Leaving a Life of Sin

Introduction

Last week we ended where we are going to begin today. We ended with John 7:53.

John 7:53 NIV

Then they all went home,

However, there is a textual problem with this verse and the first eleven verses of chapter 8.

The Textual Problem

The problem is that most ancient Greek manuscripts that are dated before the sixth century do not contain any part of these 12 verses.

This being said, there are over 900 ancient manuscripts do contain it, including the important early texts of the so-called Western text (uncial D).

Now, for many people, passages like this bring up the question of authenticity, and reliability of the Scriptures. So, let’s take a minute to put things into perspective.

We also have about 24,000 ancient manuscripts of the New Testament or parts of it.

Now contrast there are a lot fewer early copies of the writings of other ancient writers. For example,

—Some of you will remember studying the ancient writers of Homer. We have about 643 old copies of ancient writings of Homer

—8 of Herodotus (Her au tdo tus)

—9 of Euripides (Ur rip i dees)

—8 of Thucydides (Thee u se dies)

—7 of Plato

—49 of Aristotle

—and 20 of Tacitus (Tas i tus)

Furthermore, the earliest copy of the New Testament date back to within roughly 125 years after its composition, whereas the earliest copy of one of the extra-biblical writings that we just referred to are about 400 years after its composition.

Now with regards to this particular passage:

None of the church fathers or early commentators, with the exception of Jerome, referred to this story in their comments on the Gospel of John.

Instead, they passed from 7:52 right on to 8:12.

There are several later manuscripts that identify this passage as "special” by using an asterisk or obelus at its beginning and ending (An obelus is a straight horizontal stroke, either simple, or with a dot above and another dot below it. Writers of ancient manuscripts used obeli to mark a forged, corrupt, doubtful, or superfluous word or passage.)

Some ancient copies have this passage placed after 7:36, or 7:44, or 21:25, or even in Luke 21:38.

In fact, some have noted that its expressions and constructions seem to be more similar to Luke’s writings than they are to John’s.

The event described here probably occurred, though the passage may represent a blending of two different accounts (cf. 21:25). Perhaps it was a piece of oral tradition that later scribes inserted here in order to illustrate the sinfulness of the Jewish leaders (cf. 7:24; 8:15, 46).

It may be reasonable to accept the passage as historical truth; however based on the information we now have, it should be concluded that most likely it was not a part of the original text.

The Big Question

The big question that must be answered is whether or not it was inspired by the Holy Spirit?

Personally, I believe He did, since He has preserved it as a part of John’s Gospel through centuries of critical analysis.

How to Interpret This Passage?

How should the modern Christian use this story? There are three popular approaches to interpreting, using, and teaching this passage.

Some expositors do not preach or teach the passage publicly because they believe it is uninspired.

Other Christians disagree and accept it as equally authoritative as the rest of Scripture.

Roman Catholics accept it because it was in Jerome’s Latin Vulgate translation (late fourth century A.D.), which they regard as authoritative.

My Approach

As I stated a minute ago, I believe that we can accept it as part of God’s inspired view of Scripture despite the fact that it may have been added at a later date.

And if I accept it as part of the inspired Word of God then according to Paul it “is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. . .”

At the same time, I freely acknowledge that the passage was NOT in the earliest manuscripts that have been discovered. So, if someone doesn’t agree with me (about its inspiration) I won’t argue or break fellowship with the person.

Now for some of you, there is one more question to answer.

Why Talk About This?

Now I know, some of you may be thinking, “Why is Brother Tim spending so much time talking about all of this? Well, I don’t want someone to blindside you in a conversation, when they begin to tell you that the Bible is NOT believable or reliable, and then point you to this passage.

I want you to be able to have an answer for the critic!

Today’s Passage

Okay, let’s begin to look at our passage for today. So, if you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to John chapter 7, and we’ll begin reading with verse 53.

John 7:53–8:1 NIV

Then they all went home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

One thing about these two verses is how well they fit into the passage. It begins by giving us another great time marker (which fits right in with John’s writing style):

When Jesus had finished his speech

When the Pharisees had concluded their pride filled discussion

When the festival was over (after the full 8 days)

Two things happened:

The people went home (v. 53). This makes sense because the festival of booths (tabernacles) was over.

Jesus left Jerusalem and went out to the Mount of Olives (v. 8:1). This too seems to make sense, since Jesus (and his disciples) may have spent some nights on/in the Mount of Olives, and because it was close to Jerusalem.

John 8:2 NIV

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.

Here we are given the second time marker in our passage today. It was early in the morning when Jesus went back to the temple courts (v. 2a).

The people that were there in the temple (at that time of day) gathered around Jesus (v. 2b).

So Jesus sat down and began to teach them (v. 2c).

John 8:3 NIV

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group

A Trap by the Pharisees

The Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus who “was caught in the act of adultery” (v. 3a).

They made her stand before the group of people that had gathered around Jesus (v. 3b).

John 8:4 NIV

and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

The Pharisees tell Jesus that they had caught her in the act of adulty (v. 4).

John 8:5 NIV

In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”

They tell Jesus what the Law of Moses commanded: That she (along with the man) be stoned to death (cf. Lev. 20:10; Deut. 20:20) (v. 5a).

And they want to know what Jesus says about the situation! (v.5b).

The dilemma:

When we read this it seems straight forward. The law says this, so obviously the Pharisees know what the answer should be. So here’s the real dilemma:

If Jesus said they should NOT stone her, then the Pharisees and teachers of the law would charge that His teachings violated the Law of Moses!

On the other had, if Jesus said that they should stone her, there would be two problems:

He would be going against His reputation for being compassionate and forgiving.

Not only that, but He would be going against Roman law.

Essentially, the Pharisees were presenting Jesus with a no win problem: How could he reconcile justice with mercy?

John 8:6 NIV

They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.

John (or the author) tells us that they were using this as a trap, so that they could accuse Jesus of some kind of wrong doing (remember they are placing Jesus in a no win situation!) (v. 6a).

Jesus did not immediately answer their question. Instead he bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger (v. 6b).

The Greek word (katagrapho) could refer to actual writing words, or to drawing pictures, or making signs.

Here in verse 6 and verse 8 are the only two mentions of Jesus writing.

I would love to know exactly what Jesus wrote. But the author does not tell us at all.

Scholars differ on what they think Jesus may have been writing.

Some think Jesus may of been stalling,

Others think he could have been writing a list of the sins that the accusers had committed,

Still others think he could have simply been doodling.

John 8:7 NIV

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

The Pharisees kept pressing Jesus for an answer (v. 7a).

So, Jesus stood up and spoke—but he didn’t really answer their question. Instead he said, “Let any one of you who is sinless be the first to throw a stone at her” (v. 7b).

John 8:8 NIV

Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

Then Jesus stooped back down and wrote on the ground again (v. 8).

When we look at the Pharisee’s response, I really wonder what Jesus wrote.

Interestingly, one scholar suggests that the reason Jesus began to “write” again, may have been to release those men gathered around the woman from the icy gaze of Jesus. This author suggests Jesus may have wanted God the Father, or the Holy Spirit to convict the men through the words that Jesus spoke, rather than by a stare-down.

John 8:9 NIV

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

The Result

When the men that were gathered around Jesus and the woman, heard the words of Jesus they began to leave.

John gives us some interesting facts about their departure:

They left one at a time—apparently as they were individually convicted by God’s Spirit.

The older men responded more quickly than the young men responded.

Nevertheless, they all left!

Finally, it was just Jesus and the woman. They were standing there alone.

Jesus & the Woman

John 8:10 NIV

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

Jesus stands up again, and this time he speaks to the woman (v. 10a).

He has one question (v. 10b). “Woman where are they?” Jesus wants to know from the woman what happened the people that were accusing her?

Is there anyone here to condemn you? (v. 10c)

Commentary:

I don’t know why, but I picture this woman standing there virtually naked. She is humiliated, hurt, terrified, and feeling betrayed. I picture here there with her eyes closed, wishing and hoping that the nightmare would end.

Then when Jesus speaks directly to her, she opens her eyes for the first time. Shocked, she slowly begins to realize that all of the men who were accusing her were going! They were no where in sight.

John 8:11 NIV

“No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

The woman responds that there is no one standing around there condemning her—no one! (v. 11a).

Jesus tells her two things:

First, he tells her that he is not going to condemn her. That’s right, the only person that could have legitimately thrown the first stone, was NOT going to exercise that “right.”

Jesus does not address her innocent or guilt. He simply chooses not to condemn her at this point in time.

Secondly, Jesus tells her that she is free to go.

Finally, he gives her a command, that also serves as a warning.

She is to leave her life of sin! This is similar to the warning he gave the man that was at the Pool of Bethesda (5:14).

John 5:14 NIV

Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”

Commentary:

Jesus did not violate the Law when He didn’t impose immediate judgment on this woman. After all, He is the “righteous Judge.” She will ultimately stand before Him in judgment.

At the same time, he offers her grace with a strong warning, she is to radically change her lifestyle!

She is to stop living in the sinful lifestyle with which she had become so accustomed to living.

So What?

Likewise, when we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, He expects us to leave our sinful lifestyle and live obediently to Him.

That is why, Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians:

Galatians 2:20 NIV

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Then in Romans 6:11-13 Paul tells us that our lives are when we come to faith in Jesus our lives ought to be forever changed.

Romans 6:11–13 NIV

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

I also hope that when you leave here today, you will have a greater appreciation for the authenticity and reliability of the Bible!

Earlier we talked about 2 Timothy 3:16.

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

I love the fact that ALL Scripture is/was breathed out by God. That means that it is God’s spoken Word!

I also love the fact that we are told that because it is the very Word of God it is useful for:

Teaching or instruction!

Rebuking or refuting errors!

Correcting or improving us or restoring us!

Training or discipline to bring us into line with God. That’s the righteousness part!

But we can’t stop with verse 16, we have to continue the end of Paul’s thought and include verse 17.

2 Timothy 3:17 NIV

so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

God gave us His word in order that you and I may be completely equipped to do every kind of good work—or God’s kingdom work.

God has given you and I EVERYTHING we need to be thoroughly equipped for every good work. That means you can indeed leave your life of sin!

So this morning there are three questions:

The first question that I would ask you is this: Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? If your answer to this question is, “No.” Then this morning I would love nothing more than to have someone show you in God’s Word how you can have a personal relationship relationship with Him. If your answer is yes, then I would ask you the second question.

If you know Jesus as your Savior that’s great, but is He your Lord, Master, Ruler, King? If your answer to this question is, “No,” then I would ask you what keeps you from living obediently to Him—You can begin today! If your answer is “Yes,” then I would ask you the third question.

Are you in God’s Word on a regular or daily basis? If your answer to this question is “No,” Then what is keeping you from getting into God’s Word and becoming equipped to do God’s Kingdom business!

If your answer is, “Yes,” then I want to challenge you with the words that Paul told Timothy, his young follower who he described as his “son in the faith.”

2 Timothy 4:2 NIV

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

That is what I am to do for you. And it is what you are supposed to do for others! That way you and I will both fulfill God’s plan for each of our lives.

2 Timothy 2:2 NIV

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.