Where did Jesus go?
After that, early in the morning, where did He go? What was He doing there?
Who brought the woman in to Him? Where did they set her?
What was their accusation against her?
Where did the law of stoning adulterers originate?
What did they ask Jesus?
Why did they ask that?
What did Jesus do?
What did He say in response?
What did the Pharisees do then?
Who was left?
What did Jesus ask the woman?
How did she respond?
What did Jesus tell her to do?

Thought Questions

Take note of the connection between the end of chapter 7 and the beginning of chapter 8 (7:53-8:2). What time of day was Jesus at the Mount of Olives? What do you think He was doing there? What did He often do at the Mount of Olives? Luke 22:39.
How do you think the Pharisees were able to happen to catch the woman in the act of adultery? Was it likely that she happened to be caught in a public place, or was there planning involved? What does this say about the depths to which the Pharisees would go to try to trap Jesus?
What do you think Jesus was writing on the ground? Some random words, or something connected to the situation and the Pharisees’ own lives? What else has God ever written with His finger?
Was Jesus contradicting the law of Moses with His response?
Do you think this situation should serve as a model for every situation of justice?
After Jesus had finished writing, everyone left. What happened to “all the people” who came to the temple to listen to Jesus teach (verse 2)? If they were not involved in the accusation, why did they leave? Would you have left?
In reality, in the eyes of Christ, who was actually “on trial”–the woman, or the Pharisees?
Did the woman show any type of remorse for her sin, or ask for forgiveness?
Do you think Jesus judged the woman? What did He tell her to do? What does His attitude toward her tell you about how we ought to treat other people? What does it tell you about sin?

My prayer is:
that I would find wisdom for tricky situations from my connection with God through prayer;
that, in order to be like Christ, I should be forgiving and merciful of others’ sins;
and that, although forgiven, Christ tells me to “go and sin no more,” so I need His help in completely overcoming sin and not continuing in it.