English
Português
Español
Français
Response
Jesus’ declaration, “Neither do I condemn you,” is recorded in John 8:11 and occurs during the judgment of a woman caught in adultery. In John 7:53—8:11, the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman to Jesus after catching her in the act of adultery. Adultery, however, is not a sin committed in isolation. Therefore, it is reasonable to question why the religious authorities did not also bring the man involved. The blatant unfairness of the situation evokes feelings of sympathy and compassion, even if the woman is morally and legally culpable (John 8:5;cf: Leviticus 20:10;Deuteronomy 22:22).
The woman stands before Jesus, a sinless «For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. », (Hebrews 4:15) and a perfect man «Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? », (John 8:46). Therefore, He has the divine authority to condemn the woman. Nevertheless, in a profound lesson on mercy, grace, and forgiveness, Jesus opts not to condemn her «She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. », (John 8:11).
Nothing is disclosed about the woman except that she committed adultery. Was she married? Was she engaged? In Deuteronomy 22:23–24, stoning is the prescribed penalty for a betrothed virgin who is unfaithful to her fiancé and for the man with whom she engaged in sexual relations. Both Leviticus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22 address the consequences for such actions.
Death is prescribed for all unfaithful wives and their lovers, but stoning is not specifically mentioned. This suggests that the woman in John 7:53—8:11 is betrothed, not married. In any case, the story is less about the woman’s marital status (or even her actions) and more about Jesus’ upcoming actions.
The authorities brought the woman to Jesus “to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him” «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. », (John 8:6, ESV). If Jesus disregarded the Law of Moses, He would be seen as a sinful and lawless man deserving death. However, if Jesus upheld the law and condemned the woman, He would have contradicted the purpose of His earthly ministry: “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” «For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. », (John 3:17, ESV). Furthermore, He would have endorsed the Pharisees’ injustice of only bringing the woman who had sinned.
In response to the religious leaders’ question, “Now what do you say?” «Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? », (John 8:5), Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground «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. », (John 8:6). There has been much speculation about why and what Jesus wrote. A common theory is that He wrote part of Je
Jeremiah 17:13—“Those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water” (ESV). Another interpretation suggests that Jesus listed the sins committed by the Jewish authorities present. The truth is uncertain. What is evident, however, is that Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7;ESV;see Deuteronomy 13:9;see Deuteronomy 17:7). This does not imply that the authorities must be free from all sin before condemning the woman. It simply means that they must not be guilty of this specific sin (i.e., adultery). Jesus’ words struck their conscience, for “they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him” «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. », (John 8:9, ESV).
Alone with the woman, Jesus asks a simple question: “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” «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? », (John 8:10, ESV). To which she replies, “No one, Lord” (verse 11, ESV). Regardless of what the Mosaic Law required, Jesus says, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (ESV). Although the woman is guilty, Jesus chooses to forgive her sin. Forgiveness, of course, is a right reserved for God alone (Matthew 9:1-8); thus, this act further.R supports Jesus’ identity as God in the flesh.
“Mercy triumphs over judgment” «For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. », (James 2:13), a truth certainly illustrated in Jesus’ forgiveness of the adulterous woman. The appropriate response to such a remarkable display of mercy is to fully commit ourselves to purity in the future: “Go and sin no more” «She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. », (John 8:11, NLT).
