Description

22/03/2026 - Zeke Murley

John 8:1–11

WORD

What does the Scripture say?

Read John 8:1–11 together.

Take time to slowly read the passage aloud as a group. Encourage everyone to notice details in the text before jumping to interpretation.

Observation Questions

1. Where does this story take place and what is Jesus doing before the interruption?
2. Who are the main groups or individuals present in the story?
3. What accusation do the scribes and Pharisees bring?
4. What law are they referencing from the Law of Moses?
5. (See Deuteronomy 22:22 and Leviticus 20:10)
6. What is unusual about the way the woman is brought before Jesus?
7. What does Jesus do before He speaks?
8. What does Jesus say to the crowd?
9. What happens to the accusers after Jesus speaks?
10. What question does Jesus ask the woman?
11. What command does Jesus give her at the end?

Dig Deeper

Read these passages and discuss how they connect to the scene:

Deuteronomy 17:6–7

Witnesses must throw the first stones.

Exodus 31:18

The Law written with the finger of God.

Deuteronomy 9:10

The tablets written by God’s finger.

Discussion question:

What might be significant about Jesus writing with His finger in the dust while the Law is being quoted?

Key Insight

At this moment Jesus does not dismiss the Law. He applies it correctly. The Law was never meant to be a weapon for selective judgment. It was meant to reveal the truth about every person standing there.

WORLD

What does this reveal about the human condition?

This moment exposes something deeper than one woman’s sin. It exposes how humans misuse righteousness.

Discuss together:

1. Why were the Pharisees actually bringing this woman to Jesus?
2. What does the absence of the man in the story reveal about their motives?
3. Why do people often apply moral standards to others more quickly than to themselves?
4. Where do we see public condemnation culture today?
5. Examples might include:

• Social media outrage
• Public shaming
• Moral hypocrisy
• Selective justice

1. Why do you think the older men leave first?
2. What does this story reveal about the danger of knowing Scripture but missing the heart of God?

The Big Idea

The quickest way to misuse the Law is to apply it to others first.

The Law is not a weapon.

It is a mirror.

Before it exposes someone else, it exposes us.

WALK

What does this mean for our lives?

At the end of the story something remarkable happens. The crowd disappears. Only two people remain. The sinner and the Savior.

This is the moment every human being eventually faces.

Personal Reflection

1. Which person in the story do you most naturally identify with?
2. The accusers
3. The silent crowd
4. The woman
5. Or Jesus confronting injustice
6. When are you most tempted to hold a “stone” in your hand?
7. What is the difference between condemnation and conviction?
8. Why does Jesus say “Go and sin no more” after saying “Neither do I condemn you”?
9. What does this reveal about the relationship between grace and transformation?

The Question the Story Leaves Us With

We never learn the woman’s name. We never learn what happens next. The text leaves the ending unwritten. Because the story is asking every reader the same question.

Not: Who was she?

But: What did she do with Jesus?

Final Reflection

One day every person will stand before Christ. Not in a crowd. Not in a courtroom. Just you and Him.

Read together:

2 Corinthians 5:10

Discuss:

What does it mean to live a life defined not by what we did, but by what we do after encountering Jesus?

Prayer

End by praying together:

• Thank Jesus for His mercy.
• Ask Him to expose hidden hypocrisy in our hearts.
• Ask for the grace to live the life He commands when He says:

“Go, and from now on sin no more.”