The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 512

thoy most bitterly hntcd him, nnd this caso was a plot to betray him. (1) 'l'he,y pro- fcssctl lo be in a difficulty, and anziousfor light and help. But there was no difficulty whntovor. 'fhe Lnw of Moses on the subject was quite explicit, and the woman was guilty nccording to their own testimony. What more light could they desire? 3. It wa., utterly irreligioos. Religion, if it means anything, means true respect for man and profound roverence for God. Their conduct manifested neither, but the very reverse; they made light of an erring soul, and lighter still of a loving Saviour. If they had nny rovcronce for God, the Creator and Father of all, and any true regard for their follow-creatures, they would lovingly hide the guilt of this fallen woman, ana tenderly try to heal o.nd restore her. But so impious and light wa.~ their conduct, that they triOecl with an erring sister in order to entrap a gracious Saviour. 4. It was cunningly and maliciously cruel. It was a cunning and cruel plot to bring Jesus into trouble, into public disrepute, into court, punishment, nnd if possible into death. Knowing bis reputation for forgiveness and tenderness as well a.s purity, they bring the case of this erring woman before him, satisfied in themselves that it would of necessity bring him as nn heretic before the Jewish council, or as a scditionist berore the Roman tribunal. It was a cunning and cruel plot, inspired by hatred to destroy biw. What they could not do openly they attempted to do clandestinely. II. 'l'HE CONDUCT OF JESUS. His conduct here brings forth certain features of his character into bold relief. 1. His pe1fect knowledge. (1) His knowledge of inward motives and intentions. He knew their most bidtlen and secret thoughts, which could only be known to omniscience. He knew their motives in spite of the outward plausi- bility and piety of their conduct. Everything which the most cunning hypocrisy could do to hide their real intentions was done; but, in spite of this, all was clear to him. In fact, a great deal of the eva.ngelist's account is only a faithful report of Jesus' secret thought and motive reading. Thero never was and never will be such a thought-reader as Christ. (2) His knowledge of real character. Through the woman's foul pollution nnd her accusers' professed sanctity, their real character was open to him. Her accusers thongbt that they could stand the test of the crowd, but little thought that they were under the irnmeiliat{l ga.ze of an omniscient eye. He could see something worse in the accusers than in the accused. The woman, degraded and guilty as she was, appeared almost innocent by their side. Here Jesus could see. Here, perhaps, Jesus saw the angel of light in the mud of depravity, and certainly the angel of darkness in the garb of light, and murder accusing adultery in court. To the all-s£eing eye of Jesus what a scene was presented here 1 2. His consummate wisdom. This is seen: (1) In his refusal to act as a legal fudge in the case. There was a strong temptation to this. Tho case was so stated and the question so framed that escape from the cunning dile=a seemed almost impossible. IIad he been caught by it, his enemies would be triumphant; but bis unerring wisdom guided his conduct. (2) In raising the case into a ltighei· tribunal-that of conscience and reason. Had he dismissed the case with a flat refusal, which he justly might have done, his foes would have some reason to complain and glory; but from a court in which he had no jurisdiction he raised it at once to that of con.~cience-" the King's bench," where he ever sits and bas a right to judge. And this ho.d a crushing effect upon his foes, and bis superior wisdom shone with Divine brilliancy. 3. His supreme power over spiritual forces in man. (1) Flis power over conscience, even a guilty conscience. He proved here that he could awake it from the sleep of years by the word of his mouth. Although lulled and even seared, yet it recognized at once the voice of its Author and Lord-" He tha.t is without sin,'' etc. Conscience is true to Christ; the heart is false. (2) '!'he power of a guilty conscience over its possessor. There is a striking instance of this here. No sooner conscience awoke than it spoke in thunders and made cowards of them all. It became a horrible whip to lash them, and, self-convicted, they went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, and ,vhen the veterans retired from the attack the younger soon followed. (3) The power of a guilty conscience over its possessor reveals the power of Jesus over all the spiritual forces in man, He is the supreme and lawful King of the spiritual empiro. Ho can touch every spiritual power of the soul and rouse it into action, so that man must willingly obey his rightful King or ultimately become his owu tormentor, 4. His pure and burning holi'lleSS. This is seen: (1) In the attitude he assumed. "He stooped," etc.-an attitude of silent contempt and of inward and holy  388 THE GOSPEL ACOORDING TO ST. JOHN, [oH, vm. 1---ll9,