High school education confused liberals, and conservatives.....Help me!?

Question

Here is a biblical scripture.. many of you are college educated. I am high school educated, tenth grade. and an Ged. So many things confuse me about you guys.... but mostly this scripture... looking for liberals, and conservatives... what does this scripture mean to you, " John 8:7 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society



But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

signed hurting.... Bless anyone who answers.

Answer 1

I'm sorry that you are hurting Deborah ... may God's grace and peace be with you.

You may remember that Jesus was a Jew and very knowledgeable in the law of Moses. Deuteronomy 17:7 in the Old Testament requires that the witnesses be the first to stone a condemned person. Notice that the next thing in the story in John is that they all leave ... starting with the oldest. The elders would have been the first to recognize that the witnesses probably weren't without sin but this isn't what the law required. Jesus was pointing out that everyone is a sinner. When he told her “go and sin no more,” he didn’t define the sin for her or hound her into accepting his definition of sin. He let the grace of his salvation work on her heart in its own way. Did she stop sinning? I’m sure she didn’t, because no one has successfully cut sin completely out of their lives. She may have stopped committing the specific sin of adultery, but we don’t know one way or another because it’s irrelevant to the story. All we do know is that she received Christ’s grace anyway.

Remember what Jesus told these same critics and Jewish leaders in Matthew 9. "Go and learn what the Scriptures mean when they say, 'Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others.' I didn't come to invite good people to be my followers. I came to invite sinners."

Answer 2

You ask a double edged question. The scribes and Pharisees are testing Jesus. The woman they have in custody has sinned, and the punishment is death by stoning as per the law of Moses.
They have heard the Jesus has forgiven sins, and to do so would go against the law. It is believed that Jesus was writing there names in the sand, and their sin. This caused each to face their sin and leave. (OR) That since Adam,all men a born of sin, and for any man to cast a stone at her would be calling himself--without sin. Jesus then addresses the woman , I will not condemn you, but sin no more.

Answer 3

Well, I'm a conservative with a bachelor's in aerospace engineering.

If you look at the context the Pharisees were trying to set up a trap for Jesus. They dragged out a woman, caught in the act of adultery (Where was the man, btw? The Law of Moses said *both* should be stoned!). Would He break the law and let her go free? He claimed that He had the authority to forgive sins, which to them was blaspheme. They thought Jesus was just another man, not the Son of God.

So Jesus said, yes, you can stone her, but let the one who is not guilty of *any* sin be the first to cast a stone. One by one the Pharisees examined themselves and honestly decided they were not sinless and walked away. Later Jesus says to the woman to look and see who was around to condemn her. She says no one but Jesus. Jesus then says she is forgiven, but she should also leave her life of sin (i.e. not commit adultery again).

What did Jesus write in the sand? No one knows for sure. Some think it was the sins the Pharisees did in private to embarrass them and also show to them that He was God and knew all things.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

It means that people must be able to forgive people that harm them.
In our world, men and women in politics or government are charged with the responsibility of creating a place where people can live and work for the betterment of the government and society. This is not always fair and just, and in many cases, has criminal elements.
In the scripture you have quoted, it is not intended to be used against people, but for the reader to understand that there are people in the world that will try to trap you, and that we are all sinners.
Do not "stone" or hurt other people because they do wrong to you or because they do wrong to others.
This will cause you to give in to sin and allow sin to continue in those around you.

Answer 5

This is a noble thought, and I appreciate your posting it. Too many times we get drawing into labeling and name-calling others, especially on anonymous computer sites like this. Both sides must acknowledge that we both want to have a safe, crime-free country where we can find meaninful work and raise our families in peace. I would ask you to watch carefully which side has a greater tendency to not acknowledge this about the other.

Answer 6

This is where the Israelis and the other middle easterners were not in agreement. How to treat women. Have you seen the videos of women being publicly beaten with pieces of wood, for ?by the Taliban. Do you realize making a women cover her face is because they do not like women. And they know their own base emotions want to do things to women they are ashamed of. Israel is not in the same frame of mind. So Jesus is for and with women. He has made us equals in life. Praise Him.

Answer 7

First of all you need to get the real Bible

KJV