Neither Do I

John 7:53-8:11

53 [[They went each to his own house, 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]

Notes

53 [[They went each to his own house, 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them (John 7:53-8:2).

The earliest manuscripts do not contain the cited text. Somehow, it found its way into the later manuscripts. Some scholars would argue that it should not be in the biblical compilation. However, some would tolerate it since it does not contradict the gospel. Moreover, it might have some validity through oral tradition. The account involves a woman caught in adultery. The Pharisees and Scribes challenged Jesus to give His position if they should stone her according to the law of Moses.

1. Test

   The Pharisees, together with the Scribes, put Jesus in a predicament. They brought a woman caught in adultery to test Jesus. If Jesus did not consent to stoning to death, he would be seen as contradicting the law of Moses; if He consented, Jesus would contradict Roman law.

   
   3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground (John 8:3-6).
   

2. Answer

   The Pharisees and Scribes persisted in extracting an answer from Jesus. The Lord focused His answer against self-righteousness. After which, He once again bent and wrote on the ground.
   
   7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground (John 8:7-8).

3. No Condemnation

   One by one, they left from the older to the younger. No one can claim that they were sinless. Only the woman and Jesus remained. Jesus asked the woman where they were and if anyone condemned her. No one did. Jesus said to her neither do I, sin no more.

   
   9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]] (John 8:9-11)

Application

1. Assess

   Some will confront us with difficult questions when we proclaim the gospel. However, we must practice caution. We must understand the validity of the questions and think of an appropriate answer. However, the wisdom to answer would come from His word and Spirit. Thus, we need to study and pray.

2. Answer Wisely

   By His grace and will, He will give us the words to say in His way and His time. But if we rely on our own wit, we will disappoint ourselves. Therefore, our trust is in His Spirit and in His word, not in our capability.

3. Do Not Condemn

   Jesus showed mercy to the woman caught in adultery; He did not condemn her to be stoned to death. The condemnation will happen in the judgment. So, instead, He told her to go and sin no more. We should proclaim who Christ is and the significance of His death and resurrection. We should also call everyone to repentance.

Reflection & Discussion

1. Explain the trap laid out against Jesus.

2. How did Jesus respond to the difficult question?

3. What did Jesus tell the woman?