Caught in the Act
INTRODUCTION
Imagine a big gathering of people. They are listening to an important speaker such as a governor, an ambassador or perhaps even someone like the president [I will let you make this person be whoever you desire to fit your own political beliefs, :-)].
Then suddenly shouts are heard, "Move aside!" "Get out of the way!" "Let us through!" as an angry mob pushes through the crowd and they are found pushing a person to the center of this gathering ...
People move being aghast at what is happening --- they all stare as this person is tossed to the ground before the speaker ...
And as everyone stares in disbelief - the mob cries out, this person has been caught in the very act of a crime -- this person deserves to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Then without wasting a second, this mob turns toward the speaker and says, "Don’t you agree?" - As if to justify their rhetoric.
While everyone stares, this person slowly curls up into a ball, trying to find a hole to crawl in and disappear and just before the person hangs their head in shame, the person glances up for a brief moment and to the shock of all - they know this person. Lo and behold this person is YOU - CAUGHT IN THE ACT!!!!
John 7:53-8:11
Everyone went to his home. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 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. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" 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. 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." Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 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. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did not one condemn you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."
TEXTUAL VERIFICATION
I. The passage of John 7:53-8:11 is considered by most NT textual critics not to be a part of the original text of John’s Gospel. The reasons given in support for not recognizing this section called the Pericope [i.e., the section of a book] of the Adulteress as being a part of John’s original manuscript are: (1) the section is absent from most of the earlier and major manuscripts, (2) the style [syntax] of the language changes between 7:52 and 8:12 [i.e., it does not match John’s writing style], (3) no Greek Church Father prior to the twelfth century comments on the passage - [Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, 2nd ed.,2001, 187-188].
II. However, "to say that the passage is not an integral part of John does not dismiss it. . . . [Since we find it in our Bibles] it is still necessary to account for its presence. . . . [The story] is wholly in keeping with the character and ministry of Jesus, and that it [without a doubt reflects] a genuine account of an episode [during] His [ministry]" [adapted from, Merrill C. Tenney, John, The Gospel of Belief: An Analytic Study of the Text, 1948, 138].
III. As for me, I am not fully convinced that this passage is not a part of the original manuscript from John’s Gospel.
Look at how well 7:53-8:2 fits with the preceding context -
TEXT
7:53-8:1
The day ended and everyone went to his home - except for the Son of Man who had no place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20 & 9:58) -- so He went to the Mount of Olives for the evening.
Matthew 8:20 & Luke 9:58
Jesus said ... The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no where to lay His head.
8:2
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.
I think the interruption of 8:3-11 not only fits well with 8:2 but it also fits very well with the following context starting at 8:12 when examined - the break [interruption] between 8:2 and 8:12 makes good sense -
Vs. 2, He sat down and began to teach them.
Vs. 3-11, The interruption.
Vs. 12, Then Jesus again spoke to them.
THE INTERUPTION
8:3
The scribes and the Pharisees -
These were the keepers of the law, the self-righteous, and the hypocrites of Jesus’ day, the do-gooders who knew what was best for all.
*** It is no different today in our time and culture - we too have the keepers of the law, the self-righteous, and the hypocrites, do-gooders who know what’s best for all.
1) You cannot use the name of God in public - don’t you know that we have "separation of church and state."
2) You cannot condemn men and women of hideous sins - don’t you know "thou shalt not judge."
3) Jesus alone is God - don’t you know that we cannot have that type of closed minded opinion prevailing today, "you need to quit being so intolerant." Besides, my opinion is just as good as yours.
Brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court -
A. Is not this the way it is with sin, once it has caught you, it exposes you openly.
1) The World will seize every opportunity to expose you -
Matthew 73-74a [context 26:69-74]
A ... bystander came up and said to Peter, Surely you too are one of them [Christians!] for even the way you talk gives you away. Then he began to curse and swear, I do not know the man!
2) Satan seizes every opportunity to accuse you before God day and night-
Revelation 12:9-10
The great dragon, the old serpent, Satan, the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.
B. Oh be wise my friend, do not let your sins go before you, do not be found in the center court of judgment for all to see your unrighteous ways -
1 Timothy 5:24
The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after.
God tells us to admit that we are sinners and confess our sins to Him -
1 John 1:8-10
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
8:4-6a
They said to Him, Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say? They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him.
What is it that causes religious folk - yes, those who bear the name Christian - to become so self-righteous and condemning towards other Christians’ sins and not their own. Instead of always finding fault and telling everyone what they are always doing wrong in their Christian walk. Perhaps the religious folk should be trying to help their fellow brothers/sisters in Christ come closer to God through their own "life’s" example. We need to help our own, lest we fall too.
1 Corinthians 8:13
Therefore, if food [may, I dare say anything that one can do] causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
James 5:19-20
My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:7-8
The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
*** Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ?
1 John 4:19-21
We love, because He first loved us, if someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
*** But you say we do love our brothers/sisters -
James 2:15-16
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
Matthew 25:31-40
But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, "Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me." Then the righteous will answer Him, "Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?" The King will answer and say to them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me."
*** Brother know full well where your heart is showing love to your fellow Christians - for there is where your heart’s treasure will be.
Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
*** Now I realize that we cannot help everyone. But when we have the ability as individuals or as a church to help someone spiritually, emotionally, and yes - even financially and we refuse to be there when they need us the most - We are going completely against the Bible, we are refusing to share God’s love, and we are sinning against our neighbor, and, as well as, our LORD!
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
8:6b-9
But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 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." Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 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.
There is a lot of speculation as to what Jesus wrote here on the ground. The Holy Spirit chose not to reveal that in the written Word.
The most common speculation among commentaries is that Jesus wrote the 10 Commandments -
Exodus 20:3-17 [NASB]
1) You shall have no other gods before Me.
2) You shall not make for yourself an idol.
3) You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4) Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5) Honor your father and your mother.
6) You shall not murder.
7) You shall not commit adultery.
8) You shall not steal.
9) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10) You shall not covet . . . anything that belongs to your neighbor.
*** The longer Jesus wrote, notice how brave and louder the accusers became -
1) What do you say Jesus, Son of God - should not this adulteress be stoned?
2) Hey Jesus, are you listening to us? - "Cat got your tongue?"
3) What’s the matter Jesus, are you afraid to stand up and face us!
4) Poor ole Jesus, the boy from Nazareth, He just doesn’t know what to do does He? And His disciples says He has all of the answers.
*** Notice - He stood and addressed them according to God’s Word - "You who is without sin, let him cast the first stone." Is this not the way He always addresses those who tempt Him - Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13?
Deuteronomy 17:6-7
On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness. The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
Upon hearing this - they left one by one beginning at the oldest down to the youngest.
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness [NKJV].
Romans 7:7, 12
What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "You shall not covet." . . . So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
*** Know this my friend - the Word of God is powerful and accomplishes God’s will.
Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
*** Jesus was once again found stooped down and writing. This He did until the woman was left alone only in His presence.
Are you ready to stand alone before the Judge of heaven and earth?
Revelation 20:11-12
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
Philippians 2:10-11
At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Vs. 10-11
Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."
Do you remember my friend the day you cried out to God for mercy in the name of Jesus?
* It may have been a quiet moment.
* It may have been a joyous moment.
* You may have cried.
* You may have smiled.
* You may be like some who are able to pinpoint the very hour of the very day of the very year of your conversion.
* Or, you may be like others who cannot exactly pinpoint that moment but you know that it happened, that salvation came into your life.
* So whenever the moment came - [John 3:3 - you must be born again] - know full well, you are no longer condemned before Him.
Romans 8:1
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 103:11-12
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving kindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
CLOSING THOTS
Have you ever wondered what Jesus wrote in dust of the ground that day? Though it is only mere speculation upon my part [and my friend, the late Berlin Hisel], I think that perhaps what Jesus wrote was an IOU to His Father.
Jesus knew in a few days He would be going to the cross.
Isaiah 53:3b-6
[He was called] Man of Sorrows ... [He was] wounded for our transgressions ... [He was] bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed ... the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
I think He wrote an IOU for all the names in the "Lamb’s Book of Life." My name was written in that dust! What of you my friend has your name been written? Jesus - God in the flesh - The God Man - has known since the foundation of the world all of these names and He knew that Calvary’s cross was coming in a few days and He knew then He would fulfill His IOU to God for each and every one of those names.
Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon His name while He is near. Let the wicked forsake His way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, and He will abundantly pardon.
Do not be found like this adulterous woman caught in the act of her crime and then brought before the righteous and just Judge.
I ask you today to consider your sinful condition before God.
I urge you today to repent of your sins before a righteous God.
I tell you today to flee to Jesus Christ for mercy from God.
Oh, my friend - Come today to the Savior.
Bruce Allen
Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church
bea0210@hotmail.com
November 16, 2003
