My sermon preached on 10/14/07

Note: I am sure I did not think up this stuff on my own. I “borrowed” it from some source–I think from Barkley on The Gospel of John.

2nd Sermon On The Woman Taken In Adultery (I had to bogg down here for a while!)

This account occurs:
 Only in one (1) Uncial (4th-6th centuries)
 Six (6) omit it
 Two (2) leave a blank space
 No Syriac version
 No Coptic version
 No early Fathers

 Jerome (4th cent.) included it in the Vulgate
 Augustine & Ambrose comment on it.
 Augustine says it was removed because “some were of slight faith” and “to avoid scandal.”
 The Apostolic Constitution (3rd. cent.) quotes it as a warning to too-strict Bishops.
 Papias (c. 100) alludes to it
 Some manuscripts put it at the end of John.

My point–A lot of Christians whould like to deny that this event occured. Think of the implications!

The dilemma: “The Scribes and Pharisees thought to inescapably impale Him on the horns of a dilemma.”
1. Should He let her go?
 Against the O.T. law
 Seem to condone adultery
2. Should He condemn her?
 Against the Roman law
 Go against His teaching on mercy

Jesus stooped & wrote on the ground. Why?
 Maybe He needed time to think/pray
 Force then to repeat, thus hear their own words
 Sense of shame at the scene
 Writing down their sins (katagraphein)

1. The Attitude of the Scribes & Pharisees
A. Attitude about authority
Critical, Censoring, Condemnatory
(Illustration: George Whitfield: “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”)

B. Attitude about people
Not persons, but instruments/tools (Probably did not even know her name)

2. The Attitude of Jesus
A. Attitude about Judgment
 The qualification for judging is not knowledge, but perfection.
 The first emotion toward sinners must be pity/love. [they looked at sin, He at sinner]

B. Attitude about the woman
 Give her a chance “go”
 Give her a challenge “sin no more”