The Woman Caught In Adultery
THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY
JOHN 7:53–8:11
When confronted by Jesus’ words, none of us is without sin.
This story did not originally belong here nor indeed anywhere in John’s Gospel. This is clear both by the evidence of the manuscript and by the style. It was probably inserted by a scribe at this point as an illustration of the principle enunciated in 8:15. Some manuscripts put it elsewhere in John, others after Luke 21:38. There is no reason, however, to doubt that it is a genuine story about our Lord’s ministry.
There is a close parallel between the story and that of the tribute money (Mark 12:13-17). Each of them represents an attempt to force Jesus into a position where he makes a pronouncement which will put him out of favor with either the Romans or the Jews. His accusers, hypocritically pretending to be scandalized by this woman’s conduct, were using her, not as a person, but as a political pawn. In this case to advocate stoning would be to usurp the power of the Roman authorities, who alone were allowed to carry out death sentences. To do otherwise would be to contravene the Law of Moses which ordered stoning in such circumstances.
The answer which Jesus gives is a model. He transgresses neither Roman nor Jewish authority. Instead he turns an attempt to trap him into a penetrating moral challenge to those who were prepared to play politics with human sin and misery.
His point is well enough made both with them and with her. Note how conscience works in the presence of the sinless One; these men, convicted of their hypocrisy, soon made their exit. In the end all know themselves to be sinners, and the one who has committed the greatest sin in letter and probably the smallest in spirit leaves with his word of counsel and exhortation.
Notes 8:3: “adultery” cf. only in the case of fornication by a betrothed virgin was stoning laid down as the punishment (Deuteronomy 22:23f.). The same punishment was laid down for the man, but the woman seems to have been an easier victim for their scheme. 8:6: it may be that he was writing the sentence as the Roman judge would do and that the words were what he then spoke to them. Any suggestion is pure guesswork. 8:11: Jesus does not condemn her; the witnesses having left, he is in no position to pass judgment according to the Law. By implication he offers her forgiveness but does not excuse her conduct. For she is to go and not to sin again.
Prayer Lord, make me sensitive to your presence, aware of my own sinfulness, and help me to “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7).