{"id":5606,"date":"2025-04-05T12:02:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-05T11:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=5606"},"modified":"2025-04-05T12:04:30","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T11:04:30","slug":"commentary-on-5th-sun-of-lent-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-5th-sun-of-lent-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on 5th Sun of Lent (C), 6.04.2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TEXT (<\/strong>JOHN 08: 01\u201311)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Setting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.\n 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple; all the people came\n to him, and he sat down and taught them.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woman caught in adultery<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 The scribes and the Pharisees \nbrought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the \nmidst 4 they said to him, \u201cTeacher, this woman has been caught in the \nact of adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What\n do you say about her?\u201d 6 This they said to test him, that they might \nhave some charge to bring against him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus\u2019 reaction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus bent down and wrote with his \nfinger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up \nand said to them, \u201cLet him who is without sin among you be the first to \nthrow a stone at her.\u201d 8 And once more he bent down and wrote with his \nfinger on the ground.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scribes\u2019 and Pharisees\u2019 reaction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9 But when they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus and woman<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

and Jesus was left alone with the \nwoman standing before him. 10 Jesus looked up and said to her, \u201cWoman, \nwhere are they? Has no one condemned you?\u201d 11 She said, \u201cNo one, Lord.\u201d \nAnd Jesus said, \u201cNeither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EXPLANATION<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some experts on Sacred Scripture \nmaintain that this Gospel passage does not belong to John\u2019s Gospel but \nis more appropriate in Luke\u2019s Gospel. The style and the content of the \npassage are the reasons for this. Some time ago I was checking the \npassage in a non\u2013Catholic Bible and to my surprise the passage was not \nincluded. The Catholic Church, the Orthodox and the major Protestant \ngroups regard the passage as canonical (belonging to the canon of sacred\n scripture) and divinely inspired. We have no hesitation in using it in \nthe liturgy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Jesus went to the Mount of\n Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple; all the \npeople came to him, and he sat down and taught them.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJesus went to the Mount of Olives<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 It would appear that Jesus went to the Mt. of Olives at night for two\n reasons, safety from the Jewish authorities and for prayer (Jn. 18: 1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEarly in the morning he came again to the temple<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 In John\u2019s Gospel when the glory of God is about to be revealed, the \npassage opens with the words \u201cat daybreak\u201d or \u201cearly in the morning\u201d. \nJesus is \u201cthe Light\u201d that is about to bring light into the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201call the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cAll the people<\/em>\u201d\n emphasises the size of the crowd and the heightened embarrassment of \nthe woman being displayed before such a large number of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 The scribes and the \nPharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing \nher in the midst 4 they said to him, \u201cTeacher, this woman has been \ncaught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to \nstone such. What do you say about her?\u201d 6 This they said to test him, \nthat they might have some charge to bring against him.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The last words before this verse were \u201che sat down and taught them<\/em>\u201d.\n This is a teaching passage. We are not told what Jesus taught but \nimmediately we have this story of the woman caught in adultery. The \nsubject matter, as presented by the scribes and Pharisees, becomes the \nobservance of the Law. Jesus adds the importance of mercy in observing \nthe Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scribes and Pharisees try to \nembarrass the woman by placing her in the middle of a large crowd. Her \ngreater distress would have been knowing that she was under threat of \ndeath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201ca woman<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This woman was \nmarried as in the Jewish Law adultery was only between a married woman \nand a man. A liaison between a married man and a single woman was not \nadultery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cthey said to him, \u2018Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The scribes and Pharisees refer to Jesus as \u201cTeacher<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They referred to the woman as \u201cthis woman<\/em>\u201d, said in a disparaging manner. They were so self\u2013righteous; they condemned the woman out of hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They did not accuse the male adulterer \nwho was also to be condemned and punished by the Law (Dt. 22: 22\u201324; Lv.\n 20: 10). He was not brought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?<\/em>\u2019\u201d\n \u2014 The scribes and Pharisees put a question to Jesus hoping to trap him,\n perhaps expecting him to show mercy and forgive her which would be \ncontrary to Deuteronomy 22: 23 and following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also possible that if he allowed \nthe stoning he would have been opposing the Romans who forbade Jews \ninflicting the death penalty for any reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 They showed no interest in the sin of the woman nor in her punishment\n by death other than being an opportunity to entrap Jesus and condemn \nhim before the Jewish and Roman authorities. He would have been \npunishable by death for promoting that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus bent down and wrote \nwith his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he \nstood up and said to them, \u201cLet him who is without sin among you be the \nfirst to throw a stone at her.\u201d 8 And once more he bent down and wrote \nwith his finger on the ground.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 Whether Jesus was actually writing words or doodling is not clear. If\n the latter he would have indicated his disinterest in answering them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd as they continued to ask him, \nhe stood up and said to them, \u2018Let him who is without sin among you be \nthe first to throw a stone at her.\u2019 And once more he bent down and wrote\n with his finger on the ground<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The scribes and Pharisees did not\n intent to allow Jesus ignore their questions. He spoke, ignoring the \nquestion but putting a practical point, namely, if any of them had never\n sinned he could condemn the woman by throwing the first stone. What he \nsaid was according to the law of Deuteronomy 17: 7 \u2014 \u201cThe hands of \nthe witnesses shall be the first raised against the person to execute \nthe death penalty, and afterward the hands of all the people<\/em>.\u201d In \nother words, he faced them with a trap \u2014 if they threw the first stone \nthey would need to prove that they were sinless, otherwise they would be\n breaking the Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He then continued to doodle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9 But when they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut when they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest<\/em>\u201d \u2014 It was the word of Jesus that made the scribes and Pharisees depart, not what he wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The indication is strengthened by the following words; even the people, who had come to listen to Jesus teach, had left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and Jesus was left alone \nwith the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus looked up and said to her, \n\u201cWoman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?\u201d 11 She said, \u201cNo one,\n Lord.\u201d And Jesus said, \u201cNeither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin \nagain.\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cand Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Only Jesus could remain because he was the only one \u201cwithout sin<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJesus looked up and said to her, \u2018Woman, where are they?<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus addressed her as \u201cWoman<\/em>\u201d,\n a sign of great respect and he did not belittle the woman in any way \nbecause of her sin. He used this title when speaking to his own mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHas no one condemned you?\u2019 She said, \u2018No one, Lord.<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus treats her as a human being and refers to her as \u201cyou<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She replies by addressing Jesus as \u201cLord<\/em>\u201d. The scribes and Pharisees never addressed her at all and addressed him as \u201cteacher<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd Jesus said, \u2018Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again<\/em>\u2019\u201d\n \u2014 Jesus does not condemn the woman. Nor does he condone her sin. She is\n free to go but is not to sin again. He offers her new life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus saves; the self\u2013righteous condemn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

APPLICATION<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1.         Jesus\u2019 Love towards his Accusers<\/strong>:\n This Gospel passage is generally referred to as \u201cThe Woman Caught in \nthe Act of Adultery\u201d. It is that, of course. However, that is but the \nexample given to bring out the contrast between the power of hatred and \nthe power of love. Hatred can destroy peoples\u2019 lives; love can elevate \nand transform them. People justify their hatred and the destruction and \nhavoc it can bring because of some suffering or hardship imposed by \nothers. They claim it as a right. On the other hand there are those who \nby their love refine the lives of others and give them new life and a \nnew outlook on life because of the experience of love. The power of love\n is infinite; it is divine. The power of hatred is diabolical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scribes and Pharisees did not hate \nthe woman nor were they really concerned with the Law. Their love for \nthe Law had become warped because of their hatred for Jesus. They saw \ntheir opportunity to trap Jesus by using the woman\u2019s breaking of the Law\n as their excuse. Jesus realised their intention. He did not rail or \nrant against them. He reminded them of the Law which said that those \namong them who had no sin could be the first to stone the woman. He did \nnot embarrass them by looking them straight in the eyes but he bent down\n and allowed them to slink away. He showed them mercy by quoting for \nthem the word of the Law and by not looking at them to allow them sneak \naway without his notice..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They had quoted the Law to express their\n hatred; they had exposed the woman to public view. Jesus\u2019 mercy was not\n just towards those who loved him by even towards those who hated him. \nWhat made his mercy towards these men so exceptional was that Jesus knew\n the whole purpose in their bringing the woman was not just her death \nbut his own when they would accuse him before the Romans who did not \nallow the death penalty exercised by Jewish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.         Contrast: Two Types of Sinners: <\/strong>While\n the sin of the woman is obvious, the sin of the men who apprehended her\n is quietly overlooked, as if their sin had noting to do with the Gospel\n passage. And what is their sin? As the devils once answered Jesus, \ntheir sin is \u2018legion\u2019. Their deepest sin was their pride and \nself\u2013righteousness. This brought about their hatred of Jesus. This \nbrought about their seeking to kill him. To do so they found a woman in \nthe act of adultery, that must have been with her husband\u2019s connivance, \nand they exposed her in the Temple before a large number of people. They\n were not allowed stone her, the Romans had forbidden that. But they \nwere prepared to kill in order to have Jesus put to death. Jesus quietly\n confronted them and helped them see that they were indeed sinners also.\n They moved away quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus showed compassion to the woman. He\n did not condemn her. He forgave her. He did not dwell on her sin nor \nreprimand her for her fault. He showed her that he respected God\u2019s Law \nand he invited her to do likewise. He showed her true love. Her life was\n radically changed by Jesus who showed that his interest and concern was\n for her as a person rather than in only her sin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT (JOHN 08: 01\u201311) Setting 1 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple; all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. Woman caught in adultery 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3438,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5606"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8360,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5606\/revisions\/8360"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}