John 8:1-11
1But Jesus departed to the Mount of Olives. 2Then at dawn He came again to the Temple, and all the people were coming. And having sat down, He began teaching them.
3But the scribes and the Pharisees bring to Him a woman having been caught in adultery. And having set her in the middle, 4they say to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act-committing adultery! 5Now in the Law, Moses commanded us that such be stoned. (cp. Lev 20: 10; Deut 22: 22-24) Therefore, You, what do You say?” 6But this they said, testing Him, so that they should be having to accuse Him. But Jesus, having stooped down, began writing into the ground with His finger, not taking notice.
7But when they continued asking Him, having straightened Himself back up, He said to them, “The sinless, let him first cast the stone at her.” 8And again having stooped down, He was writing into the ground. 9But they having heard, and by the conscience being convicted, began going out one by one, having begun from the older. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman being in the midst.
10Now Jesus having straightened Himself back up and having seen no one but the woman, said to her, “Where are those accusers of yours? Did no one condemn you?” 11And she said, “No one, Lord.” So Jesus said, “Neither do I judge you. Be going, and no longer be sinning.”
Good Day Child Of God! "Father? Your Will Be Done!" I am not sure how many of you have heard that there is great disagreement among Theologians as to whether the words above were part of Jesus' Life or made up by someone who thought the act of adultery should be included in Jesus' teaching.
Factually no one knows for certain. The confusion comes from the placement of this scene in John's Gospel, and the way Jesus let things go the way He did. It seems to come out of nowhere, plus Jesus doesn't judge her, there is no lecture, nor condemnation, just loving advice to allow her to live a life that God would like to see her live. That doesn't fit the Law as written in the Old Testament. In fact the whole story doesn't fit the Law as prescribed. Let's see if it does fit the Gospel that Jesus preaches and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.
Today's easy lesson: What once meant little to anyone that attended a school of higher learning in Bible and Theology, because they didn't understand the words, we are Blessed to be given an insight as to what is going on above. In reality, this is one of the most interesting sections of Scripture you will find anywhere in the Bible. To make it simple, we must know the background of the Law that is referenced in the Scripture above. Here is a brief look at what is said:
Lev 20:10 "If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife-with the wife of his neighbor-both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death. (This continues on for Nine more verses that spell out variations of the sin of adultery, including with animals)
Deut 22:22-24 If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her, you shall take both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death-the young woman because she was in a town and did not scream for help, and the man because he violated another man’s wife. You must purge the evil from among you.
Now that we have a bit of the background of the Law of Moses, what is obvious that is missing from the Scripture in our reading above? The woman is there, but what of the man, where is he? I have listened to many sermons on this section of Scripture concerning that which Jesus is writing in the sand, and there have been many good guesses. That's all they can be is guesses because it is not revealed as to what Jesus is writing. Yet from the oldest to the youngest, the accusers begin to leave. Why? My sense is that the older knew better than any of them what was happening in this "testing" of Jesus, and that if the story had any truth to it, the man would have been there too. The adulterer was not there because this was a test, not a reality, and as to what Jesus wrote in the sand; "Do not test the Lord your God." The oldest knew immediately what the Law said he was likely the most learned, and left first, and as the group eldest left the next and next followed because they had caught themselves in an untruth. Did you notice that Jesus did not take the woman to task? All He did was tell her to go and sin no more, a common phrase He used after healing and speaking to people that would come to Him for matters with various issues.
How does this help you in your daily walk with your Father? We have spoken many times not to rush through the Bible. If you do, you miss wonderful teaching as we have discovered in the few words above. The Bible gives us the Law of God and of Moses in the Old Testament, not to condemn, but to guide, to show a way to a better, wholesome, caring and loving life. It was given to begin to show those that were not Israelites that the One True God's followers were gentle people of kindness and caring, not a people like most in the world that only considered gods as those that would help them in time of need, blessing their battles, providing proper rain, places to prosper, and keeping their enemies from their gates. In other words the gods, when pleased, gave their followers the good life here on earth. Israel's God was a God of Love. A God of discipline that never stopped providing for His people regardless of their situation. He gave them the Law, which seem harsh considering the punishment for the sins against that List. Keep in mind the 400 years the Israelites were in Egypt. That was a place where they grew strong as a nation, but knew little of the God of Abraham. They would learn in time, but time seemed to work against God's plan rather than for it. He worked around that problem and as He did, other problems came up. Yet the Father didn't give up, He continues to provide; the Truth, the Grace, and the Love. Agape' Love, never leaving His Children nor forsaking them, that is never taking His eyes off of them. As for we modern day Christians, we need to be thankful at all times especially for having a chance to enter into God's favor. The Israelites stumbled through misunderstanding their Father, so to make the Israelites jealous, the Gentiles are free to seek and find the way to Life Everlasting. The good life is in obeying the intent of the Law, not to find punishment from breaking its technicalities, but learning from seeing what goodness it represents. That makes the Law good, but the Law cannot save anyone. It is not there for that reason. Jesus' completed works give us reasons to get to know and honor our Father, because His completed works do save us from the separation from the Father because of sin, and unless the Holy Spirit indwells us, we do not gain Eternal Life. Don't forget, our privilege could end at anytime. Please take the time to talk to your Abba, Daddy, Father, soon and very soon! He will teach you, calm you, love you, and more. Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
1But Jesus departed to the Mount of Olives. 2Then at dawn He came again to the Temple, and all the people were coming. And having sat down, He began teaching them.
3But the scribes and the Pharisees bring to Him a woman having been caught in adultery. And having set her in the middle, 4they say to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act-committing adultery! 5Now in the Law, Moses commanded us that such be stoned. (cp. Lev 20: 10; Deut 22: 22-24) Therefore, You, what do You say?” 6But this they said, testing Him, so that they should be having to accuse Him. But Jesus, having stooped down, began writing into the ground with His finger, not taking notice.
7But when they continued asking Him, having straightened Himself back up, He said to them, “The sinless, let him first cast the stone at her.” 8And again having stooped down, He was writing into the ground. 9But they having heard, and by the conscience being convicted, began going out one by one, having begun from the older. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman being in the midst.
10Now Jesus having straightened Himself back up and having seen no one but the woman, said to her, “Where are those accusers of yours? Did no one condemn you?” 11And she said, “No one, Lord.” So Jesus said, “Neither do I judge you. Be going, and no longer be sinning.”
Good Day Child Of God! "Father? Your Will Be Done!" I am not sure how many of you have heard that there is great disagreement among Theologians as to whether the words above were part of Jesus' Life or made up by someone who thought the act of adultery should be included in Jesus' teaching.
Factually no one knows for certain. The confusion comes from the placement of this scene in John's Gospel, and the way Jesus let things go the way He did. It seems to come out of nowhere, plus Jesus doesn't judge her, there is no lecture, nor condemnation, just loving advice to allow her to live a life that God would like to see her live. That doesn't fit the Law as written in the Old Testament. In fact the whole story doesn't fit the Law as prescribed. Let's see if it does fit the Gospel that Jesus preaches and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.
Today's easy lesson: What once meant little to anyone that attended a school of higher learning in Bible and Theology, because they didn't understand the words, we are Blessed to be given an insight as to what is going on above. In reality, this is one of the most interesting sections of Scripture you will find anywhere in the Bible. To make it simple, we must know the background of the Law that is referenced in the Scripture above. Here is a brief look at what is said:
Lev 20:10 "If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife-with the wife of his neighbor-both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death. (This continues on for Nine more verses that spell out variations of the sin of adultery, including with animals)
Deut 22:22-24 If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her, you shall take both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death-the young woman because she was in a town and did not scream for help, and the man because he violated another man’s wife. You must purge the evil from among you.
Now that we have a bit of the background of the Law of Moses, what is obvious that is missing from the Scripture in our reading above? The woman is there, but what of the man, where is he? I have listened to many sermons on this section of Scripture concerning that which Jesus is writing in the sand, and there have been many good guesses. That's all they can be is guesses because it is not revealed as to what Jesus is writing. Yet from the oldest to the youngest, the accusers begin to leave. Why? My sense is that the older knew better than any of them what was happening in this "testing" of Jesus, and that if the story had any truth to it, the man would have been there too. The adulterer was not there because this was a test, not a reality, and as to what Jesus wrote in the sand; "Do not test the Lord your God." The oldest knew immediately what the Law said he was likely the most learned, and left first, and as the group eldest left the next and next followed because they had caught themselves in an untruth. Did you notice that Jesus did not take the woman to task? All He did was tell her to go and sin no more, a common phrase He used after healing and speaking to people that would come to Him for matters with various issues.
How does this help you in your daily walk with your Father? We have spoken many times not to rush through the Bible. If you do, you miss wonderful teaching as we have discovered in the few words above. The Bible gives us the Law of God and of Moses in the Old Testament, not to condemn, but to guide, to show a way to a better, wholesome, caring and loving life. It was given to begin to show those that were not Israelites that the One True God's followers were gentle people of kindness and caring, not a people like most in the world that only considered gods as those that would help them in time of need, blessing their battles, providing proper rain, places to prosper, and keeping their enemies from their gates. In other words the gods, when pleased, gave their followers the good life here on earth. Israel's God was a God of Love. A God of discipline that never stopped providing for His people regardless of their situation. He gave them the Law, which seem harsh considering the punishment for the sins against that List. Keep in mind the 400 years the Israelites were in Egypt. That was a place where they grew strong as a nation, but knew little of the God of Abraham. They would learn in time, but time seemed to work against God's plan rather than for it. He worked around that problem and as He did, other problems came up. Yet the Father didn't give up, He continues to provide; the Truth, the Grace, and the Love. Agape' Love, never leaving His Children nor forsaking them, that is never taking His eyes off of them. As for we modern day Christians, we need to be thankful at all times especially for having a chance to enter into God's favor. The Israelites stumbled through misunderstanding their Father, so to make the Israelites jealous, the Gentiles are free to seek and find the way to Life Everlasting. The good life is in obeying the intent of the Law, not to find punishment from breaking its technicalities, but learning from seeing what goodness it represents. That makes the Law good, but the Law cannot save anyone. It is not there for that reason. Jesus' completed works give us reasons to get to know and honor our Father, because His completed works do save us from the separation from the Father because of sin, and unless the Holy Spirit indwells us, we do not gain Eternal Life. Don't forget, our privilege could end at anytime. Please take the time to talk to your Abba, Daddy, Father, soon and very soon! He will teach you, calm you, love you, and more. Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
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