1. 5

2. Jesus, and the Woman Caught in Adultery
John 8:1-11
Introduction
The text of John 8:1-11 which records Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees, and the woman caught in adultery has been severely abused by people of the world.
Along with Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that you be not judged,” this passage is used to shame righteous judgment.
When we preach the gospel to the lost, they are convicted of sin.
Many revert to quoting such passages out of context.
They’ll say, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone first.” Their implication is that you cannot judge me, because you aren’t perfect.
Furthermore, in addition to shaming righteous judgment, there is the inclination of cheap grace with their misuse of the passage – some suggest Jesus accepted her in her sin, excusing her despite committing adultery.
(EX: The art piece of the Last Supper, where surrounding Jesus are many worldly people. Jesus does not accept people in their sin, He forgives them of their sin when they repent, and walk in the light as He is light.)
Let us investigate this passage, along with other scriptures concerning judgment, to discover what really occurred between Jesus, and the Woman Caught in Adultery.
To Judge, or Not To Judge?
John 8:1-11

3. – John 7:24 (Righteous); Galatians 6:1-2 (Restoration) –
To Judge, or Not To Judge
Do Not Judge
– John 7:19-24 (Appearance); Matthew 7:1-5 (Hypocritical); James 4:11-12 (Evil Motives) –
Judge
– John 7:24 (Righteous); Galatians 6:1-2 (Restoration) –
To Judge, or Not To Judge?
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). (From this verse we learn that there are ways we are REQUIRED TO JUDGE, and there are ways we are FORBIDDEN TO JUDGE.)
Not To Judge
According to Appearance
John 7:19-24 – Jesus speaking to the Jews about their inconsistency concerning the Sabbath, and working on the Sabbath.
(v. 21) – The work He performed was healing a man on the Sabbath.
“For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath” (5:16).
Sabbath was a commanded day of rest.
(v ) – Works of necessity (like circumcision) and mercy (like healing the lame man) were to be performed even on the Sabbath. (THIS IS WHAT THE JEWS PRACTICED)
Cf. Luke 14:1-6 – Jesus healed a man with dropsy on Sabbath.
Works of necessity, and mercy are to be done on the Sabbath.
(v. 24) – They only looked surface deep at Jesus’ actions.
They did not consider what had happened, how it was good, and lawful.
They were quick to judgment based on appearance.
Hypocritical Judgment
Mathew 7:1-5 – Jesus speaking on judgment in the sermon on the mount.
(v. 1-2) – The entire context must be considered.
Judge not – not all encompassing.
Make sure your judgment is right, for you will be judged the same way.
Similarly – “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (6:14-15).
(v. 3-5) – The point Jesus is making concerns HYPOCRICY.
One man judges another for something he himself is guilty of AND HAS NOT CORRECTED.
Correct your wrongs, then correct your brother’s wrongs.
Not saying not to judge period, but not to judge in a certain way.
With Motive to Hurt and Condemn
James 4:11-12 – The judgment may be true (Person is guilty), or may be false (gossip or blasphemy) – the point is the motive of the one judging.
Speak evil – katalaleō; from 2637; to be a traducer, i.e. to slander.
It is God’s Law that condemns – we do not condemn.
“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
This one was not submissive to the Law in this way – he usurped the position of lawgiver, and in that way judged the law as insufficient, and spoke evil of it.
(v. 12) – It is God’s job to save and destroy – IT IS NOT OUR RIGHT TO CONDEMN OTHERS!
Any judgment that is made without love is wrong.
To Judge
Righteous Judgment
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24).
Right Standard – God’s word.
Right Motive – Fulfill God’s will, and save a brother.
Restoring a Brother
Galatians 6:1-2 – You must judge that they are in sin, then move to restore them.
You who are spiritual – walking in the spirit (5:16-26).
Gentleness – humility, and care.
“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner form the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).
There are proper ways to judge, and improper ways to judge. It is not wrong to judge in general, we only must make sure we are judging with righteous judgment.
So, what was going on with the Pharisees, Jesus, and the woman caught in adultery?
Jesus, and the Woman Caught in Adultery (John 8:1-11)

4. Jesus, and the Woman Caught in Adultery
John 8:1-11
Jesus to the Pharisees
– vv. 1-9 (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 22:22; John 18:31-32; Deuteronomy 17:7) –
Jesus to the Woman
– vv (John 3:17) –
Jesus, and the Woman Caught in Adultery (John 8:1-11)
Really, this account has very little to do with the difference between RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT, and UNRIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT.
Jesus and the Pharisees
(vv. 1-5) – The Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and asked Jesus what He thought they should do.
“You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14).
(v. 5) – What does the law say?
“If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall die – the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so you shall put away the evil from Israel” (Deuteronomy 22:22).
Where was the man? – First problem, contrary to the Law they appealed to.
(v. 5) – What do YOU say?
Why ask Jesus? He was not on the Sanhedrin council.
Furthermore, if they were worried about carrying out the Law, and they knew what it was, why hadn’t they done it?
(v. 6) – THEY WERE TESTING JESUS! TRYING TO TRAP HIM!
Their main purpose in this situation was to find Jesus in the wrong, and have cause to put Him to death!
Horns of a dilemma (what the Pharisees did on several occasions with Jesus):
Law of Moses – The adulteress and adulterer must be killed.
Roman Law – “Then Pilate said to them, ‘You take Him and judge Him according to your law.’ Therefore the Jews said to him, ‘It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,’ that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die” (John 18:31-32).
Either way – stone her, don’t stone her – they thought Jesus would be guilty.
Jesus knew their motive (OMNISCIENCE) and ignored them – also was slow to speak, preparing His words carefully.
(v. 7) – Jesus gave them the option to stone her, with one prerequisite.
“The hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put away the evil from among you” (Deuteronomy 17:7).
Jesus was NOT SAYING – ONLY A SINLESS MAN CAN METE OUT THE PUNISHEMENT ACCORDING TO THE LAW. (cf. Romans 3:23 – true, but not the problem here.)
Jesus knew their motive, and on top of that knew the Law – they weren’t carrying it out properly (because that was not their motive anyway!).
Where was the man?
Why did they come to Jesus, and not the Sanhedrin council?
(v. 8-9) – They were convicted by Jesus’ words.
They knew they themselves were in sin with regard to their motives, and failure to properly observe the Law.
THIS WAS JESUS’ PURPOSE – TO CONVICT THEM OF THEIR SIN IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE THEIR SOULS.
NOTE: JESUS WAS NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO BE SINLESS TO JUDGE.
Jesus and the Woman
(v a) – Who has condemned you?
Condemned – regarding the condemnation to being stoned.
Nobody had, because they were guilty of carrying out the whole situation improperly – THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN TRANSGRESSORS OF THE LAW AS WELL.
(v. 11b) – Jesus didn’t condemn her, and told her to repent.
Condemn – to the sentence of stoning, but also damnation.
NOTE: He was NOT excusing her sin.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).
Sin no more – Jesus DID NOT EXCUSE HER SIN, RATHER, HE REPROVED HER, AND COMMANDED HER TO REPENT.
This account has little to do with proper and improper judgment, and more to do with Jesus convicting His accusers, AND THE WOMAN of their sins, so as to save them.

5. Jesus, and the Woman Caught in Adultery
Conclusion
The world turns to this passage to suggest nobody can judge at all.
The world also turns to this passage to make small of sin, and act as if Jesus is indifferent about it.
We must understand how to properly judge, what is improper judgment, and we must know what this account is about!
John 8:1-11