Forgiven

Evangelical Church of Oskaloosa

Sermon Text: John 8:1-11

Sermon Title: Forgiven

Ralf HT Bergmann

Sunday August 6, 2000 – PM Service

Scripture Introduction: We’ve heard the numerous accounts in the Bible about the scribes, the Pharisees and the Saducees. Who exactly were these people, that caused them to give Jesus such a hard time? Before we begin reading the Scripture, let’s take a quick look at who they are. One of the groups, the Saducees, although not being specifically mentioned in this text were those that opposed everything that the Pharisees stood for. The only thing that they agreed on is that they were united in opposition to Jesus and they cooperated in the events that eventually led to His crucifixion. Here are some of the things that they believed: They disregarded the traditions and unwritten laws of the Pharisees, they rejected the concept of demons, angels and of the existence of the soul. To them, death was final without punishment or reward. Many members of the Sanhedrin were Sadducees.

The dominant sect of the Jews was the Pharisees. They first made their appearance after the Jews returned from captivity. They held in high regard the books of the Old Testament as a source of the Jewish beliefs. They also attributed great and equal authority to their traditions especially their rites such as ablution or ceremonial washing and cleansing, fasting, long prayers, the distribution of alms, and especially avoiding any contact whatsoever with those disgusting pagan gentiles. Their pious nature gave them great favor and influence over the common people. There were those that were truly walking with God such as Joseph of Arimithea, Nicodemus, and the aging Simeon. Saul of Tarsus was a member of the strictest of the sects.

The Scribes were those that were skilled in writing and accounts. These were the people who communicated the commands of the king, kind of like the Secretary of State. They were skilled in the interpretation of the Law so they were seen as teachers and interpreters. Like the Pharisees, they were bitterly opposed to Christ. They joined right in when it came to the persecution of Jesus and His followers. PLEASE JOIN ME IN READING GOD’S WORD!

Scripture Reading: John 8:1-11 [NASB95]

1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4 they *said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" 6 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."

Introduction:

We begin this section of Scripture with Jesus coming into the Temple to teach in the early morning. The break of dawn. How many people do we know now that come to learn more about God’s Word at that time of the morning? He is coming to teach and the crowd begins to filter in and follow Jesus into the Temple. As is the tradition for a Rabbi, He sits down and begins to teach. The Scribes and Pharisees come into the Temple, interrupting His teachings, they have a woman in their custody and they bring her to the center of the court and announce to Jesus “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act”. They announce her sin so that everyone in the Temple can hear. Now being well schooled in the Law, they explain to Jesus “In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what do you say?”

They were testing Him. They wanted to find grounds to accuse Him. What did Jesus do? He stooped down and with His finger He wrote on the Ground. They kept after Him asking Him. He gets up, looks at them, and says “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” The eyes of God looking deep within the souls of these men. “Are you without sin?” Once again He stoops down and writes upon the ground, and one by one from the oldest to the youngest they file out of the Temple. All that remains is the women, standing where her accusers have left her and our Lord Jesus. “Women where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She answers “No one Lord”. And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more!”