John Chapter 8
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.
The Doctrine of Sin and the Doctrine of Judgment: We are typically much more adept at pointing out others’ sins than our own; we need to force ourselves to look hard at the areas where we have sin. How did they ‘catch her in the very act of adultery’? It probably was a set up. Why did they bring her to Jesus, and not just go ahead and stone her according to the law? They wanted to trip up the Master in this doctrine of hamartology: they thought that Jesus would say that she was not guilty which would then go against the law of Moses and then they could raise charges against Him as a false teacher.
Why did Jesus write on the ground (dust of the pavement)? The Bible seems to give the answer here: ‘as though He heard them not’. Some say that He wrote the 10 commandments. Some say that He was just doodling. It could be that He was diffusing the Pharisees energy here; caused them to calm down; caused them to think about what in the world that He was doing; took the focus off of the woman; caused them to stop talking and rather to listen. When someone comes to you accusing someone of sinning, it would be wise to do as Jesus did; not be quick to jump and take sides; not really hear much more from them; just do something to diffuse the situation and end the whole drama.
Verse 7 teaches us that as individuals we are not to judge other’s sins, unless we are without sin; it might relate some to the mote in the eye parable; it is very foolish to judge someone for their sin when you have a huge sin yourself. But, if you are without sin, then, I guess, judge away… But, that judgment doesn’t involve violence. “He that is spiritual judgeth all things”… Do you think it would be good to have stoning as punishment for adultery today?
These were convicted by their own conscience of their sin condition and that it wasn’t fair to judge someone else; many of them probably had commited adulterous acts themselves (in secret). These lost men were not necessarily convicted of sin by the Holy Ghost; it may have been what God had designed in each man… that is, the conviction from their conscience… their consciences being designed to automatically discern good and evil in general (i.e. murder, adultery, hypocricy, etc., is wrong).
Jesus stoops down and writes again in order to cause them to think again… to think about what He had just said to them… it gave it more effect. The oldest went out first because they were wiser than the younger.
Jesus basically saved the woman’s life here. Of all the people that had a right to condemn this sinner, Jesus did. Jesus knew her heart; He wasn’t there to condemn her, but rather to save her. Thus, He warns her ‘go and sin no more’. This speaks of repentance; this shows that Jesus will not condemn you if you are serious about repenting of your sins… and here it was a specific sin… adultery.
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. 14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. 15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. 19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
The Doctrine of Christ: Jesus stated that He was the light of the world. He also stated that He came not to judge man; though, He did judge man in pointing out there sins. His judgment would wait until the great and notable Day of the Lord. Jesus used their law to help prove His points. Did they understand that He was telling them of His Father in heaven? Take a look at verse 27.
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. 21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. 28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
The Doctrine of Sin: What does it mean when it says and ye ‘shall die in your sins’? I believe it means that when they die, they will still have the judgment of their sin upon them, and would not have had their sins forgiven.
The Doctrine of Christ: I believe that the Jews here knew basically who Jesus was and where He was going to. He had already told them who He was (v. 24,25); He had been telling them ‘from the beginning’. Who is the ‘he’ here (v. 24, 28)? I believe it is referring to the Christ, Messiah. The phrase ‘lifted up the Son of man’ refers to crucifixion. Jesus did only that which His Father had taught Him (v. 28). How would they know that Jesus was the Messiah? Maybe it is referring to His resurrection (v. 28).
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
The Doctrine of Discipleship: Jesus declares that in order to truly be one of His disciples you must ‘continue in my word’… ye shall know the truth. This means that a true disciple will hear the truth of the Bible and receive it and continue in following it, more and more, and will not get offended at it and start distancing themselves from it. A true disciple has an impressive faithfulness and dedication to the word of God. (31-32)
The Doctrine of Judaism: These Jewish leaders were trusting in being of Abraham’s lineage to make them spiritually free (and thus a saint of God) (33). They didn’t understand that Jesus was referring to them of being Abraham’s children spiritually, not physically (39). What were Abraham’s works? Works of faith that showed it was true faith, and thus brought about righteousness. The Jews changed their ‘tune’ and gathered that the ‘Abraham is our father’ argument wasn’t working, so they finally got on the level that Jesus was talking about…God as your Father (41).
The Doctrine of Sin: Once you commit a sin, you are a servant to it; i.e. you have the sin nature… you are a sinner… you will sin until your nature is changed. Jesus Christ came to make sinners free from their bondage to sin. (34-36)
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
The Doctrine of Satan: Lost people have as their ‘father’, the devil. And, saved people have God as their Father. Lost people will follow their father’s ways (i.e. the devil’s ways, characteristics, goals, methods, etc.)… it is natural for them to do this. Satan was a murderer way back in the Garden of Eden…Cain slaying Abel. Possibly the key characteristic of Satan is him being a liar, and the father of it. Probably the ultimate blasphemy was stating that Jesus Christ was possessed with a devil, as did these Jews (48).
The Doctrine of Salvation: If one keeps Jesus’ saying (i.e. believeth in Him) then they will never see death; i.e., they will never see spiritual death (eternal separation from God, in Hell). (51)
The Doctrine of Christ: How did Abraham see Jesus’ day? This is probably referring to when the Lord and a few angels met with Abraham at the door of His tent in Genesis 18:2,17 (56). In verse 58 Jesus declared to these unbelieving Jewish religious leaders that before Abraham was even born, I was existing, and not only existing, but have always existed. In Ps 90:2 it states – “From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.”
“We divide time into tho past, the present, and the future. The expression, applied to God, denotes that he does not measure his existence in this manner, but that the word by which we express the present denotes his continued and unchanging existence. Hence, he assumes it as his name, “I AM,” and “I AM THAT I AM,” Ex 3:14.” (Barne’s Notes)
They picked up stones to cast at Him because they understood that He was saying that He was indeed Jehovah God; it was such a profound, earth-shattering proclaimation that they immediately grabbed the stones around them and were going to stone Him right there without a trial! Jesus was able to cause His body to be invisible here (possibly), or at least caused the people around Him not to be able to see Him.