The Adulteress

New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition: Paragraph Version (Jn. 8: 1-11)

1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 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. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6 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. 7 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.” 8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 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. 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]

Introduction

Like many accounts in Scripture, the intent is often missed as we focus on the wrong character. Here, the woman is not the focus; Jesus is.

The religious leaders wanted to get rid of him, so they regularly laid traps for him. In the previous chapter they attempted to take him, but failed. This situation became the next attempt: a trap.

Issue #1 — Where’s the man?

According to OT Scripture, if a man/woman is caught in adultery they are to be executed. Why only the woman is brought is a mystery. Perhaps the man was someone of prominence, or maybe he got away but they needed to bring her to Jesus quickly. In any case, the woman and the man are nothing more than pawns. The religious elite used them to hurt Jesus.

Issue #2 — Why is Jesus writing in the sand?

Even better question is what was Jesus writing? We don’t know. Here’s what we do know. This is not the first time God wrote like this. In Exodus, God wrote on the tablets the Law for the Israelites. Actually, he wrote the very laws and principles they were now using against Jesus. Perhaps his writing was a symbolic way of showing that God is getting ready to do something new.

Issue #3 — Why didn’t Jesus answer their questions?

Jesus usually answered the questions asked of him. He just usually did so in such a manner that their original question was no longer irrelevant. Here, the question lent itself to entrapment, leaving Jesus only two possibilities that were less-than great. Jesus gave them answer that scuttled them where they stood.

Thought #1 — Jesus’s statement drove away her accusers

Once he addressed them, they began leaving one by one, starting with the eldest

Thought #2 — Jesus accepted her as she was

She was brought before him, but had never pushed her away.

Thought #3 — Jesus did not condemn her.

He judged her, in that he acknowledged her sin. There is a difference between judgment and condemnation

Thought #4 — Jesus directed her to sin no longer