Pubic Ministry: Woman Caught in Adultery (7:53-8:11)

Introduction:

As we continue to trek through this glorious gospel of John, you will remember last week that Jesus concludes the revelation of himself as Israel’s messiah by declaring himself to be the very fulfillment of their glorious weeklong celebration of the Feast of Booths. Among other declarations such as his origin and commission, he declares himself to be the source of living water for all those who thirst after God. He said this during that part of the celebration when water was poured out around the temple area on the last day of the feast, commemorating the rock that provided their forefathers water in the wilderness. He was declaring to them that he, metaphorically, was that rock.

There will be other declarations that Jesus will make that are associated with this feast, but for now, Jesus takes a short break to the mount of Olives, a preparation, as it were, for his next encounter with his enemies, the religious leaders, as we look at this rather controversial passage of the Woman Caught in Adultery from John 7:53-8:11.

Text: John 7:53-8:11

John 7:53–8:11 ESV

53 They went each to his own house, 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Main Idea: Because Jesus is the source of forgiveness of sin, we, the forgiven must live in obedience to him.

Background:

These verses are not present in some Greek manuscripts, and in others they appear at different locations, such as after 7:36 or elsewhere in John, or even in Luke. This diversity makes it uncertain that this incident with the adulterous woman and her accusers appeared at this or any point in John’s original document, but its presentation of Jesus is consistent with the rest of the Gospels and it may preserve an authentic tradition of an event in Jesus’ life.

Augustine (354-430 AD) has stated definitely that certain individuals had removed from their codices (ancient manuscript texts in book form) the section regarding the adulteress, because they feared that women would appeal to this story as an excuse for their infidelity. Hence, the suggestion that the section (7:53–8:11) was at one time actually part of John’s Gospel but had been removed from it cannot be entirely dismissed.

Our final conclusion, then, is this: though it cannot now be proved that this story formed an integral part of the Fourth Gospel, neither is it possible to establish the opposite with any degree of finality. We believe, moreover, that what is here recorded really took place, and contains nothing that is in conflict with the apostolic spirit or teaching. Therefore, instead of removing this section from the Bible it should be retained and used for our benefit. As a result of what I have studied, I believe that we preachers should not be afraid to base sermons upon it! On the other hand, all the facts concerning the textual evidence should be made known!

I. Preparation and Encounter (7:53-8:5)

A. Preparation (7:53-8:2)

(7:53) They went each to his own house, - the feast was over, now the crowd dispersed.

(8:1) but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. - most often Jesus would be found alone, and what can be inferred here is that he went to this mount to pray.

(8:2) Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. - a new day for Jesus to teach the crowds and a perfect public setting for his enemies to encounter and seek to expose him as a fraud.

B. Encounter (8:3-5)

(8:3) The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst (8:4) they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. - it is not known how these members of the Sanhedrin found out that this woman was an adulteress, but apparently the accusation was undeniable.

(8:5) Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”

the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. The punishment prescribed by the Mosaic law for adultery is death (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22). Stoning is not specified, except in one case (Deut. 22:24).

So what do you say? - Their hypocrisy is evident, they didn’t really care about the truth but the publicity of the whole event. This of course was a well thought through test as we shall see next…

II. Exhortation and Conviction (8:6-9)

A. Exhortation (8:6-8)

(6) This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.

This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him.

If Jesus were to tell them to carry out the stoning, He would violate the Roman law by which the Romans have reserved to themselves the execution of the death penalty in occupied lands (18:31).

If Jesus were to tell them to release the woman, He would appear to condone adultery and violate the law of Moses.

Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. This is the only passage where Jesus is said to write. Nothing is said about what He wrote. However, it provided a delay to really expose their intentions, for it is apparent that they thought they had the upper hand and this delay looked to them as if Jesus was stalling…

(7) And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

And as they continued to ask him, - the delay only provoked them further, as they continued (imperfect tense), denoting relentless inquisition in which not responding was not acceptable…

Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus’ challenge showed the accusers to be disqualified as judges. It is evident that their real purpose was not to enforce the Mosaic law but to entrap Jesus, and they therefore are using this woman as a pawn to achieve their wicked design.

(8) And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. - this time the delay was to bring about conviction.

B. Conviction (8:9)

(9) But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

Their disappearance “one by one” implies that their consciences are pricked as they recognize that they have no standing before God to carry out the woman’s execution.

Remember, there is a responsibility to purge sin from the covenant community of God. Moses talks about this but it is to be done according to God’s law as we shall see in a minute.

In the New Testament, the church also has the responsibility to judge sin and restore the sinner to the body of Christ. Paul explains this in Galatians 6:1-3:

Galatians 6:1–3 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

III. Forgiveness and Admonishment (8:10-11)

A. Forgiveness (8:10-11a)

(10) Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” - this public spectacle instead of exposing Jesus as a fraud, exposed the Sanhedrin as sinners and themselves as frauds.

(11a) She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you;

Neither do I condemn you. Note that even though Jesus as the Son of God could have condemned her, he chose to follow the Mosaic law in which the word condemn was seen as a legal term referring to the sentence of a court. Jesus indicates that no such lawful procedures have been followed and therefore there is no basis for the capital punishment proposed. This is in alignment with the law of Moses, the very law in which the Pharisees sought to use against her:

Deuteronomy 17:6 ESV

6 On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.

Note how Jesus, the Son of God, the ultimate judge of all things places the Word of God in high esteem, using it as the standard in all situations.

B. Admonishment (8:11b)

(11b) go, and from now on sin no more.”- Notice that Jesus does not say, “It’s okay, I know you were weak and a victim of circumstances, so go away and try harder, I want you to be happy and feel good about yourself.” No, instead Jesus admonishes the woman not to go on sinning. Forgiveness is a matter of God’s grace, and it frees a person from condemnation and guilt, but, at the same time, admonishes that same person to repent and remove themselves from continuance in that sin.

Romans 6:1–4 ESV

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

So What?

Do we understand that as the church of Christ, we are responsible to purge sin from our midst, however, it is to be done in meekness, seeking restoration of the sinner to the covenant community?

Do we realize that to be forgiven of our sins incurs a responsibility on our part to live in repentance and holiness?