The woman was caught in the act. There was a man involved in the adultry who was not now present. The Law declared it a crime to witness a crime and allow the guilty to go free. Perhaps Jesus pointed out their guilt in this matter.
The Pharisees cared nothing about the woman, their interest was in trapping Jesus. If he sided with the woman, he violated the law of Moses. If he sided with them, he violated the law of Rome which prohibited execution by the Jews.
Is it Lev 5 v 1: “‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible“?
Yes. Here as with healing on Sabbath, Jesus is called to chose which law to obey and which to break. He understands his accusers and uses the Law of God to show their hypocrisy.
It is a reading of the story that I had not heard until recently and it fits with Jesus' other dealings with the Jews.
The woman was caught in the act. There was a man involved in the adultry who was not now present. The Law declared it a crime to witness a crime and allow the guilty to go free. Perhaps Jesus pointed out their guilt in this matter.
The Pharisees cared nothing about the woman, their interest was in trapping Jesus. If he sided with the woman, he violated the law of Moses. If he sided with them, he violated the law of Rome which prohibited execution by the Jews.
“ The Law declared it a crime to witness a crime and allow the guilty to go free ”
Have you got a verse for that? I’ve had a look but can’t see it 👍🏽
Is it Lev 5 v 1: “‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible“?
Yes. Here as with healing on Sabbath, Jesus is called to chose which law to obey and which to break. He understands his accusers and uses the Law of God to show their hypocrisy.
It is a reading of the story that I had not heard until recently and it fits with Jesus' other dealings with the Jews.
Okay, I have heard this before, but didn’t think this was a good explanation as to why Jesus wrote in the dust.
So in this post, I focussed on and unpacked the dust element of the story.
Were there a deeper narratives John was trying to express?
I think there were. And it linked to God’s judgement on the religious leaders.
God's concern with corruption committed in His name is always a worthy theme.
Thank you for your writing and dialog.