Mercy Triumphs Over Condemnation

Hopewell Baptist Church

October 6, 2019

Opening Illustration – When Ezekiel tries to get Kristen’s attention when she’s reading a book, and she ignores it until he’s shouting at her, and then she shouts back.

We see this very same thing happen between The Scribes and Pharisees, between them and Jesus, while he’s teaching in the Temple.

READ:

Big Idea - Jesus uses His righteousness not to condemn the world, but instead to bring the offer of salvation to the world, something we so desperately need (and yearn for).

I. The Introduction –

a. Where are we now? - 7:53-8:1

i. The events of are over, the Feast of Booths has drawn to and end, and people have returned to their homes, with (probably) many people heading home from the pilgrimage

ii. Jesus went to one of his favorite places, the Mount of Olives, and likely spent the night there.

b. The next morning – v.8:2

i. Early in the morning, Jesus went to the temple (with the plan of teaching), and all the people (everyone up and about at that time) went to him and he taught them.

1. Probably on the Sabbath, giving credence to why so many people were up and there “Early in the morning,” (v.2).

2. We must remember, that many people believed in Jesus ().

II. The Problem At Hand –

a. The Adulteress – v.3

i. Scribes and Pharisees bring a woman who is clearly guilty of adultery before him. According to Mosaic law, she is to be condemned to death. However, this isn’t the reason the Scribes and Pharisees brought this woman to Jesus. They have done so with the objective of ensnaring Jesus so they could kill not her, but Him.

b. Presumed Guilt and Punishment – v.4-5

i. They state that she was “caught in the act of adultery.” Remember this line, keep this in mind!

ii. They want to hear Jesus’s opinion on the matter, stating, “Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you way?

c. Entrapment – v.6

i. The Greek for the word “test” is actually the same word for “tempt”. If we look back at verse 1 and 3:

1. Mathew 4:1 – Tempted

a. Same word as when Jesus was “Tempted” by the devil here

2. – “the tempter”

a. Same root word as the title given by Matthew to the devil, calling him “the tempter”

b. This title, “The tempter” fits the Scribes and Pharisees very well in our text!

ii. The Scribes and Pharisees were trying to trick him into contradicting something within the law, knowing his history of “forgiving sins” ().

iii. Jesus wasn’t going to fall into this trap, for Jesus cannot fall into anyone’s trap, as He is God and knows the intentions and hearts of man, even the Scribes and Pharisees that are before Him. Even the woman who was there, as well.

iv. Jesus began to write in the sand with his finger.

1. Speculation as to what he wrote, whether just messing around or whether he was listing the sins that the Scribes and Pharisees committed. Either way, this is His first step into revealing what The REAL Problem is with this whole interaction.

III. The REAL Problem –

a. The Pestering Scribes and Pharisees – v.7

i. They were goading him, pestering Him, trying to get him to react. They were bugging him.

1. Like when Zeke keeps pestering Kristen until she answers, and she usually answers with a loud “WHAT?!”. This is what I think they were hoping for.

b. Jesus responds – v.7-8

i. If I was pestering someone and they suddenly stood up, I would be startled.

ii. “who is without sin” – Greek anamartetos -> literally meaning “a sinless person”

1. This is the only use of this form of the word in the New Testament. While it shares the Greek root word for “sin”, the use of it in this “sinless person” context is unique.

iii. Jesus gives the Scribes and Pharisees a not-so-subtle underhanded rebuke, bringing into play.

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iv. Jesus brings this up because He sees what the Pharisees are trying to hide here: THE SETUP!

1. For someone to be guilty according to the Law, there has to be testimony from two or three (or more) witnesses (not 1, but 2 or more). (; ).

2. So, given that the Scribes and Pharisees had to have two eye-witnesses, there are only two ways this could have happened. Remember verse 4, where they stated that she was “Caught in the act of adultery.”).

a. The Witnesses happened “accidentally” on the adulterous activity, which is highly unlikely, as adultery would be done in private, in such a way that people wouldn’t accidentally happen in on them.

b. The woman was setup, and the “witnesses” knew ahead of time what they were going to walk in on, as they would have to be there are roughly the same time to give the same account as to what happened for this woman to be adjudicated guilty.

3. The Pharisees went out of their way to manufacture a situation to catch Jesus in, but as I said before, Jesus will not fall into any man’s trap.

a. , “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness off God is stronger than men.”

v. Upon this subtle calling out of their own sin, Jesus then returns to his previous activity: writing on the ground.

c. The Accusers Take Leave - v.9

i. When the Scribes and Pharisees heard this, I can only imagine that they are reddened with embarrassment or anger, as they’re sinister plan was found out. So, they left. The older left first, realizing the folly of their plan. The younger left after, probably deferring to the wisdom of the older.

1. All of them in the wrong, all of them caught up in a web of sin and lies.

ii. This all took place in the temple, in front of the crowd Jesus was teaching.

iii. The woman was then left alone, her accusers gone, standing next to Rabbi Jesus.

IV. Mercy Triumphs Over Condemnation –

a. Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? – v.10

i. Jesus asks these rhetorical questions (it’s quite obvious that He knows the answers to this, however, Jesus loves to interact with many who come to Him.

ii. Where are they?

1. They left in the shame of their sin, in light of

iii. Has no one condemned you?

1. Condemned = to pronounce guilt and a punitive sentences on someone in a legal context. This womas was walked into the temple feeling sure she was about to DIE. She was about to be stoned to death, had the Scribes and Pharisees had their way. She was terrified. And she had NO idea what Jesus was going to do next.

b. Mercy > Condemnation – v.11

i. She answers “No one, Lord.”

1. She defers to Jesus as “Lord”, which, given how he sent the Scribes and Pharisees packing, is a fitting tribute to Him, even if she has no idea that He actually is the Lord.

ii. Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on, sin no more.

1. The word “Sin” in the Greek is from the same word as “without sin” in verse 7.

2. God obviously knows that she, a mere human, cannot not sin, as we sin because we are sinners, but wants her to go forth and not to live her live in sin, i.e. habitual sin.

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V. Application – So What?

a. Jesus uses His righteousness not to condemn the world, but instead to bring the offer of salvation to the world, something we so desperately need (and yearn for).

b. Because Jesus has shown us grace mercy instead of the condemnation we so rightly deserve…

i. We must examine ourselves and deal with the sin in our lives

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ii. We must be gracious and merciful to those who sin against us, just as God showed us grace and mercy through the Sacrifice of His son

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VI. Invitation