John 8:1-5

 

John 8:1 (KJB)

Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

 

The Mount of Olives was a place on the road between Jerusalem and Bethany. It is located in east Jerusalem about 1 to 2 miles from the center of the city. Jesus had spent much time on the Mount of Olives especially as a place of refuge, rest, and prayer.

 

John 8:2 (KJB)

And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

 

In the Middle East it was customary for the people to attend the temple services early in the morning. Since many had traveled great distances they took advantage of the opportunity to go to the Temple and hear some teaching. For many, to stay over the time of the feast, would cost them dearly in the area of finances as they would not be working and not collecting pay. The people had made up caravans and went from their homes to Jerusalem, just as the brothers of Jesus did when they attended the feast on a caravan. Even though Jesus had faced the hostility of the leaders, this did not stop Him from coming to the Temple again and to teach. This festival was different because all the people who attended were able to witness the Messiah in person, the one whom they read about in the Scriptures since they were children.

 

John 8:3 (KJB)

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

 

This was definitely a set up to see what Jesus would do. Here He is in the middle of teaching and all of a sudden someone comes up the aisle with a woman caught in adultery. This is definitely a set up because they had courts to adjudicate such matters. It would be like sitting in your church during the sermon and then someone bringing a person up the middle aisle accused of some sin. This was nothing more than a charade because under the law both the male and female were to be brought up on the charges. (Lev 20:10 KJV) And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. The problem here is that only the woman was brought to face the charges.

 

John 8:4 (KJB)

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

 

Master - Teacher

 

They had attributed to Jesus the title of teacher or master and this was a little bit hypocritical because they did not accept the teachings of Jesus. This was a part of their ploy that they get people to recognize Jesus as a teacher and then with this situation they would have the ammunition to accuse Him of teaching what is against the law. There is no doubt that the woman was guilty and probably the reason they did not bring the man was because he was part of their plot to entrap Jesus.

 

John 8:5 (KJB)

Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

 

Isn’t it interesting that now all of a sudden they know the law but previously they stated that no prophets came from Galilee when that was untrue. According to the law adulterers and adulteresses were to be stoned to death and that was true. (Deu 22:22-24 KJV) If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. {23} If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; {24} Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. They now stated what the law said and then they tried to trick Jesus and asked, “but what sayest thou?” They were hoping that Jesus would contradict the law and then they knew they had Him on the charges of teaching against the law of Moses.

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