John 8:1-11 – The Woman Caught in Adultery
Quick Summary
In John 8:1–11, religious leaders bring a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, attempting to trap him between mercy and the law of Moses. Jesus responds with wisdom, inviting whoever is without sin to cast the first stone. One by one, the accusers depart until only the woman remains. Jesus does not condemn her but calls her to leave her life of sin. This story reveals the heart of Jesus—full of truth, mercy, and grace.
Introduction
The account of the woman caught in adultery is one of the most beloved stories in the Gospel tradition. It shows Jesus’ compassion for sinners and his ability to turn a trap into a moment of grace. Yet it is also a controversial text. Some of the earliest manuscripts of John do not include this passage, and scholars have long debated whether it was part of the original Gospel.
Still, the story bears all the hallmarks of Jesus’ character: wisdom that silences opponents, compassion that restores dignity, and truth that calls for transformation. It has been preserved, read, and cherished by the church for centuries. In this study, we will look at the manuscript evidence and then walk verse by verse through the story to see what it teaches us about Jesus, sin, judgment, and mercy.
The Manuscript Evidence
Many of the oldest Greek manuscripts of the Gospel of John (such as Papyrus 66 and Papyrus 75) do not contain John 7:53–8:11. In some manuscripts, the story appears in different locations, such as after Luke 21:38. This suggests it may not have been part of John’s original Gospel but was a well-known story about Jesus that was later preserved within John’s text.
Church Fathers like Augustine noted its absence in some copies, but also defended its truth. Augustine even suggested that some scribes may have omitted it out of fear it would encourage adultery. Regardless of its textual history, the story has been embraced by the church because it so clearly reflects Jesus’ teaching and character. For pastoral study, we treat it as Scripture, recognizing its consistent presence in most Bibles and its alignment with the message of the Gospel.
John 8:1–2 – Jesus Teaches in the Temple
“While Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them.” (John 8:1–2)
Jesus spends the night on the Mount of Olives and then returns to the temple at dawn. Crowds gather, eager to hear him. Teaching in the temple courts was a public act, open to scrutiny, and it set the stage for confrontation with the religious leaders.
This quiet moment of teaching is interrupted by conflict, reminding us that following Jesus often means facing opposition in the most sacred places. The scene highlights the tension between genuine seekers of truth and those who want to silence him.
John 8:3–6 – The Trap is Set
“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him.” (John 8:3–6)
The leaders drag a woman into the temple courts, publicly shaming her. Their goal is not justice but trapping Jesus. If he dismisses the law, he will appear to reject Moses. If he upholds stoning, he will lose his reputation for compassion and risk conflict with Roman law, which restricted Jewish executions.
Notably, only the woman is brought forward. The man involved is absent, a sign of selective and unjust enforcement. The leaders use the woman as bait in their trap, treating her shame as a tool for theological argument.
This scene reflects the dangers of weaponizing the law. Instead of leading people to God, the law is twisted into a snare. Jesus is placed at the crossroads of justice and mercy, and all eyes turn to see how he will respond.
John 8:6–8 – Cast the First Stone
“Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground.” (John 8:6–8)
Jesus does not answer immediately. Instead, he stoops down and writes in the dust. The Gospel does not tell us what he wrote, leaving room for reflection. Some suggest he was listing the sins of the accusers, others that he was recalling Jeremiah 17:13, which says those who forsake God will be written in the dust.
His words cut to the heart: “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” He does not dismiss the law of Moses, but he shifts the focus to the accusers’ own hearts. True judgment requires righteousness, and none of them can claim it. In this moment, Jesus upholds both justice and mercy.
By bending down again, Jesus avoids escalating the conflict. He places the decision back on the accusers, who now must examine themselves.
John 8:9 – I Can’t Cast the First Stone
“When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.” (John 8:9)
Convicted by Jesus’ words, the accusers slip away. The elders leave first, perhaps because their longer lives carried more accumulated sin, or because they felt the weight of exposure. Eventually, only the woman remains.
This scene is powerful: one sinner stands before the only sinless one. The crowd, once ready to condemn, has melted away. Jesus and the woman are left in a quiet moment of truth and grace.
John 8:10–11 – Neither Do I Condemn You
“Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’” (John 8:10–11)
Jesus does not deny her guilt—she was caught in the act. But he refuses to condemn her. His words echo his mission described earlier in the Gospel: “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17).
At the same time, Jesus does not excuse sin. He calls her to leave her old life behind. Grace and truth meet here perfectly: mercy extended, holiness upheld. Jesus restores her dignity and points her toward a new way of living.
John 8:1–11 Meaning for Today
This story confronts us with two challenges. First, we must examine how quickly we judge others while ignoring our own faults. Like the accusers, we may use the failures of others to boost our own sense of righteousness. Jesus calls us to humility, reminding us that none of us are without sin.
Second, the passage shows the nature of grace. Jesus does not condemn, but he also does not condone. He restores and redirects. For the church, this is a model of how to engage with sinners—not with stones, but with compassion that leads to transformation.
Finally, this story reminds us that Jesus always stands with the vulnerable. The woman was dragged into public shame, but Jesus restored her humanity. In a world where people are often reduced to their worst mistakes, the Gospel proclaims a Savior who lifts us up and calls us forward.
FAQ: John 8:1–11
Why is this passage missing in some Bibles?
Some of the oldest manuscripts of John do not include it, and in others it appears in different places. Scholars believe it was a later addition, but it reflects a true and treasured story of Jesus consistent with his character.
What did Jesus write on the ground?
The text does not say. Suggestions range from listing the sins of the accusers to referencing Old Testament passages. The silence invites reflection on the personal conviction each accuser felt.
Does Jesus excuse the woman’s sin?
No. He shows mercy but also calls her to “sin no more.” Grace does not dismiss sin; it transforms lives.
What does this teach us about judgment?
It warns against self-righteous judgment. True justice requires righteousness, which only God possesses. Our role is not to condemn but to extend mercy and point to Christ.
Sources / Further Reading
Raymond E. Brown, John (AYB), John 8
D. A. Carson, John (PNTC), John 8
Gail R. O’Day, John (NIB), John 8
Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of John, John 8
Andreas J. Köstenberger, John (BECNT), John 8
