CAUGHT IN AUDLTERY
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) Jesus forgives an adulterous woman
i) 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They 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. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 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. 10 Jesus 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." (John 8:1-11 NIV)
1. What is the text all about?
a) The Jewish leader had already disregarded the law by arresting the woman without the man. The law required both parties to adultery be stoned (see Leviticus 20:10 & Deuteronomy 22:22).
@1. 10 “‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10 NIV)
@2. 22 If a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. (Deuteronomy 22:22 NIV)
b) The leaders were using the woman as a trap so that they could trick Jesus. If Jesus said the woman should not be stoned, they would accuse him of Moses' law. If he urged them to execute her, they would report him to the Romans, who did not permit the Jews to carry out their own executions (see John 18:31).
@1. 31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. (John 18:31 NIV)
c) This is a significant statement about judging others. Because Jesus upheld the legal penalty for adultery, stoning, he could not be accused of being against the law. But by saying that only a sinless person could throw the first stone, he highlighted the importance of compassion and forgiveness. When others are caught in sin, are you quick to pass judgment? To do so is to act as though you have never sinned. It is God's role to judge, not ours. Our role is to show forgiveness and compassion.
d) It is uncertain whether Jesus was merely ignoring the accusers by writing on the ground, listing their sins, or writing out the 10 Commandments.
e) When Jesus said that only someone who had not sinned should throw the first stone, the leaders slipped quietly away, from oldest to youngest. Age and experience often temper youthful self-righteousness. But whatever your age, take an honest look at your life. Recognize your sinful nature, and look for ways to help others rather than hurt them.
f) Jesus didn't condemn the woman accused of adultery, but neither did he ignore or condone her sin. He told her to leave her life of sin. Jesus stands ready to forgive any sin in your life, but confession and repentance mean a change of heart. With God's help we can accept Christ's forgiveness and stop our wrongdoing.
2. Prayer focus
a) If Jesus can forgive the adulterous woman, how much more will he forgive you when you sincerely come to him to ask for forgiveness. Pray that you would not allow any things to stop you from coming to Jesus so that you can start a new.
The End ...
0. Introductiona) Jesus forgives an adulterous woman
i) 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They 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. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 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. 10 Jesus 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." (John 8:1-11 NIV)
1. What is the text all about?
a) The Jewish leader had already disregarded the law by arresting the woman without the man. The law required both parties to adultery be stoned (see Leviticus 20:10 & Deuteronomy 22:22).
@1. 10 “‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10 NIV)
@2. 22 If a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. (Deuteronomy 22:22 NIV)
b) The leaders were using the woman as a trap so that they could trick Jesus. If Jesus said the woman should not be stoned, they would accuse him of Moses' law. If he urged them to execute her, they would report him to the Romans, who did not permit the Jews to carry out their own executions (see John 18:31).
@1. 31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. (John 18:31 NIV)
c) This is a significant statement about judging others. Because Jesus upheld the legal penalty for adultery, stoning, he could not be accused of being against the law. But by saying that only a sinless person could throw the first stone, he highlighted the importance of compassion and forgiveness. When others are caught in sin, are you quick to pass judgment? To do so is to act as though you have never sinned. It is God's role to judge, not ours. Our role is to show forgiveness and compassion.
d) It is uncertain whether Jesus was merely ignoring the accusers by writing on the ground, listing their sins, or writing out the 10 Commandments.
e) When Jesus said that only someone who had not sinned should throw the first stone, the leaders slipped quietly away, from oldest to youngest. Age and experience often temper youthful self-righteousness. But whatever your age, take an honest look at your life. Recognize your sinful nature, and look for ways to help others rather than hurt them.
f) Jesus didn't condemn the woman accused of adultery, but neither did he ignore or condone her sin. He told her to leave her life of sin. Jesus stands ready to forgive any sin in your life, but confession and repentance mean a change of heart. With God's help we can accept Christ's forgiveness and stop our wrongdoing.
2. Prayer focus
a) If Jesus can forgive the adulterous woman, how much more will he forgive you when you sincerely come to him to ask for forgiveness. Pray that you would not allow any things to stop you from coming to Jesus so that you can start a new.
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