I do not condemn you either

John Farley
Pastor Teacher
Sunday,
January 23, 2022

“I do not condemn you either.”

JOH 7:53-8:11

This beautiful story displays the tender mercies of our Lord.

He has authority to forgive sins, authority that is reserved for God alone.

It’s unsettling.
What is going on here?

Was this passage in the original Greek text of the gospel of John?

Does it belong in the Bible?

Did this event actually occur?

1. The event definitely occurred. It bears all the markings of authenticity.

2. The passage itself is reliable, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

3. It belongs in the gospel writings.

4. It has much in common with material in the gospel of Luke.

5. Most of the manuscripts that include the passage place it in John 8.

2TI 3:16-17

JOH 8:1-2

Verses 1 & 2 are strikingly similar to a passage in Luke:

LUK 21:37-38

Jesus often stayed on the Mount of Olives at night when He was teaching in Jerusalem.

JOH 8:3-5

The scribes were scholars; the Pharisees were a sect. Both were zealous for the Law.

Adultery requires two people. Yet the zealots only brought the female.

LEV 20:10

The Law puts the blame primarily upon the man, not the woman.

They caught her in the very act of adultery. So they had the man dead to rights too.

JOH 8:6

They tried to trap Him so that they might accuse Him of flouting the Law of Moses.

He had already healed on the Sabbath and made Himself equal with God.

He offended their moral sensibilities by hanging with sinners and tax collectors.

LUK 5:29-32
LUK 15:1-2

He either had to treat this woman harshly, or ignore what the Law clearly stated.

JOH 8:6-8

One thing was for sure: He completely ignored both them and their question.

This time He spoke.
It was not what they had hoped to hear from Him.

How dare they judge and condemn her without mercy, and ignore their own sin!

LUK 6:36-38

He was giving them time to reconsider their actions and change their hearts.

JOH 8:9

The oldest were the most ashamed of themselves - and with good reason.

JOH 8:10-11

He chose to be merciful to her. He had forgiven her of her sins.

LUK 5:20-25

He hopes that she will be full of gratitude, and freely desire to obey God.