Killing Time

Read John 7:53 to 8:11

1) Some recent Bible versions do not believe this passage is part of the “inspired” Gospel of John. One of the reasons scholars give for this belief is that they think the story represents an interruption to the flow of the Gospel. Examine 8:2 and 8:12. How would you address this belief?

2) While the rest of the crowd went home to their own houses for the night, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. What is the significance of this particular place?

3) One common thread running through chapters 5, 6, 7, and now chapter 8 is the relationship between Jesus and the Law of Moses. Describe this relationship from the perspective of the scribes and Pharisees (See John 5:16-18, 7:45-52). From Jesus’ perspective (John 5:45-47, 6:21-24, Matthew 5:17-20).

4) Look up Leviticus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22-24. What does the Law of Moses require as the penalty for adultery? Under what specific circumstance is stoning prescribed as the penalty?

5) Considering the stringent requirements of the Law – at least two witnesses would have had to observe the act in such a way that there would be no mistake about what was happening – how did these men manage to catch the woman in the very act?

6) If the woman was caught “in the very act”, what may have been her actual state, both physically and emotionally, as she is brought before Jesus?

7) What requirement of the law have the Pharisees not observed in this incident? Why not?

8 ) What is the goal of the scribes and Pharisees in this incident? How would you characterize their use of the woman and the law in order to accomplish this goal?

9) A common logical fallacy, or error, is to present only two options when, in reality, there may be more than two possible solutions or answers. What are the two options that the Pharisees assume that Jesus is forced to choose between?

10) What gives them their boldness in carrying out this confrontation in such a public manner? (see Luke 5:27-32, Luke 7:36-50, John 8:41)

11) This is not the only incident in which the Pharisees attempted to trap Jesus by presenting such a dilemma to him. Look up the following scriptures and describe the trap the Pharisees set for Jesus, and Jesus’ response.

a) Matthew 19:3-9

b) Matthew 22:15-22

c) Matthew 22:23-33

d) Matthew 22:34-40

12) Jesus occasionally puts the shoe on the other foot and presents a similar dilemma to the Pharisees. Describe the dilemma Jesus presents to them in the following scriptures and their response.

a) Matthew 21:25-27

b) Matthew 22:41-46

13) There are several speculations about what Jesus might have written on the ground, but what is the immediate effect of his action? (John 8:7)

14) The Pharisees were hoping to trap Jesus into publicly setting aside the Law of Moses. Rather than pleading for mercy or setting aside the law or diminishing it’s role in this situation (Matthew 5:17-18), what did Jesus do instead?

15) Look up Deuteronomy 17:6-7 and 19:15-21. What were the practical effects of these two requirements concerning witnesses?

16) Based on the response of the Pharisees in verse 9, what can be said about their guilt or innocence in this matter? (See Romans 2:1-3, 17-29)

17) According to Matthew 7:1-5, what is the attitude we should take when it comes to dealing with the sins of others? (See also Galatians 6:1)

18) Because no one is willing to step forward as a witness, the woman is free. Some say, based on this passage, that Jesus is “soft” on sin. In fact, Augustine records that some people had removed this passage from some copies of the scriptures in order not to give that impression. What is Jesus’ actual view of the woman’s sin?

19) The Pharisees made the fatal error of thinking that the Law was the means for obtaining righteousness. According to Romans 3:9-28, what does the Law actually accomplish (v.19)? What does Jesus bring to our situation that the Law cannot? (see John 1:17)