THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY

John 8:3-5 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto Him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest Thou? (Also see John 8:1-2, 6-11)

Completing chapter 7 we found Jesus teaching the multitudes that had gathered in the temple, which concluded with Him being taken by the temple guards, brought before the Sanhedrin, and condemned as a prophetic imposter of God. With the persuasive wisdom of Nicodemus, who was one of their own, everyone went to their homes, Jesus was freed, and He went unto the Mount of Olives (Vs. 1) to seek rest for the night. This site was approximately a mile east of Jerusalem. Whether Jesus was provided food and lodging by friends or relatives, we are not told. However, during the feast of tabernacles, Israelites were to live in booths, or tabernacles that were constructed of tree fronds and branches. Therefore it is possible that Jesus spent this particular evening, as He had at other times, in one of these sheltering structures.

Early the following morning He came again into the temple. And despite the disdainful treatment He had received from the Jewish religious leadership on the previous day, all the people came unto Him. As was His usual God-given mission, He went before the common Jews that had gathered in Jerusalem's temple of God, and He sat down, and taught them (Vs. 2). It was during His message to the people that the scribes and Pharisees had once again devised a scheme to tempt Jesus and find something they thought may be a reason to accuse Him (Vs. 6). On this occasion they brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery. This was, as described in the Old Testament, to be put away from Israel - an evil to be severely dealt with by putting to death both parties guilty of this sinful act (See Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22). Historians tell us that the sin of adultery was so common at this present time that it often went unpunished, especially if the innocent party to the sin interceded on behalf of his or her spouse that had participated in this sinful act.

In this instance, even if this was true at this time or not, the scribes and Pharisees had this woman brought before Jesus and this multitude, (A)nd when they had set her in the midst, they inquired of Jesus in this manner: Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? Why the other guilty party to this adulterous situation was not also taken is not given here. Also stoning was the method suggested here for putting one to death, but it was not specified in the Law of Moses. Looking at the references noted above, the law simply stated that, when a marriage was violated, those guilty of this sin should be put to death. However, when this sin violated a betrothal to be wed, stoning was specifically recommended as the manner death was to be administered (Deut. 22:23). Considering what is recorded in the Law of Moses, Jesus was asked: how would you administer justice to this adulterous woman?

Jesus realized the true intent of their question, that is, tempting Him that they might have to accuse Him. Therefore, instead of immediately answering them, Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not (Vs. 6). It seems very odd that the only time recorded in the Bible that Jesus wrote anything; the exact words that were written are not recorded. Much speculation has been given as to the things He wrote, none of which can be proven, nor is there merit in such conjecture. Had the things He wrote been beneficial to future generations, it most certainly would have been recorded in this gospel message. It is obvious that those tempting Him were aware of His writing because they continued asking Him to reply to their question. From His stooped position, Jesus stood up and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her (Vs. 7), and without immediate reply from her accusers, Jesus again stooped down, and wrote on the ground (Vs. 8).

Reading Deuteronomy 17:1-5 we learn that the accusers of a man or women that brought evil in the sight of God were required to be the ones casting stones at the guilty person until they die. In other words, the witness became the executioner of the accused man or woman. Whether the same sinful act had been committed by all of the woman's accusers, or some other sin that, according to the Mosaic Law, required a similar punishment, we can only speculate. This we know, they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last (Vs. 9a). This reaction to Jesus' condemning answer to their question certainly confirms His accusation when He referred to the leaders of the nation of Israel as a wicked and adulterous generation (Matt. 16:4). Could it be that the accusers of this woman knew that, being a man of God and having an omnipotent mind, Jesus held the power to openly accuse each one of them of their particular sin, and that He could very well write it in the dust of the ground for everyone to see? Certainly they all knew that if they denied Jesus' accusation that it could in some way be proven, else they would not admit their guilt by withdrawing their accusation and departing from the presence of Jesus and the adulterous woman.

With the last accuser recognizing his own sinfulness and departing from them, Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst (Vs. 9b). Fully realizing the sin she had committed in the sight of God, the woman humbly stood in front of Jesus awaiting the pronouncement of His righteous judgment. Again Jesus stood up, and seeing no one but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers (Vs. 10a)? The scribes and Pharisees had rightly accused the woman of committing the sin of adultery, but none were guilt-free of similar sins, and therefore could not impose God's penalty for such sin without also condemning themselves. Jesus then asked her, Hath no man condemned thee (Vs. 10b), to which she replied, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (Vs. 11).

The woman at this point had only been accused of the sin of adultery, but not convicted by the Jewish court of law. The religious leaders already had an opinion on the sin of adultery, as did Jesus, all based on the Law of Moses under which Jews were expected to know and abide. They did not want Jesus' opinion but His condemnation that would lead to the death sentence of the woman. They had not condemned the woman of this sin because of the self-guilt Jesus had imposed on them and forced them to admit by their actions. Because of this Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee (Vs. 8:11a). Certainly Jesus was aware of her sin, but what He could see in this woman, through His omnipotent wisdom, that the self-righteous Jewish leaders could not see, was her repentant heart. Therefore, with mercy that can only come from Christ Jesus, He forgave her by telling her to go, but with this one condition, that she sin no more (Vs. 8:11b). What a lesson for every one of us today: be thoughtfully slow to condemn, quick to freely forgive, and always recognize personal sins, wholeheartedly repent of them, and seek the forgiveness of God for such sins with a deep desire to sin no more. Also, one of the greatest duties of a Christian toward a sinner is that of compassionately winning them to, or back to, the cause of Christ without alienating them through the ridicule of public condemnation.