Against the Law
Against the Law
[Against the Law: Doesn’t Jesus contradict Old Testament teachings by not stoning the adulteress, which was commanded? by Roger Patterson]
Exodus 20:14, Deuteronomy 5:18, Leviticus 20:10, John 8:3–11, Deuteronomy 17:6,
Deuteronomy 19:15.
"In the passage referred to, a woman is brought to Jesus by the religious
leaders who were interested in trapping Him in a difficult situation. Many
apparent witnesses have been found to condemn this woman who has been caught in
the very act of adultery. According to the laws given to Moses and laid out in
Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, adultery was a sin punishable by death—for
the man and the woman! It is interesting to note that only the woman was brought
before Jesus. This exposes the motives of the religious leaders. They were not
interested in justice, but in accusing Jesus so they might discredit His
authority.
One of the requirements of the administration of justice laid out in the Mosaic
Law was that there must be agreement between two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy
17:6, 19:15) to condemn the accused. Jesus also faced this same standard in the
trial that was held before Caiaphas (Matthew 26:57–60). When the witnesses were
not in agreement, they were dismissed until two that were in agreement could be
found.
After the leaders present the accused woman to Jesus, He stoops and writes
something on the ground, ignoring the leaders. Though Scripture does not record
what He wrote, some have speculated it was the Ten Commandments. Regardless, the
leaders were convicted of their own sinfulness when Jesus asked them to cast the
first stone. As they walk away one by one, the woman is left standing alone.
With no witnesses to accuse her, Jesus is justified in letting her go. He is not
violating the Mosaic Law referenced by the Jewish leaders as there are no
witnesses to provide testimony to condemn her.
Jesus exercises grace in His treatment of the woman without violating the letter
of the Law. As God in the flesh, Jesus also has the authority to forgive sins
(Matthew 9:6). It is clear from the text and a proper understanding of the
application of Mosaic Law that the contradiction is apparent, and not real."
Against the Law: Doesn’t Jesus contradict Old Testament teachings by not stoning
the adulteress, which was commanded? by Roger Patterson.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2008/11/24/contradictions-against-the-law
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "Roger forgot, apparently, that the Law also required the accused be brought before a priest and a judge, together, and Jesus was not recognized as either of those by the men who brought the woman before Him. Also, He was only one man so He could not be both."
He had and has the power to forgive sins (Luke 5:21–24).
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "I think you picked a poor piece
of scripture to argue about."
The critic uses these verses to argue against the truth of the Bible.
