BIBLICAL BRIEFS 73
The woman referred to in Joh. 8 was caught in the act of adultery, and according to Jewish law had to be stoned to death (Lev. 20:10). The Pharisees pointed out her transgression of the law and then asked Jesus what He thought should be done. Jesus reacted in a strange manner – He did not answer, but bended down and wrote with his finger in the sand. They asked Him again, whereupon He said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (verse 7). Jesus demonstrated an exceptional spirit of wisdom in this case. He did not at all say that they should nót obey the law – in fact, he actually encouraged it. In a prior teaching He made it exceptionally practical: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” (Matt. 7: 1-2). This indicated that in the new dispensation to come the Old Testament law would be handled in a completely different way and interpretative manner. Later, in Matt. 23: 25-28, He would in no uncertain terms distinguish between the external law and the inner law, those laws that Paul later on called “the law of sin and death” which opposes “the law of the spirit of life “(Rom. 8: 2). The fact that Jesus bended down for a second time to again write on the ground, accentuated that this act clearly had symbolic significance. The scribes immediately grasped it referred to the passage in Jeremiah’s scroll: “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water.” (Jer. 17: 13). The woman caught in the act of adultery became a prototype of the new grace covenant that God wanted to demonstrate in Jesus. The Pharisees were ashamed and walked away one by one. Then Jesus confirmed the acquittal of the woman: “Did no one condemn you? I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” (verses 10 and 11). This happening has major implications for the understanding and use of the Law in the New Covenant.
Dr Tom Gouws
