Teaching Team
Our Opponents Say…
The story of the woman caught in the act of adultery is a familiar one. In John 8:4 some of the scribes and Pharisees say “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the adultery, in the very act. Now in the Torah Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” The response of the Master is somewhat perplexing. A clearer understanding of the context should help us make sense of this passage.
Our opponents say: Jesus clearly violated the Torah. The Pharisees were clearly right in what the Torah said about the punishment for someone caught in adultery. However, Jesus shows disdain for the Torah’s rulings.
The defense of the gospel: The Master is not violating the Torah. He is actually using argumentation that was well known to the rabbis of that era. In the Sifre says commenting on Numbers 5:31: “Rabbi Akiva says “that ‘only when the man was free from iniquity’ the woman will ‘bear her iniquity.’” The context of Akiva’s remarks indicate that the bitter waters will only be administered to her when her accuser ( i.e. her husband) is of upright and moral character. Thus, the Master’s reply “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). See also John 8:6 for comments on the character of the woman’s accusers.
(Credit Brian R.)
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Visitor Feedback:
Is there any possibility that some of Yeshua's reasoning could be from knowing the hearts of the pharisee? Say, for example, in the days of Moshe a woman was to commit adultry they would, by law, stone her to death. It was justified and followed through. The Pharisee come to Yeshua to again try to trap him in a conflict. Instead of doing what was correct and administering the judgement they do evil and try to trap Yeshua. Do you think there is anything to that angle?
jay | August 2, 2007 12:19 PM
Just an observation as it relates to my studies in Judaism.
Many of the authors I have read acknowledge Jesus as an observant Jew. David Klinhoffer in Why the Jews Rejected Jesus even goes so far to say that if Paul had not come on the scene Christianity would have remained an obscure sect of Judaism.
Christianity gives the stigma of Jesus breaking the law. Judaism, in my readings, recognizes Paul as more of a problem. And at the same time, gives him credit for teaching the world about monotheism and introducing the world to the G~d of Israel.
Jason Philo | August 2, 2007 12:28 PM
I always found it interesting, and correct me if I am wrong, that both the man and the woman must be present, for both were to be stoned. In John, however, we do not see the man. Anybody know why this is? Or what signifigance it has? Thank you!
Petros | August 5, 2007 3:01 PM
Jesus asks where her witnesses are? If this is about bitterness, they why is the word witness used? Is it because there were not the required two or three witnesses. "Out of the mouth of two or more witnesses shall all things be established." Because the word witness is used, is there a reference to the fact that there were not 2 or more? Just wondering.
Shirley Pace | August 5, 2007 3:28 PM
The Greek of John 8:10 makes no mention of witnesses. The text literally says "Woman, where are they? No one comdemned you?" The entire text makes no mention of the requisite number of witnesses. However, we could possibly conclude that the Pharisees in the story are the witnesses. However, the text tells us that they brought the woman to the Master to test him and find fault with him. Thus their witness concerning the woman relates to the text from the Sifre mentioned above.
Brian | August 5, 2007 5:12 PM