John 8:1-11
Jesus is opposed by accusers.
3. a. The woman caught in adultery
At dawn, Jesus returned to the temple court and the people came to him in crowds. He sat down and was teaching them.
The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman whom they say was “caught in the very act of adultery” and made her stand in the middle of the court. They put the case before Jesus.
I appears the woman wasn’t without sin, but the Pharisees were using her to entrap Jesus.
Obviously, if they caught her in the act of adultery, a man was involved. Where was he now? They could have exposed him also.
Some scholars suggest the possibility that the man was one of her accusers.
“Morris points out that legally speaking, the standard of evidence was very high for this crime. There had to be two witnesses and they had to agree perfectly. They had to see the sexual act take place; it wasn’t enough to see the pair leaving the same room together or even lying on the same bed together. “The actual physical movements of the couple must have been capable of no other explanation…. conditions were so stringent that they could have been met only on rare occasions.” (Morris)
“Under these conditions the obtaining of evidence in adultery would be almost impossible were the situation not a setup.” (Boice)
“The statement made by this woman’s accusers in John 8:4 that she was taken in the very act of adultery makes it clear that the man who was involved in this could also have been apprehended. He was not brought before Jesus for judgment, because the scribes and Pharisees were not seeking justice. They were trying to trap Jesus in front of the multitude. A woman would evoke more sympathy from the crowd than a man would and therefore would suit their purposes better.” Andrew Wommack’s Living Commentary
b. Jesus first ignores the accusers then passes sentence on them.
Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger. When they persisted with their question, He said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7 AMPC
Jesus didn’t focus on the woman’s sin, He focused on the religious leaders’ depravity. Jesus knew they humiliated this woman to entrap Him.
Discerning and compassionate
Jesus can read minds and hearts. He knew what the Pharisees were up to and could have named or perhaps even pointed out the guilty man. Maybe the guilty man was the first one to drop his stone.
Meek, humble, and gentle–
Jesus didn’t look at the woman or the accusers but instead, He stooped down in a posture of humility as though He did not hear them.
“I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—” 2 Corinthians 10:1 ESV (emphasis added)
Shrewd—
Jesus outwitted the Pharisees. He demonstrated the instruction He gave to his disciples—”Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16 NLT
4. a. Am I a hypocrite?
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:3-5 ESV
Perhaps we can all think of a sin that we would NEVER do, so when someone else does that, it’s easy to be appalled and judgmental.
b. Gently and humbly help them get back on the right path.
Love and restore sinners instead of throwing rocks at them. And don’t talk about them to others.
Galatians 6:1-5
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct. (NLT)
I find several points in this passage convicting.
5. Jesus loves sinners.
“For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7-8 ESV
“Jesus said, “I did not come to call the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to repent], but sinners to repentance [to change their old way of thinking, to turn from sin and to seek God and His righteousness].” Luke 5:32 AMP
My answers to BSF bible study fellowship questions on John Lesson 12 Day 2 ~ John 8:1-11
