8:3-11 What did Jesus write on the ground?
8:3-11 What did Jesus write on the ground?
What Jesus wrote on the ground is not recorded in scripture so it is useless speculating what it was. By bringing the woman to Jesus to be judged, the Jews were trying to trap Jesus so they could accuse Him of something unlawful. Under Moses' law the woman had to be put to death (CP Lev 20:10; De 22:22-24).
If Jesus had rejected the death penalty outright the Jews would have accused Him of overthrowing Moses' law, and if He had pronounced the death penalty outright they would have accused Him of acting contrary to the word of grace and mercy He preached. So when Jesus told the woman's accusers to let one among them who was without sin cast the first stone, they had no answer and quickly dispersed.
They were all in sin themselves (CP Ro 2:1-3).
When Jesus told the woman that He did not condemn her, He was not condoning her sin, He simply forgave her as He forgave others elsewhere in scripture (CP Mt 9:1-8; Lu 7:37-50; Jn 5:2-14).
Jesus told the woman to sin no more which proved He condemned adultery as sin (CP Mt 5:27-32; 15:17-20; 19:9, 18).