These are some of the most astounding words ever spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ. Some people have queried whether they ought to be in the Bible at all, a number of manuscripts omit them and many versions raise a question about them. It would take us all morning to discuss the reasons for these queries. I take the view that they are absent from a few manuscripts because some scribes found them too 'shocking', but they are in our version and we should thank God for them.

Background
Jesus was in the temple teaching the people when a group of Jewish law teachers and Pharisees brought along this woman who had been guilty of adultery. In asking their question (verse 5) they were trying to trap Jesus. If he replied, 'She must be stoned,' they would accuse him of being harsh and he would lose the ear of the ordinary people. If he replied, 'Don't stone her,' they would accuse him of breaking Jewish law. Verse 6 is the only record in the NT of Jesus actually writing something during his earthly life, but we do not know what he wrote! The Jewish leaders persisted with their question, so Jesus made his memorable statement, 'If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her' (verse 7). The accusers slunk away and Jesus asked, 'Woman where are they? Has no one condemned you?' Her negative reply led Jesus to say, 'Neither do I condemn you.'

Exciting news for us
Christ is willing to make the same statement to us and it's exciting news because we have all sinned. That was the point that Jesus was trying to impress upon the accusers in verse 7. They were as guilty before God as this woman. Even as they were pointing the finger at her, they were guilty of great injustice. Why had they not 'arrested' the man involved (Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 22:22, Micah 6:8)?

But although we have sinned Jesus is willing to say, 'I do not condemn you,' He did not mean that he was unconcerned about her sin or that there was nothing wrong with her conduct. The last clause of verse 11 is vital, especially today. Jesus is the holy Lord, the author of the Ten Commandments and by writing in the dust with his finger he may have been reminding us of that (Exodus 31:18).

He meant that he no longer held her sin against her. Although she deserved to be condemned to death and banished to hell, Jesus announced that he would not do that.

The Basis of this Exciting News
How could Jesus say to this woman, who had been caught in the act 'I do not condemn you'? Was he riding roughshod over the law and justice? This is a profound question which affects us all? How can Jesus uphold the law of God which says that sin must be punished and yet forgive us and free us from condemnation? The answer is the heart and centre of the Christian faith. Jesus was able to pardon this woman and set her free from the condemnation she deserved, and do the same for us, because of his atoning work. He left heaven and came into this world where he lived in poverty (he had no home to call his own 7:53/8:1), and then he died upon the cross where he bore all the condemnation due to this woman for her sin and all the condemnation due to many other sinners like us.

How can we experience this good news for ourselves and be set free from condemnation?
We must face up to our sin. The Jewish law teachers and Pharisees would not do that but this woman did so. We must, turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and trust in him and look to him in faith as our only hope. This woman realised he was someone special (she called him 'Lord', which is a better translation than 'sir', verse 11) and when they dragged her before him I believe that she looked at him with pleading eyes.

How do we show our gratitude for this exciting news?
By seeking to live a holy life and by avoiding sin. 'Go now and leave your life of sin' (verse 11).
By being merciful to others who fall into sin, The Pharisees and Jewish law teachers were totally lacking in compassion. See Galatians 6:1.