The Woman Taken in Adultery Is Brought before Christ
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Depiction of Jesus and the woman taken in adultery. They are both kneeling on the ground. For Mormon Channel use.
While Jesus was teaching in the temple, some scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Him who had committed adultery. They asked Him if she should be stoned according to the law of Moses (see Leviticus 20:10). Jesus’s response to them and to the woman can give you great insights into His character and help you feel the power of His mercy.
Attributes of Jesus Christ
When has someone been kind to you even when you felt you didn’t deserve it?
What effect did that have on you?
Jesus showed profound kindness to the woman taken in adultery, which in turn had a deep effect on her. Read John 8:1–5 and look for why this situation would have been difficult to respond to.
When scribes and Pharisees brought the woman to Jesus and asked if she should be stoned to death, they intentionally placed Him in a difficult situation (see John 8:6). If Jesus said no to stoning the woman, He would be accused of disregarding the law of Moses (see Exodus 20:14). If He said yes, He would be going against the popular views of the people as well as Roman law. He would also not be showing mercy to the woman, which was something Jesus did repeatedly during His ministry (see New Testament Student Manual [2018], ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
As you study the Savior’s response to this challenging situation, you can identify several attributes that can help you better understand what the Savior is like. Looking for attributes of the Savior is a skill that you can use throughout your study of the New Testament. Understanding these attributes can increase your desire to come closer to Christ.
Read John 8:6–11 looking for the attributes of Jesus Christ we can see in His interactions with the accusers and the woman.
You may want to watch “Go and Sin No More” (3:21), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The following questions could be helpful to think about as you watch:
What attributes did the Savior demonstrate in His interactions with the men who accused the woman?
What attributes did the Savior demonstrate in how He treated the woman?
What phrases in the scriptures illustrate these attributes?
You may want to mark the phrases in John 8:6–11 that show these attributes of Jesus. Notice that the Savior did not grant this woman forgiveness of her sins at that time but instead encouraged her to “go, and sin no more” (John 8:11).
Which one of these attributes would you like to better develop? Why?
How could you allow the Savior to help you develop or strengthen this attribute in your life?
The Savior’s mercy motivates us to change
One of the divine attributes of Jesus Christ is that He is merciful. “Mercy is the compassionate treatment of a person greater than what is deserved” (Gospel Topics, “Mercy,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave the following insights about the Savior’s compassionate mercy and the effect it had on the woman:
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Official portrait of Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, January 2016.
Surely, the Savior did not condone adultery. But He also did not condemn the woman. He encouraged her to reform her life. She was motivated to change because of His compassion and mercy. The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible attests to her resultant discipleship: “And the woman glorified God from that hour, and believed on his name” [Joseph Smith Translation, John 8:11 (in John 8:11, footnote c)].
(Dale G. Renlund, “Our Good Shepherd,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 30)
If available in your scriptures, consider marking the Joseph Smith Translation in John 8:11, footnote c.
What effect did the Savior’s mercy have on the woman?
Why do you think His mercy can have that kind of influence?
How does knowing that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love mercy affect how you feel about Them?
Although the Savior does not condone sin, He is forgiving. He wants you to feel motivated to repent and continue trying to be better.
1. Seek Heavenly Father’s guidance through the Spirit as you respond to the following questions. Record your answers in your study journal:
What have you learned about the Savior today that motivates you to repent and keep trying to become like Him?
What do you feel the Savior would want you to do or change in your life as you strive to become more like Him?
Optional: Want to Learn More?
How are we blessed by the Savior’s mercy?
Speaking of the Savior’s desire for us to keep trying when we make mistakes, Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy taught:
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Former Official Portrait of Elder Lynn G. Robbins. Photographed March 2017. Replaced October 2019 (with Telescope ID: 2298123)
While we are grateful for second chances following mistakes, or failures of the mind, we stand all amazed at the Savior’s grace in giving us second chances in overcoming sin, or failures of the heart.
No one is more on our side than the Savior. … To become like Him will require countless second chances in our day-to-day struggles with the natural man, such as controlling appetites, learning patience and forgiveness, overcoming slothfulness, and avoiding sins of omission, just to name a few. …
I am eternally grateful for the loving-kindness, patience, and long-suffering of Heavenly Parents and the Savior, who allow us countless second chances on our journey back to Their presence.
How can I learn to be more merciful like the Savior?
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency taught:
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Official portrait of Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 2006. Called as Second Counselor in the First Presidency, 3 February 2008. Made official portrait in 2008 replacing portrait taken in 2004.
In a world of accusations and unfriendliness, it is easy to gather and cast stones. But before we do so, let us remember the words of the One who is our Master and model: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone” [John 8:7].
Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
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Official portrait of Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, January 2016.
To be Christlike, a person loves mercy. People who love mercy are not judgmental; they manifest compassion for others, especially for those who are less fortunate; they are gracious, kind, and honorable. These individuals treat everyone with love and understanding, regardless of characteristics such as race, gender, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and tribal, clan, or national differences. These are superseded by Christlike love.
How did the Savior show mercy without condoning unrighteous behavior?
President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught:
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Official Portrait of President Dallin H. Oaks taken March 2018.
The Lord obviously did not justify the woman’s sin. He simply told her that He did not condemn her—that is, He would not pass final judgment on her at that time. … The woman taken in adultery was granted time to repent, time that would have been denied by those who wanted to stone her.