Moses Lake, Wash.
Both casual and committed readers of Scripture are familiar with the woman caught in adultery that is shared in John 7:53-8:11. Jesus was teaching at the temple (John 8:2) when the religious leaders (John 8:3) brought a woman who was accused of being caught in the act of adultery (John 8:4). Old Testament law required punishment for this sin which was death (Leviticus 22:10; Deuteronomy 22:22-23), but this was a trap the religious leaders were setting for Jesus.
The gospel writer John tells us about the religious leaders’ purpose in setting this trap. “They were saying this, testing him, so that they might have grounds for accusing him” (John 8:6a).[1] New Testament scholar Leon Morris says that the Greek word for “testing” here indicates a test in which the tested person fails. As The Message puts it, “They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.”
Thus far, we’ve seen the place Jesus is located (John 7:53-8:2) and the problem He faced (John 8:3-6a). Next, let’s see the point Jesus decides to make. “But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again, He stooped down and wrote on the ground” (John 8:6b–8).
But what was Jesus writing? Even though we don’t know what Jesus was specifically writing, we do know what He was generally declaring: The accusers have to throw the first stone (Deut 17:7). But they can only throw that stone if they do not have sin in their own lives.
This story is significant for three reasons. First, it’s a lesson in humility. Before we judge others, we need to judge ourselves. We all have sin in our lives. Some of us have more sin than others. Some of us have more public sins than others. Ours might be a private sin we struggle with that no one sees, such as jealousy or envy. Some are more public, like inappropriate anger or our language. We all have struggles. And before we judge another person’s sin, we need to take an inventory of our own sin.
Second, it’s a lesson in grace. Notice, Jesus didn’t dismiss the woman’s alleged sin. He didn’t rationalize it, saying, “Well, she had needs.” He didn’t do spiritual gymnastics to twist the Law to say she was okay, “Well, her husband is always gone and it’s like she’s a widow.” Jesus extended grace to her. Jesus did not dismiss her sin; He placed His cross between her and her sin. If we explain away wrong and we say that sin is not sin, it makes what Jesus does to forgive our sin meaningless. If there’s no right or wrong, Jesus’s death is meaningless.
Third, it’s a lesson in holiness. After everyone has left, Jesus’ final words to the woman are these, “From now on sin no more”(John 8:11). He’s telling her to cease to continue an action that has already started. In other words, He’s saying, “stop your sinful habit” and “don’t return to it.” Forgiveness is not permission for someone to do the same thing again. We won’t be perfect, but our calling as believers is to strive for holiness just as Jesus tells this woman and the audience.
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Christopher L. Scottwrites from Moses Lake, WA. ChristopherLynnScott.com
[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.
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Christopher L. Scott, a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, is a pastor and freelance writer. Christopher L. Scott writes from Exeter, CA. Learn more about his writing ministry at ChristopherLynnScott.com.
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