Man’s Judgment Is Evil - John 7-9

John 7:53 - 8:11 (ESV)

[The earliest manuscripts do not include 7:53–8:11.]The Woman Caught in Adultery

[[They went each to his own house, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]

Before drawing some truth or practical insight from this passage we have to acknowledge that this passage does not appear in some of the most trustworthy copies of the book of John.   There are many opinions on the passage, for sure.   To be authentic the passage needs evidence it was in the writings of John and it needs to be in harmony with the rest of the Scriptures.   There is no doubt that the passage does not fit in this section.  Most would say that this story completely disrupts the flow of John’s argument, when reading the teaching of Jesus before and after the story.  However, John is NOT writing in chronological order.  In fact, that is the most apparent aspect of John’s writings, unlike the other Gospel writings.  His entire story is based upon him providing evidence that bolsters Jesus claim to be the Son of God.   This passage does not diminish that claim. It does demonstrate His superior wisdom to man and His sovereign knowledge of mankind.   The passage also has to have the evidence of the passage being in the manuscripts of John’s gospel that have been discovered.   This is where the passage fails to meet the test.   Some have conjectured that some scribes may have removed it because their personal views on adultery.  Since the passage is showing Jesus’ kindness and mercy and grace to someone caught in adultery, those copying out John’s gospel, to make copies to distribute, may have thought it was too easy on the sin of adultery.   However, there are some manuscripts that do contain the story.   This makes the use of it difficult to disregard, totally.   Suffice it to say that the text teaches two things that John IS conveying in his teaching about Jesus:

1.  Jesus was disruptive to the religious leaders methods, practices and interpretation of God’s Word.   This story shows, again, Jesus causing angst to the religious leaders over their treatment of other humans.   Jesus, throughout John’s Gospel, shows them heart over logic and grace over law.  This story does that. 

2.  This story exposes sin, but covers it with mercy.  Jesus’ statement that he does not condemn the woman is showing His grace to her.  He came to take away condemnation. That is John’s message in his Gospel.   

The story may not fit all the markers of what we know to be true about Bible passages. But it does not, however, teach anything contrary to any other Bible passage.   It is in harmony with John’s message. It is awkward where it appears in the text. It is lacking external evidence, as it is missing in copies of John’s Gospel.  But it does teach us what God wants us to know.  Man’s judgment is evil and God’s judgment is based upon Jesus’ grace and mercy to remove our condemnation.