Alone. Jesus alone was left with the woman.

In the midst. Her accusers had gone out, leaving Jesus and the woman. However, it is by no means probable that the people had also left them. As this was in the temple on a public occasion, they were doubtless still surrounded by many. This is evident from the fact that Jesus immediately (John 8:12) addressed a discourse to the people present.