"Go and Sin no More"

Setting

Opposition was heating up. Jewish leaders were seeking to kill Jesus

John 7:1 ESV

1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.

John 7:1 ESV

1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.

Jesus travels to Jerusalem for Feast of Tabernacles: Several debates and much disagreement about Jesus

The Accused (vv. 3-6a)

Where is the man? According to the Law, he should also be stoned.

Leviticus 20:10 ESV

10 “If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Deuteronomy 22:22–24 ESV

22 “If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel. 23 “If there is a betrothed virgin, and a man meets her in the city and lies with her, 24 then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbor’s wife. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

How did these men catch this woman in the act?

This is all a setup to trap Jesus (v. 6)

If He agrees, He could be in trouble with the Roman authorities, and the crowd might turn against Him.

If He pardons her, then is He denying the Law of Moses? What kind of teacher is He?

The Accusers (vv. 6b-8)

Jesus doesn’t speak to or answer them. He simply stoops down and writes on the ground.

What did Jesus write? We aren’t told, and we can’t know. All answers are mere speculation.

The accusers continue to press Jesus with questions, until he “stands up”

“Let him who is without sin...”

Jesus is not requiring that judgments can only be made by perfect, sinless individuals.

Is Jesus speaking about similar sin? Is He pointing out their own lust or adultery? Possibly

Most likely, Jesus is exposing them as malicious witnesses.

Malicious and False witnesses shared the fate of the accused

Deuteronomy 19:16–19 ESV

16 If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, 17 then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. 18 The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

“Cast the first stone”

The Law called for eyewitnesses to be the first to throw stones in an execution

Deuteronomy 17:6–7 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. 7 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.

If any of these men could say they were honest, noble witnesses motivated by “purging evil from the land” then they should go ahead and uphold the law and cast the first stone as required.

Jesus returns to simply writing on the ground

IV. The Acquittal

The Acquittal

Accusers leave, beginning with the oldest first, until all are gone. They were willing to humiliate this woman in order to shame and trap Jesus, but they are the ones that leave in shame.

Jesus stands up (second time) – His words and tone are respectful and kind, yet straightforward.

“Neither do I condemn you” – under the law, there had to be two or more witnesses. None were left, and so the woman could not be condemned! Jesus turns out to be the Master of the Law!

“Sin no more..”

Jesus never condones the woman’s behavior, and He does not view immorality lightly

Jesus’ desire is to save people from their sins

John 3:17 ESV

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

While Jesus offers forgiveness, He clearly commands a changed lifestyle.

(3) While Jesus offers forgiveness, He clearly commands a changed lifestyle.

“...Christ’s forgiveness is freely given, but it is not cheap. With grace comes the expectation of godliness.”[1]

Conclusion

We should care for the souls of others. We bring people to save them, not to condemn them.

This story is a picture of God’s grace and mercy. Though we deserve condemnation, God mercifully provided a sacrifice in our place, and graciously offers redemption, freedom, and life.

This story is not a license to sin. Having been forgiven by Christ, we must “go our way, and sin no more.”

[1] Mark Moore, The Chronological Life of Christ, pg. 346