1 ¶ Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into
the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought
unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman
was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5
Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what
sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting
him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his
finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted
up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first
cast a stone at her. 8 And again he
stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went
out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left
alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said
unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus
said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
This passage, including the last verse of the previous
chapter, is often disputed by those who believe the Alexandrian versions of
Scripture are the best and German Higher Criticism is correct. One of the
problems with that point of view is that the passage is found in many manuscripts
of what these same scholars call the Byzantine text type along with ancient
versions such as the Old Latin, Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, and Ethiopic. As
well, it is referenced by early church fathers including Jerome and Augustine.
So, we can safely dismiss the contentions of unbelieving Christians who cling
to the fantasies of nineteenth century Anglo-Catholics.
The event presented here reveals a great teaching moment as
Christ denies those who, perhaps guilty of the same crime, single out one
person for punishment, and it is usually the woman who receives the brunt of
such hypocrisy. The old saw about when
you point a finger at someone you have three fingers of your hand pointing back
at you applies.
The questions always come up, had they all committed
adultery with her? What was Jesus writing with his finger on the ground? I will
leave that up to other commentators and pastors to expound on the possibilities
there. What is clear to the eye here is that Jesus has clarified and sharpened
a moral command of God for the Jews.
Leviticus 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with
another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife,
the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
The context insists that the sin He was referring to was
this sin that the men were wanting an excuse to kill this woman. So, guys, with
which one of you was she taken in adultery? Shall you be stoned also? What if
all of them had been guilty at some time with this woman? Was this an attempt
to clear the books?
The hypocrisy of how moral laws are implemented by the
Taliban, the Saudi police, or even Christian fundamentalists in America wanting
the government to enforce religious rules is clear here. You may throw the
stone but only if you are not guilty of the crime as well and for the Christian
that means additionally, in your heart.
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on
a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his
heart.
2Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
How then shall any of us justify throwing the stone? One of
the great tragedies of fundamentalism in America is its placing the burden of
sexual sin on the woman’s shoulders. You will hear people, even women, declare
that it is a woman’s responsibility not to entice a man, as if we don’t own our
own sin and a man simply cannot help his behavior if tempted. This is
wickedness and evil for we are responsible for how we respond to temptation.
In a different context these words are said and they apply
well to this context.
Matthew 18:7 ¶ Woe unto the world because of offences! for
it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence
cometh!
For we have no excuses. In even another context is a verse
that is applicable to this situation.
1Corinthians
10:13 There hath no temptation taken you
but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to
be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way
to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Jesus did not give the woman, standing alone, a pass. He
admonished her not to sin, and the context insists that He is referring to this
particular sin, anymore.
Now, remember the first verses here. He was interrupted by
the scribes and Pharisees while He was teaching people.
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