Sermons
The Adulterous Woman
The Adulterous Woman
John 8:1-11
Introduction:
1. Controversy surrounded the ministry of Jesus.
2. It was expectable. How do you come on the scene present yourself as the Son of God and not expect doubt, unbelief and even rejection?
3. John presents us with this account in a context describing the different responses people were having to Jesus.
4. There are some mysterious elements to the account.
a. How does someone get caught “in the very act” of adultery? It is possible, but not likely.
b. If caught “in the very act” where is the partner? Why were they not brought to Jesus
along with the woman?
c. What does Jesus write on the ground?
d. Why did they leave one by one, beginning with the older ones?
5. There are questions we may never know the answers to.
6. We do know that Jesus did not condemn this woman. Yet, He admonished her to “sin no more.”
7. What can be learned from this text? How is it to affect our lives, our thinking, our relationships?
Discussion:
I. The textual question.
A. Depending on which English translation you are reading from 7:53-8:11 may be bracketed
and footnoted.
1. The NASB footnote says, “Later mss add the story of the adulterous woman, numbering
it as Jn. 7:53-8:11.”
2. Most English readers are not familiar with the history of how the biblical text has come
to us.
a. We do not actually have copies of the original documents.
b. What we do have a plethora of copies that have been handed down from different
areas of the world. There is a whole field of study devoted to the evaluation of
these documents, their similarities and differences, their origins, and their
worthiness.
c. What we are reading from is a culmination of this scholarly research.
3. When the NASB footnote says, “Later mss add the story,” what it is saying is that the
mss that we have that are closer to the first century do not have this account in the
text of John.
B. English translations that include the text after 7:52 are the following: KJV, NKJV, RSV,
NRSV, ESV, NASB, NIV, TNIV, NEB, NET, CSB, and others.
C. Scholars have made arguments both for and against the inclusion of the account. Some
suggesting that it was added by a scribe. While the arguments for omitting it
are reasonable and noteworthy (we cannot engage thatstudy here), suffice it to
say that it has a long history of inclusion. It is likely an account passed on through oral
form that found its way into the text. Bruce Metzger says, “It has all the earmarks of
historical veracity” (A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, p. 220). Even if
John did not pen the words it bears the mark of a true historical account. I
would add it does not contradict the tone of Jesus’ ministry but is instead consistent with
it, and it “fits” the context of John’s gospel addressing the conflict with the scribes and
Pharisees, so I consider it worthy of our attention.
II. The context and the dilemma.
A. John says that his purpose in writing is “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (20:31).
B. Whether he penned the words of 7:53ff or it is an oral tradition it presents Jesus
as a phenomenal character at the very least and gives evidence of extraordinary ability,
insight and compassion fitting Christ, the Son of God.
C. The event is set in the context of the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem.
1. Jn. 7:10-13 summarizes the situation. The crowds are grumbling. Some were saying
one thing, others another. “No one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews.”
2. In the midst of the feast Jesus went up to the temple and began to teach (7:14).
3. He allies His teaching with the Law and Moses, and the “One who sent Me” (7:16-24).
4. Some were considering Him to be the Christ (7:25-31).
5. The Pharisees opposed this conclusion and sent officers to seize him (7:32-52) but
they came back empty-handed saying, “Never has a man spoken the way this man
speaks.”
D. It is in this context that this account unfolds. “The scribes and the Pharisees brought a
woman . . . testing Him so they might have grounds for accusing Him” (Jn. 8:3, 6).
1. It is a set up.
2. Jesus has said He is allied with the teaching of the One who sent Him, the same One
who sent Moses. “If He is allied with Moses, Moses said stone adulterers (Lev. 20:10;
Deut. 22:22). What do You say?” Are you allied with the teaching of Moses or not?
3. They sought to humiliate Jesus and thus discredit Him with the people.
E. But the law of Moses was very specific. Both adulterers were to be stoned. Where is
the other one, and I am willing to assume it was a man? They are in the business of
humiliating Jesus. They are not really concerned about the law. This woman is a pawn
in their scheme. They have no concern about humiliating her. Contrast this with Joseph
(Matt. 1:19). These are not righteous men like Joseph.
F. Jesus stoops down and writes on the ground.
1. Why? I do not know. May I suggest He is avoiding humiliating them?
2. What did He write? I do not know.
3. But let’s imagine that He is writing the name of the one who came up with this plan.
Maybe he was the oldest.
4. Maybe He is writing the name of the man. Perhaps the second oldest knew just the
individual to use to make the plan work.
5. Maybe he is writing the price paid the man who seduced the woman agreed upon
by the rest???
6. Writing such things on the ground rather than stating them publicly would avoid
publicly humiliating them and at the same time silence them while they
abandoned their project. But it also establishes Jesus as a righteous man. He does
not humiliate them, nor the woman.
7. To her He says, “Did no one condemn you? I do not condemn you, either. Go.
From now on sin no more.”
G. Jesus then describes Himself as the Light of the world (Jn. 8:12ff) and says, “Unless
you believe that I am He you will die in your sins” (8:24-30).
III. Observations and practical implications.
A. The account displays Jesus’ compassion in a powerful way, but it also shows His respect
for the Law.
1. He says to the woman, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”
2. He is not condoning her adultery. Ultimately, He will bear the consequence of her sin
on the cross.
3. He is unwilling to humiliate the woman and even her accusers but calls all to account.
4. Do we perceive Jesus as accuser? Are we able to balance respect for the law with
compassion? Are we more like Jesus or more like Hisopponents?
B. Surely the woman was moved by Jesus’ action. Did she abandon her sin? We do not
know. Did she become a follower of Jesus? We do not know. What would you have done
had you been in her shoes? Are you in her shoes? Will you abandon your sin and accept
His compassion?
C. “Many came to believe in Him” (Jn. 8:30). Jesus said, “The truth will make you free”
(8:32). Are you one of those who believe in Him? Has His truth made you free?
D. The scribes and the Pharisees continued in their unbelief (8:33ff).
1. They sought to humiliate Jesus. They sought to both humiliate and condemn the
woman to death.
2. They claimed descendance from Abraham.
3. Jesus said they were of their father the devil.
4. They accused Him of being a Samaritan and having a demon (48)
5. And they sought to stone Him (59).
6. Are you like them?
Conclusion:
1. Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God?
2. Would you accept His compassionate forgiveness?
3. Would you go and sin no more?
