With Dale Ratzlaff
John 7:53-8:11
Everyone went to his home. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more” (Jn. 8:1-11).
Most scholars (including D.A. Carson, Leon Morris, R.C. H. Lenski, John MacArthur, and Merril C Tenney), believe this section of John is not a part of his original Gospel. All the early church fathers omit this section in their commentary of John (D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, p. 333). It is missing in all Eastern manuscripts before the tenth century (Ibid.) and appears here for the first time in some of the Western manuscripts in the fourth and fifth centuries ( https://notjustanotherbook.com/disputedjohn.htm).
Nevertheless, most of the scholars mentioned above believe this account of the woman caught in adultery was a true historical incident which was passed on in oral tradition, and some unknown scribe inserted in into John’s gospel. Therefore, I will treat it as an inspired, historical account even if it may not be part of John’s original work.
The first thing we note is that these Jewish leaders were not interested in true justice for this woman, or they would have dealt with her themselves. Their purpose is clear. They wanted to put Jesus on the horns of a dilemma. If He did not follow the Old Testament Law, then they could accuse him of teaching contrary to Scripture. If He did say to stone her, then He would be acting contrary to Roman law as a trial was required by Roman officials before any sentence of death could be carried out.
Second, we see the hardheartedness of these scribes and Pharisees bringing this woman out into the public eye. One can imagine the humiliation and shame this woman felt.
The Scribes and Pharisees had such a hatred for Jesus that in their attempt to condemn Jesus as a law-breaker, they themselves broke the law. We are not told the exact circumstances of the affair. Was this woman married or single? Why was the man involved not brought with her? Here are some references from the Law that might be applied.
If there is a girl who is a virgin engaged to a man, and another man finds her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city and you shall stone them to death; the girl, because she did not cry out in the city, and the man, because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you (Deut. 22:23-24).
If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death (Lev. 20:10).
In many of the Muslim countries today, capital punishment by stoning is still carried out. However, there is little evidence that this was the Jewish custom in New Testament times for the sin of adultery. We do note that the Jews stoned Stephen when they perceived he spoke against their people and temple.
What Jesus wrote on the ground no one knows. It could have been the sins of the people who brought the woman. It might have been Old Testament Scriptures which showed these Jewish leaders were not following the correct protocol. Following are a few Bible references that have been suggested.
The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and cursed. So they brought him to Moses…They put him in custody so that the command of the LORD might be made clear to them. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Bring the one who has cursed outside the camp, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then let all the congregation stone him (Lev. 24:11-14).
The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst (Deut. 17:7).
The context of the latter quote does not deal with sexual sin, but it does show that the witnesses should be the first to put the guilty person to death. It also shows that Jesus’ answer to their persistent questioning was in harmony with the law. After the second time Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground He said,
He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.
The Jewish leaders had set a trap for Jesus. Now, by these words, Jesus turned the tables on them, and they found themselves caught in the same trap.
If they stoned this woman, they would have been breaking the law by not including the man who was involved. They would also be going against Roman authority. And all the while Jesus was following the principles of Scripture that they were trying to get him to violate.
As Jesus continued drawing, or writing on the ground her accusers began leaving starting with the oldest. The way this is written one gets the picture that one of the older, wiser persons perceived the difficulty they were in and quietly left. Perhaps others slowly understood and followed. One by one they left, until Jesus was alone with the woman.
Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more”.
It is clear from this passage that the woman was guilty, perhaps even a prostitute. Jesus tells her to go and from then on not to live in a life of sin. Some have wondered if she showed any repentance or made a confession of personal sin. The word “Lord” could either be “Sir”, or “Lord” in the sense of acknowledgment of who Jesus was. In any event, the message of the story displays the hatred of the Jews toward Jesus and shows His wisdom to snare them in the very trap they had set for Him. And it displays that Jesus responded to them in harmony with the written law. It also displays the contrast between the harshness and indifference of the Jews with the compassion of Jesus for sinners. We need not concern ourselves with the way Jesus forgives sinners. He does not have to follow a prescribed pattern. Further, this account doubtless leaves out many of the details. We might sum up the principles and truth of the passage with several Bible references from the New Testament.
Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,” when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brothers eye (Lk. 6:41-42).
Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them” (Lk. 15:2).
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1).
Application
- We should deal kindly with those caught in sin. “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted (Gal. 6:1).
- We should follow biblical principles in dealing with church members found to be living in sin. “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector (Mt. 18:15-17). Both the Gentile and tax collector are people who need to hear the gospel.
- When dealing with sin, such as sexual abuse, we should not only consider biblical principles, but also the laws that govern our society. Counselors should consider which situations need to be passed on to governing authorities and which conditions need to be kept in confidence.
Prayer
Father, thank you for giving us such a beautiful picture of your compassion for sinners as expressed by Jesus to this woman caught in the act of adultery. May I have the wisdom and spiritual insight to treat sinners with the same love and understanding. Keep me from being judgmental of others. May I learn the laws of disclosure required in our land.
In Jesus name.
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