Committing a sin, sinning, condemnation of sin, and pardoning of sin.

John 8:1-11

¹But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ²At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" ⁶They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." ⁸Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

⁹At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

¹¹"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

1. Core Message

Content

1. Jesus diligently teaches in the temple courts everyday. (v. 1-2)
2. The teachers of the law and Pharisees deliberately put God to test. (v. 4-6)
3. The wise reply of Jesus solved the dilemma. (v. 7-9)
4. Jesus pardoned the woman caught in adultery.

Themes

1. Committing a sin, sinning, condemnation of sin, and pardoning of sin.
2. What does someone deserve of his or her sins?

2. Who are God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit?

1. Jesus being able to attract the crowd (v. 2)
2. Jesus being a good teacher (v. 2)
3. Jesus being tested (accused and trapped) (v. 6)
4. Jesus being full of wisdom in his reply and every situation (v. 7-9)
5. Jesus being compassionate (v. 11)
6. Jesus having the power to forgive sins (v. 11)

3. What Lessons (Command, Covenant, Role Modeling, Rebuking, and Warning) Are God Teaching Us?

Intro: With the woman caught in adultery, the teachers of the law and Pharisees were deliberately trapping Jesus in order to accuse him of his unrighteousness. But Jesus’ wise reply solved the dilemma. While full of compassion, Jesus pardoned the woman’s sin. In terms of sins, what the teachers of the law and Pharisees have done is even worse and more sinful than what the woman caught in adultery has done.

1. The religious figures and their conspiracy

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such woman. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis to accuse him. (v. 3-6a)

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees are a group of hypocrites who are deceitful, full of conspiracy, ascetical, vicious and abusive of their powers. Although the teachers of the law and the Pharisees appeared to be fearful of God and obedient to the Law on the surface, they conducted loathsome actions like conspiracy planning. They intentionally used the weak woman as a “lamb waiting to be slaughtered” to fulfill the purpose of accusing Jesus’ unrighteousness.

From the power perspective, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees are quite skillful at how they practiced their authority. They have set up a trap that placed Jesus in a grave dilemma. If Jesus had said not to stone the woman, he will be disobeying the Law Moses commanded, however, if Jesus had said to stone the woman, he will then be violating the Roman Law of exercising private execution.

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees had no sympathy toward the woman, and did not even treat her as a human being. Instead, they were deriving their pleasure from the woman’s misfortune and even attempted to use it as the tool to strike down Jesus. Moreover, in conviction of someone caught in adultery, both males and females hold equal responsibility. However, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees were only convicting the woman, showing that they are not ruler of righteousness. In God’s eyes, the actions of the teachers of the law and Pharisees are even worse and more sinful than what the woman caught in adultery has done.

2. Jesus’ Response Is Full of Wisdom

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. (v. 7-9)

Jesus is truly full of wisdom. Jesus was able to discern the conspiracy and the hypocrisy of the teachers and the Pharisees, saving not only himself from the dilemma, as well as the life of the woman caught in adultery.

3. There is not a righteous man on earth, not a single one

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. (v. 9)

When encountering the inquisitiveness of the teachers and the Pharisees, neither did Jesus say to stone the woman, nor did He say “not to” stone the woman. Jesus simply said, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first followed by the younger ones. According to the reaction of the crowd we can presume that there is really no righteous man on earth, not a single one.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, … (Roman 3:23)

4. Jesus Christ who is full of mercy and compassion

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then, neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (v. 10-11)

Jesus was merciful and compassionate toward the woman caught in adultery. Jesus did not condemn her sin but gave her the opportunity to start anew. Not condemning the woman’s sin does not mean that Jesus was supportive of her; rather Jesus was opening another door through a grace that is beyond what the Law is capable of. Nonetheless, one very important point is the fact that Jesus told the woman to “leave her life of sin.” Is not our saving through Jesus Christ also a door that is opened through the grace of God that is way beyond what the Law is capable of? It certainly is!

5. The woman who was joyful of becoming new

“Then, neither do I condemn you, “ Jesus declared. “ Go now and leave your life of sin.” (v. 11b) By looking at her circumstance, it is obvious that the woman caught in adultery is also to be blamed. Unfortunately, she has become the target of exploitation that was used as a tool to trap Jesus. At the moment, she was horrified, scared, ashamed and helpless just like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. However, due to Jesus’ compassion and mercy, the woman was unexpectedly saved and made new. This is considered as bewildering peace, joy and hope. The woman’s life was change because of Jesus Christ.

Self-Reflection

1. Do I behave like those hypocritical religious figures that consider themselves as righteous and are constantly condemning others of their sins?
2. If I were in the situation, will I be stoning the woman or will I walk away?
3. Do I also have the joyful experience of being saved and becoming new in Christ like the woman in this passage?

4. Prayer/Application

Dear God, please help me and grant me the wisdom of the Spirit so that I may see the nature of my sin. Grant me the courage and strength to be able to remove my mask of hypocrisy and flattering righteousness. From now on, may I seek constant self-reflection and not condemning the sins of others.

Translated by: Kristin Chen