Condemnation (1–11). The woman was guilty, but where was the man? Both of them deserved to die (Lev. 20:10). It was a trap and Jesus knew it, but He ended up trapping the trappers. Did He write on the ground to remind them that He had written the Law (Exod. 31:18) or to refer them to Jeremiah 17:13 (see Luke 10:20)? Here is our wonderful assurance: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
Illumination (12–29). The religious leaders did not know where they were going or where He was going because they were in the dark spiritually. They had the light of the Law (v. 5; Prov. 6:23) and of conscience (v. 9), but they did not have the light of life. Consequently, they did not know the Father or understand what Jesus taught them.
Liberation (30–59). The people were in bondage to Rome and to the Law of Moses, yet they said they were free! In verse 35, Jesus may have been referring to Isaac and Ishmael (Gen. 21:8–21), since the Jews had mentioned Abraham (v. 33). The Son makes you free (v. 36), so trust Him and follow Him. His truth makes you free (v. 32), so study it, believe it, and obey it. Satan imposes slavery that seems like freedom (2 Pet. 2:19); Jesus gives you a yoke that sets you free (Matt. 11:28–30).
Whose Child Are You?
There is no record that Jesus ever called the publicans and sinners “children of the devil.” He reserved that title for the hypocritical Pharisees. By nature, we are all “children of wrath”; and by choice, we become “children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:1–3). When you receive Jesus Christ, you become a child of God (John 1:12–). But if you reject Christ and have a false righteousness (Rom. 9:30–10:13), you are in danger of becoming a “child of the devil,” for Satan is an imitator (2 Cor. 11:13–15). If Satan becomes your father, hell will be your home.
