MH page 88

Their pretended reverence veiled a deep-laid plot for His ruin. Should Jesus acquit the woman, He might be charged with despising the law of Moses. Should He declare her worthy of death, He could be accused to the Romans as one who assumed authority belonging only to them.

The religious leaders' actions toward Jesus were part of a plot to compromise His standing with civil and religious authorities. This passage interprets the motives behind the historical confrontation recorded in the narrative.

Jesus looked upon the scene—the trembling victim in her shame, the hard-faced dignitaries, devoid of even human pity. His spirit of stainless purity shrank from the spectacle. Giving no sign that He had heard the question, He stooped and, fixing His eyes upon the ground, began to write in the dust.

Jesus responds to the ruthless accusers of a vulnerable woman with profound moral discernment and purity. This paragraph describes a biblical narrative scene focusing on the emotional and moral reactions of Jesus and the accusers.

Impatient at His delay and apparent indifference the accusers drew nearer, urging the matter upon His attention. But as their eyes, following those of Jesus, fell upon the pavement at His feet, their voices were silenced. There, traced before them, were the guilty secrets of their own lives.

The exposure of hidden guilt silences the accusers. This paragraph continues the narrative description of the biblical event.

Rising, and fixing His eyes upon the plotting elders, Jesus said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Verse 7 . And, stooping down, He continued writing.

Jesus challenges those without sin to cast the first stone. This paragraph consists primarily of a scriptural quotation and narrative framing.

He had not set aside the Mosaic law nor infringed upon the authority of Rome. The accusers were defeated. Now, their robes of pretended holiness torn from them, they stood, guilty and condemned, in the presence of infinite purity. Trembling lest the hidden iniquity of their lives should be laid open to the multitude, with bowed heads and downcast eyes they stole away, leaving their victim with the pitying Saviour.

Jesus' wisdom avoids violating civil or religious law while exposing the hypocrisy of the accusers. This paragraph describes the outcome of the narrative encounter and the reaction of the accusers.

Jesus arose and, looking upon the woman, said, “Where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” Verses 10, 11 .

Jesus offers forgiveness and a call to a transformed life. This paragraph quotes Jesus' words of absolution and instruction to the woman.