Ver. 9. Thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death— The person was to be stoned, and the accuser was to throw the first stone at him, together with the witnesses; see chap. Deuteronomy 17:7. To this our Saviour alludes, John 8:7. This law at first sight may appear too great a trial to humanity; but it is no more than requiring a compliance with that plain principle of morality, that we are to sacrifice all private considerations to the good of the public: as well as with that first principle in religion, that we are to sacrifice all private connections to the love of God. Such is the doctrine which our Saviour teaches, when he says, if any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26.
REFLECTIONS.—Our nearest and dearest relatives, in this particular, must have no regard shown to them; should they tempt us secretly to idolatry, the same holy indignation must fire our bosoms against them: we must neither conceal nor pity them. Our hand must be first upon them to stone them, and then that of all the people; that thus both the evil may be removed, and such execution deter others from the like criminal attempts. Note; (1.) Those temptations are doubly bewitching, which come through persons whom we love. (2.) The hope of secresy and security in sin is a great snare to lead men into it. (3.) To conceal the criminal from justice, is to be a party in his crime. (4.) The design of every execution is to strike terror into others, that they may be kept from the same guilty ways and miserable end.