![]() The remark about sinlessness is interesting, but not entirely clear. In blunt terms, Jesus is saying: "If you're going to appeal to the law, then go ahead and follow it!" When He finally speaks, Jesus points out one of the areas where His critics are themselves falling short of the law: accusers are supposed to be the ones to begin the execution process (Deuteronomy 17:7). We cannot be sure, but we can be sure of how the crowd reacts. Perhaps He wrote relevant Old Testament verses, or the names and sins of some of those present. His writing in the dirt is mentioned twice in this passage, suggesting that whatever He wrote was a deliberate part of His response. ![]() Jesus seems to be stuck between angering Rome and alienating His followers, and overtly defying the very Scriptures He has preached.Īs always, though, Jesus' response cuts through the trap. However, Roman law prohibits Jewish leaders from using the death penalty (John 18:31), and Jesus is known to be a "friend of sinners" (Mathew 11:19). The law does call for death for adulterers (Leviticus 20:10 Deuteronomy 22:22). The trap laid by the Pharisees seems to present Jesus with a dilemma. In the meantime, the men will press the issue, repeatedly asking Jesus what He plans to do about this woman caught in sin. And, once He has offered His simple, direct counter-challenge, He will go back to writing in the dirt. Here, however, Jesus begins by writing on the ground (John 8:6). In most of those instances, Jesus seems to act or speak immediately in response. Jesus' critics were constantly trying to trick Him into making some kind of mistake (Matthew 16:1 19:3 Matthew 22:35 Luke 10:25 11:54). Jesus' reaction in the prior verse is unusual. John 8:7, CSB: When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, "The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8:7, NLT: They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, 'All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!' John 8:7, NASB: When they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.' ![]() ![]() John 8:7, KJV: So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. John 8:7, ESV: And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7 Parallel Verses John 8:7, NIV: When 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 at her.' ![]()
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