NIV Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 40
J ohn 7 : 5 2
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page 1816
52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet
does not come out of Galilee.” g
7:52
gver 41
[The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53 — 8:11.
A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36,
John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53.]
8
Jesus Forgives an Adulterous Woman (
53 Then
they all went home, 1but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. h
125 )
2 At dawn he appeared a
gain in the temple courts, w
here all the people gathered a
round
him, and he sat down to teach them. i 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a
woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher,
this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such
women. j Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, k in order to have a
basis for accusing him. l
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on
questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be
the first to throw a stone m at her.” n 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus
sked her, “Woman,
was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and a
where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” o Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” p
Jesus Is the Light of the World (126 )
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am q the l ight of the w
orld. r Who
ever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” s
13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your
testimony is not valid.” t
8:3-11 Imagine the complete humiliation of being in this woman’s place.
She stood alone in public, surrounded by angry accusers. They laid bare
her terrible sin for all to see. The man caught with her was nowhere to
be seen. Jesus rescued her from sin, shame, indignity, and death. Jesus
knows your worst sins, yet he offers you compassion and mercy. Let his
mercy give you courage to face your guilt. His love will overcome your
shame. Don’t deny it or despair. Be sorry for your sins, seek the Lord, and
receive his forgiveness.
8:3-6 The Jewish leaders had already disregarded the law by arresting
the woman without the man. The law required that both parties to adultery
be stoned (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22). The leaders were using
the woman as a trap so they could trick Jesus. If Jesus said the woman
should not be stoned, they would accuse him of violating Moses’ law.
If he urged them to execute her, they would report him to the Romans,
who did not permit the Jews to carry out their own executions (John
18:31). We don’t know what Jesus wrote in the dust, but some interpreters
have speculated that it could have been a list of sins committed by the
accusers, or perhaps the Ten Commandments.
8:7 This is a significant statement about compassion and judging others.
Because Jesus upheld the legal penalty for adultery, stoning, he could
not be accused of being against the law. But by saying that only a sinless person could throw the first stone, he highlighted the importance
of mercy and forgiveness. When others are caught in sin, are you quick
to pass judgment? To do so is to act as though you have never sinned.
It is God’s role to judge, not ours. Our role is to first show forgiveness
and compassion.
8:9 When Jesus said that only someone who had not sinned should
throw the first stone, the leaders slipped quietly away, from oldest to
youngest. Possibly the older men were more aware of their sins than the
younger. Age and experience often temper youthful s elf-righteousness.
8:1
hMt
21:1
8:2
iver 20; Mt 26:55
8:5
jLev
8:6
kMt
lMt
20:10; Dt 22:22
22:15,18
12:10
8:7
mDt 17:7
nRo 2:1,22
8:11
oJn 3:17
pJn 5:14
8:12
qJn 6:35
rJn 1:4; 12:35
sPr 4:18; Mt 5:14
8:13
5:31
tJn
But whatever your age, take an honest look at your life. When you recognize your sinful nature, you will be better equipped to extend mercy
to others who are struggling with sin in their lives. You can also look for
ways to help them rather than hurt them.
8:11 Jesus didn’t condemn the woman accused of adultery, but neither
did he ignore or condone her sin. He told her to leave her life of sin. Jesus
stands ready to forgive any sin in your life, but confession and repentance
mean a change of heart. With God’s help we can accept Jesus’ forgiveness
and stop our wrongdoing.
8:12 To understand what Jesus meant by “the light of the world,” see
the notes on 1:4 and 1:5.
8:12 Jesus was speaking in the treasury—the part of the temple where
the offerings would be given (8:20) and where candles burned to symbolize the pillar of fire that had led the people of Israel through the wilderness
(Exodus 13:21-22). In this context, Jesus called himself the Light of the
World. The pillar of fire represented God’s presence, protection, and
guidance. Likewise, Jesus brings God’s presence, protection, and guidance. Is he the light of your world?
8:12 What does it mean to follow Jesus? As a soldier follows his captain,
we should follow Jesus, our commander. As a slave follows his master,
we should follow Jesus, our Lord. As we follow the advice of a trusted
counselor, we should follow Jesus’ commands to us in Scripture. As we
follow national laws, we should follow the laws of the kingdom of heaven.
8:13-18 The Pharisees argued that Jesus’ claim was legally invalid
because he had no other witnesses. Jesus responded that his confirming
witness was God himself. Jesus and the Father made two witnesses, the
number required by the law (Deuteronomy 19:15).
8:13-14 The Pharisees thought Jesus was either a lunatic or a liar.
Jesus provided them with a third alternative: He was telling the truth.