THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY
JOHN 8:1-11–LESSON 17
Introduction:
These verses are not accepted by the liberal theologians of our day. They say that they are not in the best manuscripts of the New Testament. However, they have met the approval of thousands of good preachers of the truth for many years and God has blessed this part of His Word as He has the rest of the Scriptures.
This portion treats the subject of the woman taken in adultery, and is an attempt to catch the Lord in an error by the Scribes and Pharisees. Let’s consider these verse and how the Lord resolves the situation.
I. THE LORD’S PREPARATION, v. 1.
A. The Mount of Olives was where the Lord went to prepare Himself for the task of the day, v. 1, “Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives.”
B. The Mount of Olives was the Lord’s place of prayer.
1. This was where he went to ask God’s counsel regarding the choosing of the twelve apostles, Luke 6:12-17, note verse 12, “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
2. It was on the Mount of Olives where the Garden of Gethsemane is located. There Jesus prayed for strength before He was arrested and crucified, Luke 22:39-46.
C. The Mount of Olives and other mountains in the area were a place of refuge for the Lord in order to rest His body. However, He returned in the morning ready for the day, v. 2, “And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.”
II. THE LORD’S CUSTOM, v. 2.
A. On this occasion the Lord came from the Mount of Olives ready to teach the Word of God in the Temple, v. 2, “And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
B. Jesus taught in the Temple many times even though He knew that the religious leaders sought to destroy Him.
1. Jesus was at home in the Temple teaching the Word of God.
2. He sat down and taught which was the custom.
3. Jesus taught with authority and not as the religious leaders, Matthew 7:29, “For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
III. THE LORD’S WISDOM, vs. 3-11.
A. The case proposed to him by the scribes and Pharisees, v. 3, “And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,”
B. The intent of bringing this woman before the Lord was to catch Him in a difficult situation, v. 6a, “This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.”
1. Those that were taken in adultery were by the Jewish law to be put to death, v. 5, “Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?” Leviticus 20:10, “And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”
2. The intent of the Jews was obvious, Luke 20:20, “And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.”
a. They pretended to be “just men.”
b. They want something contrary to the Law to accuse Him of.
c. The Jews wanted to destroy Him.
C. The Lord’s wisdom is far greater than the trickery of the Pharisees.
1. They asked his judgment in the case, v. 5, “Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?”
2. Jesus is silent on the case for a while, v. 6, “This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.”
3. Jesus gives His judgment, v. 7, “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
a. If he should confirm the sentence of the law, and let it take its course, they would censure him as inconsistent with himself (he having received publicans and harlots).
b. If he should acquit her, and give his opinion that the sentence should not be executed (as they expected he would), they would represent him in two ways:
1) First, As an enemy to the Law of Moses, and as one that usurped an authority to correct and control it.
2) Secondly, As a friend to sinners, and, consequently, as one who is in favor of sin.
4. The method he took to resolve this case shows His great wisdom.
a. He seemed to slight their question, and turned a deaf ear to it: He stooped down, and wrote on the ground, v. 6b, “But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.”
b. When they importunately, or rather impertinently, pressed him for an answer, He turned the conviction of the prisoner upon the prosecutors, v. 7, So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
D. The results of the Lord’s wisdom in this case.
1. Here Christ avoided the snare that they had laid for him, and effectually saved his own reputation.
2. In the net which they spread for the Lord, is their own foot taken. They came with expectations of accusing Jesus, but they were forced to accuse themselves.
3. Having given them this startling word, he left them to consider of it, v. 8, “And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.”
a. He would not seem to wait for an answer, lest they should on a sudden justify themselves.
b. He gives them time to pause, and to commune with their own hearts, for He needed not to say more, Jeremiah 17:1, “The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;”
4. They went out one by one, v. 9, “And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.”
a. Perhaps his writing on the ground frightened them, as the handwriting on the wall frightened Belshazzar.
b. What he said frightened them by sending them to their own consciences; he had shown them to themselves.
c. They went out one by one, that they might go out softly, and not by a noisy flight disturb Christ; they went away by stealth, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle, 2 Samuel 19:3, “And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.”
E. Where are your accusers? vs. 10-11, “When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11- She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
1. The prosecutors are called: Where are those thine accusers?
2. They do not appear when the question is asked: Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord.
3. “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”