And everyone went to his own house. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. [Leviticus 20:10] But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. (John 7:53-8:1-6)
It takes two to commit adultery, but the Pharisees only bring the woman. They also misquote the law, which states, ‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.' (Leviticus 20:10) Why does God require such harsh penalties for disobeying His commandments? From the very beginning, God told man and woman that if we disobeyed Him, the penalty would be death. (Genesis 2:15-17) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23) But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (John 8:7-9)
When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:10-11) The love of God! 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) Not only does this woman's accusers leave her alone, but Jesus doesn't even mention her sin either. However, He does say something to her that each of us needs to heed: Go and sin no more! People like to talk about the love of God, but they don't like to acknowledge the holiness of God. God forgives, but He still requires us to obey His commandments. Come as we are, but we're supposed to leave changed. If we're going to a church or listening to a teaching that allows us to feel content continuing in our sin, we are under false teaching. Jesus doesn't condemn us, but the Holy Spirit in us does convict us, and He will always tell us just like He told this woman, go and sin no more!
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. (John 8:12-16) Remember, Jesus taught "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24) This was not the time for Jesus to judge, but to teach and eventually die for our sins. But after His resurrection and ascension, on The Lord's Day, He will return and everyone will be ... judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. ...each one according to his works. (Revelations 20:12-13)
It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. [Deuteronomy 19:15-21] I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.” These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come. (John 8:17-20) The Pharisees continue to do this same song-and-dance with Jesus every time. Jesus tells them Who He is, and they dispute Him, even though He fulfills everything God prophesied regarding the coming Messiah. If no one else, they should have been another witness that He was Who He professed to be, based on their knowledge of the scriptures. But, when people don't want to believe something, no matter how much evidence proves it to be true, they will justify not believing, even if their reasoning makes absolutely no sense.
This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word [John 1:1-5, 14-17; 5:39], and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (I John 5:6-13)
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