Neither do I Cndemn You

The Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery to Jesus to test Him.

However, Jesus uses this to illuminate the heart of the gospel: divine mercy triumphing over legalistic judgment. Though the passage's textual authenticity has been debated due to its absence in some early manuscripts, it is authentic, and is necessity for the flow of John's Gospel and its exposition of Christ's grace.

In bringing this woman, the Pharisees violate the law in many ways. Jesus is not a priest or a Levite. The Romans reserved the right to decide all capital cases. Thus, Jesus has no jurisdiction to decide this case. The Pharisees did not bring the man. Leviticus 20:10 requires both the man and the woman to be stoned. The Pharisees did not bring the required two witnesses.

However, Jesus does not take any of these escape routes. Jesus has a much bigger purpose: to save the woman.

Facing the accusations of the Jews, Jesus stoops down to write on the ground to change the tone from a harsh judgment to one of compassion - Jesus, in effect, is saying: Be careful in your judgment. This matters.

When Jesus says, "Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone," the men leave one by one, beginning with the oldest. - Clearly the oldest see their own sin more clearly.

Woman, has no one condemned you? None Lord.

"Neither do I condemn you." This is the heart of the gospel. although we are caught in sin, yet God forgives through the atonement in Jesus' blood.

Throughout the church age, many have been uncomfortable with this story because they think it makes Jesus weak on the law. - No! This is the gospel. Jesus applies forgiveness because He can by the atonement in his death.