John 8:1-11
Mercy for the Accused Woman
Read the passage
1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them.
3The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them
4and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?”
6They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.
7When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”
8And again He bent down and wrote on the ground.
9When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.
10Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?”
11“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He comes again to the temple, and all the people come to Him. He sits down and teaches them.
The scribes and Pharisees bring a woman who has been caught in adultery. They place her in the middle and say that Moses commanded such women to be stoned. They ask what Jesus says, testing Him so they may have a charge against Him.
Jesus bends down and writes on the ground. When they continue asking, He says that the person without sin should throw the first stone. He bends down again, and one by one they go away, beginning with the older ones.
Jesus is left alone with the woman. He asks where her accusers are and whether no one has condemned her. He does not condemn her, but He tells her to go and sin no more. Mercy releases her without calling adultery harmless.
How We Know
The Berean Standard Bible notes that some early manuscripts do not include John 7:53–8:11. This is why a Bible may bracket the account or attach a note to it. The difference concerns whether these verses belonged at this point in John's Gospel; the footnote does not settle every question about the account's origin. We can read the story's call to mercy and repentance while being honest about the manuscript evidence.
- Berean Standard Bible, footnote to John 7:52, [Bible Hub](https://biblehub.com/bsb/john/7.htm).
Questions
1 Why do the leaders bring the woman to Jesus?
AnswerThey bring her to test Jesus and create a charge against Him. The woman's suffering is being used as a legal and religious trap.
2 What condition does Jesus give for throwing the first stone?
AnswerHe says the person without sin should throw the first stone. The condition exposes the accusers' own moral position.
3 What happens to the accusers?
AnswerThey leave one by one, beginning with the older ones. No one remains to condemn the woman.
4 What does Jesus tell the woman?
AnswerHe tells her that He does not condemn her, then commands her to go and sin no more. Mercy and moral seriousness remain together.
What This Means for Us
Jesus protects a vulnerable woman from being turned into a prop while refusing to call sin good. Families should not use public shame as a substitute for justice, accountability, or repentance.
The passage also makes self-examination unavoidable. Correct someone only after facing your own need for mercy, and do not confuse forgiveness with permission for continued harm.
Prayer
Merciful Jesus, protect people from being used and shamed. Guard us against self-righteousness. Make our household truthful about sin, generous with mercy, and committed to the changed life You command. Amen.