But they, having heard [that], went out one by one beginning from the elder ones until the last; and Jesus was left alone and the woman standing there.
Her accusers came holding a guilty woman and a clear law, hoping to put Jesus in an impossible position. One sentence from Him emptied the courtyard. Why did the men most sure of the law walk away without using it?
He answered with few words, then gave them time to feel them.
The first act allows the full wickedness of their aim to come out. They hoped, no doubt, it might be an impossible difficulty for Him. They kept asking. So He lifted Himself up and spoke those memorable words. Then He stooped down again, so that they might weigh them in their consciences. It was the light of God cast on their thoughts, words, and life. The words were few, simple, and self-evidencing... The effect was immediate and complete. His words penetrated to the heart. Why did not some of the witnesses rise and do the duty? What! not one?
Jesus never set the law aside. He required that the men enforcing it be clear of it themselves.
They might indeed have carried out the law about the woman's particular sin. But in the presence of Christ — the Light — they discover that the law is a sword that cuts those who use it. The very law by which they sought to condemn the woman condemns them. It proves that all are sinners, and by it every mouth is stopped. So the Lord's words reach each conscience, convict each one of being a sinner, and silence every mouth.
The verse notes who left first. Shame, not law, set the order.
Shame covered them. So the eldest went out first, hoping to hide. The greater the accusation of self-righteousness, the greater the shame when the heart is opened and the hard veil of pride comes off. The Lord's presence will soon take that veil off. They would have applied the law. But they could not stand the light of God let into their consciences, not even for a moment. It was not only this one sin. His word was, "him who is without sin." No sin is allowed or can stand in that light.
They came in as a group. They left one at a time.
"They went out," not in a crowd, but "one by one." Conscience is an individual thing. Had they stayed, they would have had to strip off their cloaks and cry out, "Just as I am without one plea." For this they were not ready. They were completely confounded and went about their business. The Light of the world was shining in the full brightness of His heavenly beams. These men, wrapped up in their cloaks, could not endure it. So they went out and left the poor sinner alone with Jesus.
Conviction reached them, but it did not turn them to God. The older translation quoted below also says they were "convicted in their own consciences" — words the ESV leaves out.
"Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her" had been like a flash of lightning. It showed them their own condition. They were "convicted in their own consciences." But a convicted conscience does not always lead to self-judgment or to God. They "went away one by one, beginning with the older ones," and left the sinner in the only safe place for a sinner — in the presence of the sinner's Saviour. Her own covering was completely gone. She had no character or respectability left to keep up, so she could stay.
Another writer calls this a flight from grace, and says people still do it.
One by one they went away from grace, because they dreaded the eye that could detect them. That is what people do still — they cannot bear conviction... What a terrible thing that is, if your only hope of comfort is to keep away from God — to keep out of His sight!
The accusers were gone. The only person with the right to throw a stone stayed.
Here "Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him"; yet it was not the hour of judgment but of grace. So the One who had the right to condemn did not use it. He was "full of grace and truth." He turned the searchlight of truth on the hypocrites, and gave grace to the sinner, with the aim of freeing her from her sin.
- Light comes in. One sentence from Jesus cast the light of God on their thoughts, words and lives, and it reached the heart at once.
- Light convicts. The law they aimed at the woman cut the hands that held it, proving all are sinners and stopping every mouth.
- Light strips pride. The eldest went first: the more self-righteousness a man carries, the more shame when the veil of pride comes off.
- Light is personal. They left one by one, because conscience is an individual thing — no one can hide inside a crowd.
- Light drives out or draws in. A convicted conscience does not always lead to God. They fled the one safe place for a sinner. The woman stayed there — alone with the One who had every right to condemn her, and would not.
And Jesus, lifting himself up and seeing no one but the woman, said to her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Has no one condemned thee?
Commentary for this verse has not been generated yet.
And she said, No one, sir. And Jesus said to her, Neither do I condemn thee go, and sin no more.
Two people are left in the temple court. One is a woman caught in adultery. The other is the only man there who could have thrown the first stone without hypocrisy. What He says to her raises two questions. On what ground can guilt go free? And what does a forgiven sinner do next?
Her accusers had walked out because the light exposed them. This is not a case dropped for lack of witnesses. The Judge Himself was still standing there when the last accuser left.
So He sends her away. And how much more it means, coming from Him who could have condemned her, had He wished to or had He come for that! This was no condemnation, and it came from the One from whom condemnation could come. He alone had the right to condemn.
Grace and holiness are not in competition here. Both shine in the same words.
Who but He could say "Neither do I condemn you"! Infinite grace and perfect holiness are both seen in Christ. "Go, and from now on sin no more."
Commentators differ over how much she received. Some point to what He does not say to her.
Here the Lord is acting as light. Therefore, instead of saying, "Your sins are forgiven," He asks, "Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?" … It is not pardon, nor mercy, but light. "Go, and sin no more" — not, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Others see her standing still before Him as the answer of faith. On that reading He is free to forgive, because the light has already done its work in her.
How will the Lord preserve His grace and maintain His holiness? If He acquits her, His holiness is ignored; if He condemns her, what becomes of His grace? … On His part, He is free to forgive one who has been brought into the light and has taken her true place before Him in repentance.
The Pharisees heard the same voice that day and left with nothing. What separated them from her was not the size of their sin but their unwillingness to stand where she stood.
But this word is only for the ruined sinner who stands before the Judge, knowing he is guilty. The righteous Pharisees did not hear it. They were convicted too. But they did not want to confess their sin. They tried to shake off their convictions and bury them under some good works of their own… If you want God's full and free pardon, you must first take the place of the guilty sinner. Be alone with Jesus, self-condemned and knowing it. Do not make resolutions to do better. Do not try to improve before you come to Him. Let your very sins bring you to Him.
The command that follows is not a condition she must meet to keep her freedom. The order runs the other way, and that order is the whole point.
Holiness is found here in its true relation and due order: no condemnation leading on to no more sin. Grace and not law is the power for holiness.
The same order holds for every reader, not only for her.
Never forget it. An unbreakable link binds these two sayings together: "No condemnation" and "Sin no more." Grace shines in the one; holiness breathes in the other.
Her freedom raises one more question. She is told to go — but where?
The shadow of condemnation is lifted — but where is she to go? The verses that follow may not apply strictly to this incident, but their moral teaching is of the utmost importance: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The path of freedom is a path lit up with the glory of Christ, and on such a path we find liberty in the service of God.
She walked out with one thing only, and it was enough.
But let us carefully note the authority on which the woman knew she was not condemned. What was it? Simply the word of Jesus. She knew it because He said it. Blessed authority — nothing like it, none other but it. Christ's work is the basis, His word the authority. How simple! How solid! How satisfactory!
- Convicted. Only those who own their guilt hear this word. The accusers felt it too, but walked out rather than stand where she stood.
- Uncondemned. The one voice that could have condemned her chose not to. This is mercy from the Judge, not a legal loophole.
- Sent. "No condemnation" and "sin no more" are one sentence, not two. Grace, not law, is the power that produces holiness.
- Lit. Freedom is not an empty space but a road. The path away from condemnation is lit by the glory of Christ.
- Assured. Her whole standing rested on what Jesus said. His work is the basis; His word is the authority.