John 8:1-3 (WEL) But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At daybreak, he arrived again in the temple, and all the people came to him. Then he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to him who had been caught in adultery. After they had put her front and center,
Chapter summary:
Joseph Benson:
Here,
(1) Christ having spent the night in retirement returns to the temple, where an adulteress is brought before him; but he avoids giving judgment in her case, and turns the consciences of his enemies on themselves, John 8:1-11.
(2) He speaks of himself as the light of the world, urges the concurrent testimony of the Father, and gives the Jews repeated warning of the danger they would incur by persisting in their infidelity, John 8:12-29.
(3) He continues his discourse with the Jews in the treasury the day after the feast of tabernacles; and labors to convince them how vain their presences to liberty, and to the privileges of the children of Abraham were, while they continued to reject him, and were the servants of sin, John 8:30-47.
(4) He promises immortality to his followers; and, speaking of his own existence as prior to that of Abraham, the Jews in the temple attempt to stone him, but he miraculously escapes from their hands, John 8:48-59.
John 7:53 Then each one went to his own home.
This obviously is needed to understand John 8:1.
V1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
This lies a short distance east of Jerusalem. This is where Jesus returns to deliver Israel at the end of the Tribulation. See Zechariah 14.
V2 At daybreak, he arrived again in the temple, and all the people came to him. Then he sat down and taught them.
Jesus started early. He came to the Temple on Mt. Zion. Lots of people flocked to Him. Jesus then sat down and started teaching. Note the emphasis on teaching.
Principle: Teaching was a very important part of Jesus’s ministry, so it should be for church leaders, fathers (and mothers), and indeed all believers.
V3 The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to him who had been caught in adultery. After they had put her front and center,
How did they catch her? Many understand, as I do, that she was groomed and set up for this situation. She is guilty, but where is the man? Mosaic law demanded both to be tried and if found guilty to be punished.
Leviticus 20:10 (EHV) If a man commits adultery with the wife of another man, if he commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress must certainly be put to death.
Another point brought by others is that these lovers of evil are tempting Jesus not only to see if He would judge her, but what set of laws. Would it be Roman law or Mosaic Law? Roman law had a less severe punishment, while Mosaic law stated that both the man and woman must be put to death. If Jesus chose Roman Law, these evil Jews would accuse Him of violating Mosaic Law and calling Him an imposter. If Jesus chose Mosaic law, they would accuse Him of breaking Roman law and report Him to the governor.
The bottom line is that they have an evil intellect and motive. They hated Jesus for no Scriptural reason and wanted to kill Him. Their solution to a serious problem of authority was to kill anyone who opposed them.
We learn:
- The importance of teaching God’s ways.
- The importance, superiority, of Jesus’s teaching.
Questions:
- Whom are you teaching?
- Do you know the Bible’s teachings? If not, start reading and studying the Bible, not a book about the Bible.