📖 Passage
John 8:1–11 Read John 8:1–11 (NKJV)
🧠 Context & Background
This account follows the intense debates of the Feast of Booths. The religious leaders, seeking to trap Jesus, bring a woman caught in adultery before Him. The Law of Moses prescribed stoning for such sin (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22), but the Roman authorities had removed Jewish authority to carry out executions. This scene forces a confrontation between law and grace, truth and mercy. Though some manuscripts place this account later in John or in Luke, the event reflects Jesus’ consistent character and teaching.
🌿 Key Themes
- Law and Grace — Jesus upholds the Law while extending mercy.
- Hypocrisy Exposed — The accusers’ own sin is confronted.
- Authority of Christ — He teaches with divine wisdom that transcends human traps.
- Repentance — Mercy calls sinners to leave sin behind.
📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
John 8:1–2
"Early in the morning He came again into the temple courts." - Faithful Teacher — Despite rising opposition, Jesus continues His public ministry. - Temple Focus — Teaching in the temple shows His authority and the public nature of His message.
John 8:3–6
"They set her in the midst." - Public Humiliation — The woman is shamed before all, revealing the hardness of the accusers’ hearts. - Legal Trap — They hope to pit Jesus against either the Mosaic Law or Roman authority. - Moral Posture — The accusers see themselves as righteous judges, ignoring their own sin. - Divine Wisdom — Jesus writes on the ground, refusing to be rushed into their agenda.
John 8:7–9
"Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone." - Sinless Standard — Jesus applies the Law’s justice equally, exposing hypocrisy. - Conscience Struck — One by one, they leave, convicted of their own guilt. - Judgment Reoriented — Jesus redirects attention from her sin alone to the universal need for mercy.
John 8:10–11
"Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." - Mercy Extended — Jesus does not condemn, showing the heart of the Gospel. - Call to Holiness — Mercy is never license for sin but a summons to repentance. - Personal Restoration — The woman is restored to dignity and called to a new life.
🔍 Trusted Insight
R.C. Sproul remarks that Jesus’ handling of this case demonstrates both His commitment to God’s Law and His mission of grace — He neither excuses sin nor crushes the sinner, but offers a path of forgiveness and transformation. Summary: Jesus silences hypocritical accusers and calls the sinner to a life changed by grace.
🧩 Review Questions
💡 Click a question to open the chatbot and explore the answer. Tap the chat bubble again to close it.
- Why was the woman brought publicly rather than privately addressed?
- How does Jesus’ response uphold both truth and grace?
- What does “sin no more” teach us about the nature of repentance?
- In what ways are we tempted to act like the accusers in this passage?
🔍 Definitions
- Adultery — Sexual unfaithfulness to one’s spouse, condemned in the Law.
- Condemn — To pronounce guilty and assign punishment.
- Repentance — Turning from sin to God in heartfelt obedience.
🙋 Application Questions
- How do you respond when confronted with someone else’s sin?
- Where in your life has Jesus extended you mercy instead of judgment?
- How can you extend grace without compromising truth?
🔤 Greek Keywords
- Moicheia (Adultery) — Unfaithfulness in marriage, a violation of covenant faithfulness.
- Katakrino (Condemn) — To judge worthy of punishment.
- Metanoeō (Repent) — To change one’s mind and direction toward God.
📚 Cross References
- Leviticus 20:10 — Law’s penalty for adultery.
- Deuteronomy 22:22 — Adultery punishable by death.
- Psalm 103:10 — God does not treat us as our sins deserve.
- Micah 7:18 — God delights in mercy.
- Romans 8:1 — No condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
- Titus 2:11–12 — Grace teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness.