Jesus forgives the adulterous woman in John 8:1-11 ESV. If you’ve ever committed adultery, you probably already know what Jesus said. Then you should feel no better than her. After all, you’re just as bad as her! Jesus told us that whoever is without sin should first throw the first stone, so don’t feel superior! Jesus even said that if you’ve sinned before, he would also first throw the first stone.
All The People Came To Him
The adulterous woman was standing in the temple when Jesus entered. The Pharisees testified about her sin and told Jesus that she should be stoned to death. They asked Jesus if He agreed with their judgment and punishment. But Jesus did not answer their question. Rather, He pointed out their hypocrisy. As the accusers argued, Jesus did not answer their questions.
In the temple, Jesus was teaching His disciples and when a woman caught in adultery was brought to Him, the scribes and Pharisees put her before Him. Jesus contrasts her sin with the guilt of the Pharisees and Scribes. He says that she committed adultery in the very act of being with another man.
Some scholars believe it was inserted into the gospel during an early debate about the forgiveness of sins in the early Church. The Council of Jerusalem had ruled that Christians should not commit sins related to unchastity. This passage may have reflected a dispute about the definition of unchastity and adultery. While some Christians wished to preserve the story for future generations, some of them also believed that Jesus was advocating a relaxed attitude toward serious sexual sins.
Jesus silenced the critics of his teachings by addressing the sinner in a gracious and respectful manner. He did not excuse the woman’s sin, but He provided a way out of the condemnation she had committed. Jesus also emphasized the importance of forgiveness and mercy. The Law of Moses is never taken lightly, but Jesus never slammed the woman’s sin as unjust.
They Brought A Woman Taken In Adultery
This story shows us that Jesus is always ready to forgive, and he offers forgiveness to those who truly seek it. Jesus offered the adulterous woman a new life so that she could be free of her sin. Forgiveness should be a path to holiness and newness of life, and this story shows us how forgiveness works in Christ’s salvation. While God condemns sin, Jesus offers forgiveness as a way to escape judgment. And Jesus’ love is not aimed at praising sin but toward the sinner.
The Pharisees tried to silence Jesus’ critics, and he brought the woman to him. Jesus does not identify the woman, however, the Pharisees bring her to him. They wanted to test Jesus and put him against the Mosaic Law, so they brought her unnamed. Jesus, in contrast, stays silent and scribbles in the dirt. In this way, we can see the power of Jesus’ forgiveness for sin. It is one of the most powerful stories about Jesus’ forgiveness.
The crowd wanted to trap Jesus with a choice between justice and mercy. They wanted to accuse him of being unjust and hypocritical. But Jesus didn’t answer their questions, pointing out their own hypocrisy. The crowd wanted to make him look unjust and lenient in the eyes of God. If Jesus had given the woman forgiveness, she would have had no chance to get away with it.
He Who Is Without Sin Throw The First Stone
The first to criticize is a synonym for the first to throw the first stone. The phrase is from the Bible, John 8:7. Obviously, Jesus was referring to accusing another of adultery. The verse also applies to other situations. When we are the first to accuse someone, we are first, guilty of our sin. Therefore, it is wrong to condemn or criticize others without considering their own actions.
Jesus did not immediately answer the question. He wrote on the ground. Later, he wrote something on the floor and said, “Go ahead and stone her.” This command is rooted in the law. The law states that the person with the first stone must be without sin but does not require anyone to be completely free of sin. However, Jesus did call the Pharisees out as hypocrites in Matthew 23:27 ESV and as blind guides in Matthew 23:24-25 ESV.
Jesus did not throw stones, because He wasn’t a stone-throwing God. In this story, the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman who has committed adultery to Jesus. The Pharisees argued that the woman was guilty of adultery “in the act” rather than the intent of the crime. This incident illustrates the importance of not judging and being compassionate toward others. The simplest way to understand the message of this passage is to examine the story itself.
Then They Went Away Beginning With The Elders
In the New Testament, elders were appointed to oversee the work of the church. The term “elder” has a long and complex history. In the Old Testament, elders were considered to be wise and honorable men. This is not surprising because the Bible refers to these men as officers of the people. However, their role as elders changed over time. In some traditions, the elders were not merely leaders, but also wise counsel.
After the story was told, the people went out one by one, beginning with the elders. In the church, elders were supposed to exercise practical ministry. Elders pray for sick members and anoint them with oil. The prayer of faith heals and forgives sins. Elders are also appointed to do important work in churches.
Jesus Told The Woman To Sin No More
In the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus instructs her to sin no more. He is saying to all of us to avoid being tempted and to be obedient to God. If you live by the flesh, you will die. However, if you live by the Spirit, you will live forever. This is the message of the gospel. Jesus’ command to the woman to stop sinning is an important reminder of the importance of not living according to the flesh.
The law explicitly punishes adultery, and this woman’s sin was a serious one. While the woman was guilty of adultery, the man was not. As a perfect and sinless man, he had the power to punish the woman, but instead, Jesus chose mercy and compassion over justice.
Although Jesus did not condemn the woman, it didn’t mean that she was not to be condemned. His non-condemnation was not lipped service. It was a demonstration of His compassion. He rescued the woman’s life, so she was able to receive His “sin no more” message as grace. Then she went on to begin a new life.
Although the woman’s sin is grave, Jesus is aware of the fact that the pious pretenders are using her to promote their own agenda. The story also shows Jesus’ response to the Pharisee’s trap – forgiveness. However, Jesus’ words do not change the fact that the woman deserved death by stoning.
Thoughts To Ponder:
Judge Not
The Bible says “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure, you use it will be measured to you.
What Can We Learn From the Woman Caught in Adultery?
In our culture, the woman caught in adultery has a particularly glaring example. Jesus tells her to stop sinning and to walk in the light. Jesus does not make excuses for her sin because of her childhood or the abusive husband she was born into. Nor does he call the man her husband or her accomplice by name. Instead, he tells her to stop sinning and to stop settling for intimate relationships.
The first thing that Jesus does in response to the woman’s accusers is to call her to repentance. He does this by stooping down and writing something on the ground. The accusers continued to question him. Ultimately, one by one, they left. Moreover, we are called to do the same – a new life.
Jesus’ stories are meant to invite people into the light, to experience forgiveness, and enter into the life that follows. Stories that call us to condemn or judge do a disservice to the kingdom of God and the gospel. The adulterous woman in the gospel of John 8:1-11story shows us how our response is not enough to understand what Jesus is trying to teach. It is necessary to understand that we cannot understand others’ hearts and actions, and we cannot see them without understanding Grace.
Conclusion
Listen To Him
We have voices and opinions and in the story, our opinion is most likely the same as of the Pharisees and scribes. We can quickly do the same, judge the woman and say that this woman is guilty of adultery and it is only right to be stoned to death as per the law required. But wait, here’s something more. The Lord Jesus said whoever is without sin should be the first to throw a stone. Who among us is without sin? The Bible says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Roman 3:23
Let us remember what happened on the mount of transfiguration. While Jesus is transfigured talking with Moises and Elijah, a voice from the cloud said “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to Him. If we are listening to Lord we heard Him say “Go and sin no more”. Who are we to judge?
Related Bible Study:
Faith Without Works Is Dead – What Point Did The Example Of Abraham And Rahab Illustrate?
