Matthew Henry

After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there were trying to kill Him.

“It is not said, He durst not, but, He would not, walk in Jewry; it was not through fear and cowardice that he declined it, but in prudence, because his hour was not yet come.”

Therefore Jesus told them, “Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come.

“They expected Christ's company with them to the feast, perhaps hoping he would bear their charges: but here, (1.) He shows the difference between himself and them, in two things:-- [1.]”

Having said this, Jesus remained in Galilee.

“But he went up after them. We may lawfully join in the same religious worship with those with whom we should yet decline an intimate acquaintance and converse; for the blessing of ordinances depends upon the grace of God, and not upon the grace of…”

Many in the crowds were whispering about Him. Some said, “He is a good man.” But others replied, “No, He deceives the people.”

“Such murmuring as there was among the Jews concerning Christ there is still among us: the Socinians say, He is a good man, and further they say not; the deists will not allow this, but say, He deceived the people.”

If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.

“They are such as have an honest principle of regard to God, and are truly desirous to glorify and please him. Whence it is that such a one shall know of the truth of Christ's doctrine. (1.)”

He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him…

“Secondly, See the contrary character Christ gives of himself and his doctrine: He that seeks his glory that sent him, as I do, makes it to appear that he is true.”

“You have a demon,” the crowd replied. “Who is trying to kill You?”

“But those of Jerusalem knew the plot, and irritated their rulers to put it into execution: " Is not this he whom they seek to kill? Why do they not do it then?”

But because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath (not that it is from Moses, but from the patriarchs.)

“Though it was incorporated into the Mosaic institution, yet it was ordained long before, for it was a seal of the righteousness of faith, and therefore commenced with the promise four hundred and thirty years before, Gal. iii.”

If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man…

“Circumcision was but a ceremonial institution; it was of the fathers indeed, but not from the beginning; but what Christ did was a good work by the law of nature, a more excellent law than that which made circumcision a good work.”

Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them.

“What a diligent preacher Christ was: Early in the morning he came again, and taught. Though he had been teaching the day before, he taught again to-day. Christ was a constant preacher, in season and out of season.”

The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them

“Note, Those whose cause is brought before our Lord Jesus will never have occasion to remove it into any other court, for he is the refuge of penitents.”

They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.

“Others this, The earth accuses the earth, but the judgment is mine. Christ by this teaches us to be slow to speak when difficult cases are proposed to us, not quickly to shoot our bolt; and when provocations are given us, or we are bantered…”

Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared.

“Christ was without sin, and might cast the first stone; but though none more severe than he against sin, for he is infinitely just and holy, none more compassionate than he to sinners, for he is infinitely gracious and merciful, and this poor malefactor finds…”

“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”

“11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world.

“The visible light of the world is the sun, and Christ is the Sun of righteousness. One sun enlightens the whole world, so does one Christ, and there needs no more. Christ in calling himself the light expresses, (1.)”

You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.

“The reason why men are ignorant of God is because they are unacquainted with Jesus Christ. Did we know Christ, [ a. ] In knowing him we should know the Father, of whose person he is the express image, ch. xiv.”

You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.

“Or, " I judge no man, " that is, "not now in my first coming, that is deferred till I come again," ch. iii. Prima dispensatio Christi medicinalis est, non judicialis--The first coming of Christ was for the purpose of administering, not justice, but medicine.”

Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.

“That the testimony of two men is true. Not as if it were always true in itself, for many a time hand has been joined in hand to bear a false testimony, 1 Kings xxi.”

I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father, who sent Me, also testifies about Me.”

“Now if the testimony of two distinct persons, that are men, and therefore may deceive or be deceived, is conclusive, much more ought the testimony of the Son of God concerning himself, backed with the testimony of his Father concerning him, to command assent; see…”

I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father, who sent Me, also testifies about Me.”

“Now this proves not only that the Father and the Son are two distinct persons (for their respective testimonies are here spoken of as the testimonies of two several persons), but that these two are one, not only one in their testimony, but equal in…”

Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”

“Christ's departure from them: I go my way, that is, "It shall not be long before I go; you need not take so much pains to drive me from you, I shall go of myself."”

Now as Jesus was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth,

“When God is about to work deliverance, he is said to see the affliction; so Christ saw this poor man. Others saw him, but not as he did.”

and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Christ's compassion should kindle ours. It is probable that Christ told them this poor man was born blind, or they knew it by common fame; but they did not move Christ to heal him.”

Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.

“The sinfulness of the whole race of mankind does indeed justify God in all the miseries of human life; so that those who have the least share of them must say that God is kind, and those who have the largest share must not say…”

While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.

“Thirdly, He was pleased to lay himself under the strongest obligations to do the business he was sent about: I must work. He engaged his heart, in the covenant of redemption, to draw near, and approach to God as Mediator, Jer. xxx.”