Today we heard the story of the woman the Pharisees and the Scribes brought before Jesus to accused her of adultery. They said she was caught in flagranti, in the very act of committing adultery. The poor lady was made to stand in the middle of the crowd.
The writer of the gospel, John, made us to understand that the Pharisees action was a set up. It was a trap, since these religious leaders have been looking for a chance to accuse Jesus and then arrest him.
The Pharisees told Jesus that the woman violated the Mosaic Law and should be stoned to death according to the Law of Moses. They asked for Jesus opinion.
What actually was in the Law of Moses? The Scribes and Pharisees claim that Moses commanded stoning. “Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning.”
In fact, stoning was the method of execution prescribed for both parties only when a man has intercourse with a betrothed woman (Deuteronomy 22: 23-24).
No particular method of execution is mandated when it is a case of adultery with a married woman.
The Torah is very specific about the penalty for adultery: In the book of Leviticus, chapter 20: 10, we read: “The man who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife will be put to death, he and the woman.”
The book of Deuteronomy, chapter 22: 22, states: “If a man is caught having sexual intercourse with another man’s wife, both must be put to death: the man who has slept with her and the woman herself. You must banish this evil from Israel.”
The Law mandates that both the man and the women are condemned to death, but only the woman is brought before Jesus. Why? Where is the man? Why was the man not brought with her?
We are made to understand that the Scribes and the Pharisees were not interested in either the fate of the woman or the injured husband, who is never mentioned. Rather, their trap was designed to land Jesus in trouble whichever way he responds to their question.
We are told that Jesus says nothing, then he bends down and starts writing on the ground with his finger. Jesus then says to the Scribes and Pharisees, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” This was what was commanded by the Book of Deuteronomy. The Book of Deuteronomy 17:7 states, “The witnesses’ hands shall strike the first blow in putting the condemned to death, the rest of the people following.”
With this question, one by one, they leave, beginning with the eldest, even the crowd. Alone with the woman, Jesus addresses her for the first time, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replies, “No one, sir,”
Jesus then says “Neither do I condemn you. Go on your way, and from now on sin no more.” When Jesus tells the woman to go and sin no more, he implies that she is indeed guilty of adultery. But Jesus has a better way of dealing with sin than condemnation and punishment. He doesn’t condone her sin, but rather sees it as a plight from which people need to be set free. So, this is a story of grace and mercy.
“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
This is just what He offered to this poor woman and he will not hesitate to offer the same to you and I.
Have a wonderful week!
