Woman: Where Are Your Accusers? Series

3) Remember, all they wanted Jesus to do was to convict or acquit the woman before them and the people: “that they might have reason to condemn Him,” John 8:6.

4) They wanted Jesus to sentence her, not them: "You who are without sin, cast the first stone at her." Jesus " threw upon these scribes and Pharisees a mountain of guilt for their sins.”

c. Finally, she is not showing remorse or begging for mercy, seeing she is about to be stoned to death! Why? I think there is an answer to this behavior for women as well.

1) She would have shown great remorse if she had committed adultery, the "very act" as she is being accused. The absence of undeniable evidence and the testimony of two or three witnesses has absolved the woman of all the charges.

2) Jesus looked into her heart and knew she had not committed the act of adultery. She did not need mercy, being a pawn by these evil leaders and rulers. Jesus knew their entire plot. And he dealt with the leaders and rulers of Israel with an outright rebuke.

3) They have been shamed before the people. Their evil and wicked hearts have been ignited with insults and condemnation against the Lord of Glory. They were the ones who should be seeking God's mercy and forgiveness, the woman, to give Him thanks for His mercy and grace. He would not be her condemner but her Savior. What a wonderful Savior is Jesus our Lord!

d. Conclusion: This woman, who had been betrayed and left alone to bear the judgment, would not be silent now - unless she has colluded with the rulers and her sexual partner to entrap the Master in this plot (which I believe is the case).

2. Jesus’ sentence: “Neither do I condemn thee.” This sentence bears a deeper meaning than what we might imagine in this case.

a. What was it for Him to condemn? There was no evidence or testimony by the required witnesses.

b. Jesus was the only one who could condemn her. She was the only one in these proceedings who could judge her guilt or innocence. He knew what was in the woman's heart. She was not guilty of this sin (adultery), although she was guilty of sin (her part in the plot) against the Master. And she never asked Jesus to forgive her. Why? In my judgment,

c. Her “sin of adultery” was unproven due entirely to the lack of licit (lawful) evidence and the witnesses’ testimony (perhaps looking on, but they did not take an oath or testify).

d. And the Lord knew why their testimony was not offered in this case (they had none). Or they would be guilty of "bearing false witness against their neighbor," Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 20:15-21. Let’s move to our conclusion.

3. Jesus' warning: "Go and sin no more." Not, thy sin is forgiven thee! We don't know who this woman was, but we know what she wasn't. She wasn't an adulteress guilty of sin before the Lord. These must have been comforting words to this woman. She had been brought to Jesus, condemned by the mob, ready to stone her to death, but left in the presence of Jesus uncondemned for her sin. But Jesus’ mercy and grace gave her another chance in life.