The Woman Taken in Adultery. October 22, 28 A.D. John 8:1-11

Transcription

1 1 The Woman Taken in Adultery October 22, 28 A.D. John 8:1-11

2 2 Text: John 8:1-11, The Woman Taken In Adultery 1. Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 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. 3. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4. They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 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. 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. 8. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 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. 10. 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.

3 3 Introduction: I. John 8:1-11 along with John 7:53 is not included in many later versions of the New Testament, because they are not in our best and most ancient Greek manuscripts. A. That these verses were not a part of the original Gospel of John can now be determined with certainty. They were not. However, they appear to be a true story added later. B. What is recorded here, we believe, actually took place. What is said here is in keeping with the doctrine and the spirit of what is elsewhere taught in the New Testament. II. These verses have come to us as a part of the authentic Jesus material widely accepted by the church. They appear to describe one of the incidents John said happened, but were not written down by him. A. John 20:30-31, And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. Commentary: John 8:1, 2, Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 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.

4 4 I. Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, Mount Olivet. A. This is the only mention in the Gospel of John of the Mount of Olives. B. The Mount of Olives is located just east of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley. C. Evidently Jesus spent the night in the Mount of Olives. II. Early in the morning he came again to the temple, sat and taught. A. Jesus often sat to teach according to the custom of the day. B. Matthew 5:1, And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: C. Many gathered to hear Jesus. John 8:3, 4, 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. I. Jesus enemies, the scribes and Pharisees, brought a woman to Jesus who had been taken/arrested in the very act of adultery. II. Even more outstanding than this woman s moral lapse was the terribly ungodly attitude of her accusers. A. They were brutal, unfeeling, sadistic hypocrites more interested in entrapping Jesus than in justice.

5 5 B. Why did they not also bring the man who was caught committing adultery with her? C. Was the man one of her accusers who helped set up the situation to ensnare Jesus? D. Adultery indicates the woman was married. John 8:5, 6, Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 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. I. The law of Moses stipulated that adulterers, male and female, were to be stoned to death. A. Deuteronomy 22:23, 24, If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. B. 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. II. The scribes and Pharisees were not looking for justice. They were seeking to ensnare Jesus, tempt Jesus. A. Scribes were copiers of scripture and other vital documents.

6 6 B. Pharisees were a strict legalistic sect among the Jews. IV. Jesus did not immediately answer but stooped and wrote on the ground with his finger. A. He was appalled at the guile of his enemies. B. This is the only reference in scripture to Jesus writing anything. It would soon be trampled underfoot and destroyed. C. The only thing God is said to have written were the Ten Commandments and the scribes and Pharisees were trampling them underfoot as well. D. Jesus stooped. The sins of the world cause Jesus to stoop, become burdened. V. Options: A. If Jesus had said, Stone her, he would have been in violation of the Roman edict that had removed from the Jews the right to levy the death penalty. 1. John 18:31, Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: B. If Jesus had said, Don t stone her, he would have been seen to be in violation of the law of Moses. C. Jesus enemies must have thought they had a good trap set for Jesus.

7 7 John 8:7, 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. I. While Jesus delayed his answer, the scribes and Pharisees, teachers of the law, continued to press him for a response. II. The law had said that a person could not be put to death by less than the testimony of two witnesses. A. Deuteronomy 17:6, 7, At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you. III. Jesus declared in keeping with the law of Moses, A. He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 1. Romans 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; B. By this answer Jesus did not condone sin, but upheld the law of Moses, and avoided the trap that had been set for him. John 8:8, 9, And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 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.

8 8 I. Having said this Jesus again stooped and continued his writing on the ground. II. This allowed these evil accusers time to deal with their guilty consciences, being convicted by their own conscience. (AV) III. The scribes and Pharisees knew their scheme had failed. A. Was this a trumpted up charge against this woman? B. Why could they not produce a witness? C. Had all the accusers been involved with this woman?... or with other women? D. They who live in glass houses shouldn t throw stones. IV. The accusers all left beginning from the eldest even to the least, or youngest. A. Only Jesus and the woman were left. John 8:10, 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? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. I. Jesus stood and asked the woman, Where are your accusers? Did no man condemn you?

9 9 A. Jesus again asked the question, knowing the answer, simply to focus the woman s attention on his inquiry. II. The woman respectfully said that no one had condemned her. III. Jesus replied, Neither do I condemn you: go your way; from now on do not sin (commit adultery) anymore. A. The only sinless one around threw no stones! B. John 1:29, The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. C. Hebrews 4:15, For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. D. Jesus did not condone adultery, but forgave this woman upon condition that she repent, commit adultery no more. 1. Mark 1:4, John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 2. Luke 17:3, 4, Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 3. Acts 2:38, Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

10 Acts 8:22, Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

11 11 The Woman Taken in Adultery Questions 1. Early in the, after having spent the night in the of, Jesus returned to the. He there. 2. The and brought unto him a taken in. They asked Jesus,, this woman was taken in, in the very act. commanded us to stone such a person. What do you say about it? This they said, him, that they might have to him. 3. How much did the scribes and Pharisees care about this sinful woman? How much do we truly care for those living in sin? 4. What did Jesus write on the ground? 5. What was the quandary in which the Jews had placed Jesus?

12 Jesus answered, He that is without among you, let him a at. 7. Which one of us would be eligible to throw the first stone? 8. They that herd Jesus answer, being by their own went out by, beginning at the, even unto the. 9. Jesus was, and the in the. 10. Jesus asked her, Hath no man you? She said, No man,. Jesus said to her, Neither do I you: go, and.