Tuesday 31 March 2009
- Bible Book:
- John
"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." (v.6-8)
Background
The Greek verb 'krino' features very prominently both in thestory of the adulterous woman and the passages either side of it.In these verses most translators agree that 'krino' means to judgeor to pronounce judgement. In other contexts it can mean toseparate or choose, to approve, to think, or to decide.
At the end of the previous chapter, the chief priests and Phariseesare frustrated in their attempt to have Jesus arrested by the factthat the Temple police are themselves in awe of his wonderfulteaching! Nicodemus reminds his fellow Pharisees that "Our law doesnot judge [krinei] people without first giving them a hearing tofind out what they are doing" (John 7:51). The implication is thatmost of the chief priests and Pharisees have indeed already made uptheir mind (pre-judged) that Jesus is to be condemned.
In the verses immediately after today's passage, Jesus confrontsthe Pharisees about their judging.
"You judge [krinete] by human standards; I judge [krinis] no one.Yet even if I do judge [krino], my judgement [krinis] is valid; forit is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me."(v.15-16)
When the scribes and Pharisees bring the adulterous woman beforeJesus, we begin to get an idea of how the judgement of those who"walk in darkness" contrasts with that of "the light of the world"(verse 12). There is no avoiding it: the law of Moses does indeedstipulate that this woman - together with the man with whom she wascaught in adultery - should be put to death (
Unlike the woman's accusers though, Jesus is in no hurry to judgeher. Rather than speak in haste, Jesus stoops and begins to write(we have no idea what) upon the floor.
When Jesus does eventually speak, his words have the effect ofturning the condemnation of the woman's accusers back uponthemselves. Then, once they are gone, he speaks to the womanherself - "Has no-one condemned [kata-krinen] you? ... Neither do Icondemn [kata- krino] you."
To Ponder
Are those who are openly religious (such as thechief priests and scribes) especially prone to prejudice? If so,why?
How might we guard against the rush to judgeothers?
Jesus said, "You judge by human standards; Ijudge no one" (verse 15). Are there any circumstances in which itis right for us to judge someone, and if so, by what standards?