Albert Barnes Commentary John 8:6

"And this they said, trying him, that they might have [whereof] to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground." — John 8:6 (ASV)

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.