John 8:9-11
And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
ADAM CLARKE (1760-1832): “Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” But if they all went out, how could she be in the midst?
MATTHEW POOLE (1624-1679): No doubt but His apostles were there, for they constantly attended Him; and no doubt divers others were also there, see John 8:2; but the meaning is, that He was by this means quit of the scribes’ and Pharisees’ company, who were gone out of shame, being thus convicted by their own consciences.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): The woman likely stood trembling at the bar, as one doubtful of the issue…She did not seek to make her escape, though she had opportunity for it; but her prosecutors had appealed unto Jesus, and on Him she would wait for her doom, for Christ was without sin, and might cast the first stone—the question is asked: “Where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?” She said, “No man, Lord.” She speaks respectfully to Christ, calls Him Lord, but is silent concerning her prosecutors, and says nothing in answer to that question, “Where are those thine accusers?”
J. C. RYLE (1816-1900): Observe that our Lord, with merciful consideration, did not ask the woman whether she was guilty or not. Thus she could with truth reply to His question, and yet not incriminate herself…To suppose, as some have thought, that the narrative before us palliates the sin of adultery, and exhibits our Lord as making light of the seventh commandment, is surely a great mistake.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): She was taken in adultery. There was no doubt of it. She was “taken in the very act,” and there she stands—no, she kneels—all covered with blushes before the Man who is asked to judge her! And remember His words? He never said a word to excuse her guilt—the Saviour could not and would not condone her shame! Nor would He, on the other hand, crush the woman who had sinned.
A. W. PINK (1886-1952): The law required two witnesses before its sentence could be executed, Deuteronomy 19:15, yet, those witnesses must assist in the carrying out of the sentence, Deuteronomy 17:7. But here not a single witness was left to testify against this woman who had merely been indicted. Thus the law was powerless to touch her. What, then, remained? Why, the way was now clear for Christ to act in “grace and truth.”
MATTHEW HENRY: In this He attended to the great work which he came into the world about, and that was to bring sinners to repentance; not to destroy, but to save…For Christ to say, I do not condemn thee is, in effect, to say, I do forgive thee; and the Son of man had power on earth to forgive sins, and could upon good grounds give this absolution; for as He knew the hardness and impenitent hearts of the prosecutors, and therefore said that which would confound them, so He knew the tenderness and sincere repentance of the prisoner, and therefore said that which would comfort her, as He did to that woman who was a sinner, such a sinner as this, who was likewise looked upon with disdain by a Pharisee, Luke 7:48-50: “Thy sins are forgiven thee, go in peace.”
ROBERT HAWKER (1753-1827): What a lovely portrait is it of the Son of God in our nature! Look at Jesus in this sweet point of view, pardoning the sinner, while reproving the sin.
THOMAS COKE (1747-1814): It does not appear to me that this woman was a penitent, or that Christ forgave her sin; but only that He dismissed her, as not thinking it proper to take upon Himself the office of the civil magistrate in condemning her.
A. W. PINK: No doubt the question occurs to many of our readers, Was this woman saved at the time she left Christ? Personally, I believe that she was. I believe so because she did not leave Christ when she had opportunity to do so; because she addressed Him as “Lord”—contrast the “Master” of the Pharisees in John 8:4; and because Christ said to her, “Neither do I condemn thee.”
ADAM CLARKE: It is generally supposed that our Lord acquitted the woman: this is incorrect; He neither acquitted nor condemned her: He did not enter at all judicially into the business. His saying, “Neither do I condemn thee,” was not more than a simple declaration that He would not concern Himself with the matter—that being the office of the chief magistrate.
J. C. RYLE: Let us calmly weigh the matter, and examine the contents of the passage.
JOHN GILL (1697-1771): Christ came not into the world to act the part of a civil magistrate, and therefore refused to arbitrate a case, or be concerned in dividing an inheritance between two brethren, Luke 12:13. Nor did He come into the world to condemn it, but that the world, through Him, might be saved, John 3:17; nor would He pass any other sentence on this woman, than what He had done; nor would He inflict any punishment on her Himself; but suitably and agreeably to His office as a prophet, He declares against her sin, calls her to repentance, and bids her “go and sin no more.
CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836): Greatly as our Lord delighted in mercy, He would not so exercise it as to give the least countenance to sin.
MATTHEW POOLE: He did not acquit her, for He was not to make void the law of God; nor did He condemn her: He was neither a witness in the case, nor yet a secular judge, to whom such judgments did belong; He was only to speak to her, as the Mediator and Saviour of man.
ADAM CLARKE: As a preacher of righteousness, He exhorted her to abandon her evil practices, lest the punishment which she was now likely to escape, should be inflicted on her for a repetition of her transgression…While there is life there is hope; God has no pleasure in the death of sinners; He is gracious and compassionate.
D. L. MOODY (1837-1899): There is hope for you, adulterer. There is hope for you, adulteress. God will not turn you away if you truly repent—you may be washed, you may be sanctified, you may be justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
THOMAS COKE: Jesus is now a merciful Saviour: He will shortly be an inexorable Judge. Wise and happy are they who improve the moment of opportunity, and seek to Him for mercy while mercy may be found.
CHARLES SIMEON: Be thankful that thou art not now sent into the presence of thy God with all thy sins upon thee: let the “space which is given thee for repentance,” be well employed: lose not an hour in seeking forgiveness with thy God. Go to thy chamber, and pour out thy soul before Him.
D. L. MOODY: Are you guilty, even in thought? Bear in mind what Christ said: “That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart,” Matthew 5:28—Confess your sin to Him. Ask Him to give you victory over your passions.
EDWARD PAYSON (1783-1827): His goodness in sparing thy life, is designed to lead thee to repentance.
