Their pretended reverence veiled a deep-laid plot for His ruin. They had seized upon this opportunity to secure His condemnation, thinking that whatever decision He might make, they would find occasion to accuse Him. Should He acquit the woman, He might be charged with despising the law of Moses. Should He declare her worthy of death, 461 He could be accused to the Romans as one who was assuming authority that belonged only to them.

Deres foregivne ærbødighed dækkede over en udspekuleret plan til hans ødelæggelse. De havde benyttet sig af denne lejlighed til at sikre sig hans domfældelse, fordi de mente, at hvilken afgørelse han end traf, så kunne de finde anledning til at anklage ham. Hvis han frikendte kvinden, så kunne han anklages for at ringeagte Mose lov. Hvis han erklærede hende for skyldig til døden, så ville romerne anklage ham som et menneske, der tiltog sig en myndighed, der alene tilkom dem.