A Woman Caught in Adultery – John 8:1-11

Is adultery more shameful for women than for men?

Bible Reading

John 8:1-11

1  But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2  Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.

3  Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst,

4  they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.

5  “Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”

6  This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

7  So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”

8  And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9  Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10  When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

11  She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

(NKJ)

 

Food for Thought

1.   What sins do most people think they are incapable of committing?

2.   What activities or behaviour do you consider to be immoral?

3.   What do you think is the biggest challenge to marriages today?

 

Bible Study

4.   What did Jesus do in the temple courts? (8:2)

5.   Whom did the Pharisees bring before Jesus? (8:3-4)

6.   What did the Law of Moses say should happen to the woman caught in adultery? (8:5)

7.   Why did the Pharisees bring the woman before Jesus? (8:6)

8.   How did Jesus answer the Pharisees’ question? (8:6-8)

9. Why did Jesus issue a challenge to the Pharisees? (8:7)

10. How did the Pharisees respond to Jesus’ challenge? (8:9)

11. What did Jesus ask the woman? (8:10)

12. What did Jesus tell the woman to do? (8:11)

 

Kingdom Dynamics

13. Is the humiliation of this woman justifiable?

14. Why do you think the accusers of this woman did not bring the man also caught with her in adultery?

15. Is adultery more shameful for women than for men?

16. Why do you think Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground?

17. Why did the accusers slip away?

18. Which sins do we tend to categorize as “big” sins that are worse than others?

19. Why do we rush to point out other people’s sins?

20. Which sins do you think God classifies as “big” sins?

21. How should we treat people who have fallen into one of the so-called “big” sins?

22. When did you come to truly believe that Jesus values you as a person?          

23. About what do you tend to be self-righteous?

24. What should we do when we have sinned?

25. How can we make sure we don’t continue in sin?

26. How could the way Jesus related to this woman help you face the sins you struggle with?

 

Practical Christianity

27. How can you challenge a friend or family member caught in sin to sin no more?

28. Away from what bad habit or tendency do you need to take the first step today?

29. What self-righteous attitude will you ask God to change in your prayers this week?