The Woman Caught in Adultery

Jim ButlerJohn 8:1–11

John 8:1–11 presents the Pharisees placing Christ on the horns of a dilemma: uphold the law of Moses and condemn the woman caught in adultery, or show compassion and be exposed as an antinomian. This sermon works through the passage in two movements — the woman brought to Christ (vv. 1–6) and the woman forgiven by Christ (vv. 7–11) — demonstrating that Jesus resolves the dilemma not by choosing one horn but by upholding both simultaneously. He appeals to the Mosaic witness laws of Deuteronomy 17 and 19 to silence the hypocritical accusers, then pronounces forgiveness, illustrating that the gospel pattern is 'get and do' rather than 'do and get.' The passage stands as a vivid display of Christ as both the holy lawgiver who writes with his finger and the friend of sinners who bids the thirsty come and drink.