Jesus has preached a wonderful invitation to the people
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives
Jesus then went to the Temple Mount
Jesus was bold in the face of those who wanted to kill Him
Jesus taught the people - sitting down (8:2)
He is rudely interrupted in the midst of His preaching
A woman caught in the very act of adultery
Can you imagine the shame - examples
"Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?"
Overview:
The Intent of the Question
The Response of the Question
The Result that Followed
The Intent of the Question (v6a)
Was there a desire for justice, the law of Moses or for God to be honoured?
v6 - To test and accuse Jesus
They were not concerned about the woman
They only wanted to accuse Jesus - a setup
Where is the man?
Why did they not to bring her to the Sanhedrin?
Why did they not follow Jewish protocol?
They wanted to trap Jesus
If He advised a stoning they would have gone to the Romans - only they could issue a death penalty
If He opposed the law - they would say He was against God and Moses
They had tried to trap Jesus before - over paying taxes
You get people who love to attack others, put them down, corner people
The pride of life, the arrogance of man
The intent is to trap and accuse Jesus
The Response of the Question (v6b-9)
Silence, ignoring them, not initially engaging them
It is good when gifted preachers don't get involved in debates
The Bible is not to be debated
Jesus was also diffusing the situation
In one sense stooping down and identifying with this woman
She was shame faced, looking down
He drew in the ground
Perhaps the Ten Commandments - explanation
Perhaps the sins the others were guilty of
We are not meant to know
They continue to badger Him (v7)
They demand an answer
He continued to ignore them before answering them
'Let Him without sin throw the first stone'
This has become a common saying
Some people misapply this to moral and other judgments
We should do so with compassion, understanding, love, looking first to our hearts/sinfulness, recognising that we are all guilty before God without grace
In this instance - if you are without sin enact the penalty
The only person without sin (and therefore authority) was Jesus
Jesus was exposing their hypocrisy
He knew they were a lawless people
He knew they were guilty of adultery and murder in the hearts
He knew the nation was spiritually adulterous
He knew they gave false testimony
He knew they were guilty men trying to condemn a guilty woman
What do we learn?
We need to look at our own hearts
We need to check for specks/planks in our own eyes
We need to be gracious
Jesus stooped down again to give them time to reflect
One by one they walk away
Their conscience condemns them (they are convicted) but they do not confess and repent of their sin before Jesus
True repentance is staying at the feet of Jesus with contrite hearts
Sin is an offence against Almighty God
Confess your sin and know forgiveness of sin
Example from YouTube
The Result that Followed (v10)
Jesus raises Himself up
All have gone
There is no-one left to condemn her
Jesus does not condemn her - but instructs her to sin no more
He pronounces forgiveness
Bitterness - knowing He would have to bear this sin
Joy - in the forgiveness of their sin
Jesus has taken our sin
If we confess and repent - there is no condemnation
His righteousness is given to us
This is the great gospel - forgiveness of sin
Application:
Have you laid your sin at the feet of Jesus?
Have you confessed your sin?
Have you thanked God for Jesus' sacrifice?
Not just a 'temporary fix' but a radical change
Jesus as Lord and Saviour
You will be given the power to overcome sin and live for Christ
