Depending on your English translation, today’s passage might be in brackets with a note that the story is not in the most ancient manuscripts. Here are a few thoughts on the reliability of this passage.
o
The oldest manuscripts do not contain it. The later and greater number of manuscripts
do contain it. The oldest Latin
translations do not contain it.
o
2nd century commentators did not
comment on it, although Papias, a disciple of John in the early 2nd
century, did expound on it.
o
Some believe the story fits well in the context,
although I personally do not. As we will
note in the next post, John 8:12 seems to be a continuation of 7:52.
o
Christ as well as the leaders are “in
character.”
o Augustine
claimed it was removed by certain individuals for fear that women would use it
as an excuse for their adultery.
We will deal with it as Scripture, but because
of the uncertainties will not base doctrine solely on these verses. We will verify all teaching with the rest of
Scripture, which is a solid practice with any passage.
Concerning the woman (v3-5), one question is
whether she was unmarried or married?
The Law of Moses prescribed stoning as the form of execution for an
unmarried woman in this situation. But
the term for “adultery” applies to a married woman. Ezek. 23:43,44,47 indicates stoning had
become the form of execution for married adulteresses.
The problem for Jesus was simple. If He said “stone her” they would accuse Him
of hypocrisy because He spent time in His ministry with “publicans and sinners”
(Mark 2:6). If He said “let her go” they
would accuse Him of disregarding the Law of Moses. What Jesus did say, as always, was to reveal
the hearts of those who accused the woman, as well as to draw attention to the
forgiveness He came to provide through the cross.
Jesus said two things. First, He who is without sin among you,
let him throw a stone at her first.
What He wrote in the dirt seemed to disarm her accusers; they could do
nothing but walk away. There are various
thoughts about what Jesus wrote: perhaps the names and sins of those in the
group, or a word of warning, or (the one I like) He wrote the Ten Commandments
(God wrote these on Mt. Sinai, Ex. 31:18).
But since we are not told, the answer to that question is irrelevant. What matters is that her accusers were
shamed, having no standing to accuse her.
Second, Neither do I condemn you; go and
sin no more. Jesus gave to her a
fresh start. He revealed the true nature
of the God of Israel, Who is merciful and gracious but who does not clear the
guilty. Christ came to bear our guilt
and to enable sinners to walk in newness of life.
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