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Joh 8:20. Ἐν τῷ γαζοφυλακίῳ, in the treasury) in that place, where any one might easily have been taken; where there was a very great crowd of men.-διδάσκων, teaching) The Didacticks of Jesus may be here considered, especially from the means of judging furnished by John. Christ, the Teacher, one, true, and good. One, Mat 23:18, One is your διδάσκαλος; Joh 8:10, One is your καθηγητής, even Christ], of the highest dignity, Joh 8:8; power, Joh 8:9, “One is your Father, which is in heaven;” and authority, Joh 8:10. He is the true teacher, John 7; for He was sent by God, and teaches the truth [Joh 8:18, He that seeketh His glory that sent Him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.] Good; apt to teach, 2 Timothy 2 [Joh 8:24], Three kinds of teachers are distinguished in Matthew 23 : Prophets, Wise men, Scribes. He did not Himself bear the title of a Scribe, but He left it to His disciples, Mat 13:52, “Every scribe, which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven.” He had no need of learning, Joh 7:15. Only once He read, Luk 4:17 [viz. the book of Isaiah, in the synagogue of Nazareth], He found the place [where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, etc.] Only once He wrote, Joh 8:6. Thus then He did not write books in His own name, as the apostles did, nor did He use the apparatus of books; yet He dictated some epistles, Revelation 1 [Joh 8:11, What thou seest write in a book, and send it unto the Seven Churches-in Asia]. There remain the two titles, Wisdom and Prophet, applied to Him by implication, Mat 12:41-42, “Behold, a greater than Jonas is here:-Behold, a greater than Solomon is here.” The name, Prophet, is otherwise greater than that of Wisdom. In the case of Christ, the name, Wisdom, is in some measure more sublime than Prophet. He prayed, ever following the Father’s commands. He sweetly drew disciples to Himself; 1) as recorded in Joh 1:38, etc.; comp. ch. Joh 8:30; John 2) in Luke, etc. He taught them in order, first, concerning His own person, concerning Himself as the Christ, 1) in the presence of the people; 2) in the presence of His adversaries; 3) by themselves apart: moreover also concerning His passion and resurrection; He taught them first in plain language, afterwards by parables, Matthew 13; first at a marriage feast, afterwards on other occasions. He taught the people in one way, the Pharisees in another way, the disciples of John in another, His own disciples in another. He taught concerning the fasting of the disciples of John, concerning the baptism of John, Matthew 21, concerning the tribute-money, etc. He taught by His works, rather than by His words, Mat 11:1, etc. [To the disciples of John, inquiring, “Art Thou He that should come?” He replied, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see. The blind receive their sight, etc.] He taught also by gesture and look, Luk 20:17, “He beheld them, and said,” etc. [ἐμβλέψας]. He avoided celebrity and a crowd, Matthew 12 [16-21]. He taught by asking questions Himself: He taught also those who asked Him questions. He also observed a distinction in the disciples among one another. He taught in one way before the resurrection, and in another way after the resurrection. His prediction of His passion was, 1) enigmatical; 2) subsequently plain and open. His valedictory address followed, in fine, His departure itself, 1) at His passion; 2) at His ascension. He did not give over, until He was able to say, Now ye believe, Joh 16:31. He confirmed His doctrine out of the Scriptures and by miracles. He desired the disciples to learn by experimental proof, Joh 16:22-23, at the beginning, “In that day ye shall ask Me nothing” [ἐρωτήσετε]. He wisely took His opportunities, John 4. [The woman of Samaria at the well]. In a short interview on each occasion, He taught Nathanaël, and the Samaritan woman, what the disciples had taken several years to learn. Before the more elevated class of hearers He set elevated truths: John 3.[Nicodemus], He gradually opened out His subject: Joh 16:4; Joh 16:12, “I have yet many things to say unto you; but ye cannot bear them now;” Joh 11:13. He did not state all things altogether plainly; but wrapt them up in appropriate enigmatical forms. Many err by indiscriminate perspicuity. Our style of writing should not pass beyond the accustomed order of doctrinal teaching: if in any instance it shall be different, it will not glide off to philosophical aphorisms, but will betake itself to Holy Scripture. Moreover Christ did not remain in one place, nor always with the same persons. See Joh 4:44, “He left His own country for Galilee, testifying that a prophet is not in honour in his own country.” He had the powers of a good teacher, and exhibited them sweetly and gently; Matthew 11; Luke 4. He sent forth twelve disciples, afterwards seventy. He gradually taught them to pray; Luk 11:1; Joh 16:24, etc., “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may he full.”-οὐδεὶς ἐπίασεν, no one laid hands on Him) although they attempted it.