The Real Reason Jesus Said Go & Sin No More

[Devin P]

Everyone knows about the story when Jesus told the woman who committed adultery, "Go and sin no more...". But why did He say that?

If you read the passage, it says the Pharisees were trying to trick Him. But how were they trying to trick Him?

Back in that time, common people had little access to scripture. Unless you were a scribe or a pharisee, you had no way of memorizing or having the ability to read scripture whenever you wanted.

Jesus said, "Go and sin no more..." not because He thought there should be no death penalty or that she should be forgiven for her sins, but because, according to scripture, she couldn't have been stoned at that moment, and especially not by Him.

See, the Pharisees weren't expecting a carpenter to have an intimate enough understanding of the scriptures to be able to discern their trap.
So, according to scripture, God's law requires a few things before someone can be stoned to death for adultery (or anything else).

1. The person or people have to commit something scripture deems worthy of the death penalty (adultery in this context).
2. There has to be 2-3+ witnesses
3. Both parties (that committed adultery) have to be brought to trial and found guilty.
4. In the case of adultery, both parties must be present when the death penalty is carried out.
5. One of the witnesses must be the first to cast a stone. That way, if they are actually lying, the blame is placed on them.

Because 2, 3, and 4 weren't yet complete, and because Jesus wasn't one of the witnesses (5), He wouldn't have been able to throw the first stone regardless, or else He would've been sinning.

When Jesus said, "He among you without sin, cast the first stone." He was saying if everything was carried out as it should be, and one of the witnesses was present, then they should be the one to throw the first stone.

If the woman deserved to be stoned according to the law, and Jesus stopped that, He would've been sinning. But, because, according to scripture, she couldn't have been stoned to death, and the Pharisees understood this, He didn't stone her.

I've seen this scripture around online a lot lately, and I figured I'd break down why He told her to "go and sin no more..". Hopefully, everyone is doing well!

 

[timothyu]

Everybody sins.

 

[Laodicean60]

Isn't there a difference between the old covenant versus the new? Jesus told us to forgive not to punish and it was part of Moses law that Israel carried on. As mentioned above everybody has sin.

 

[Devin P]

Isn't there a difference between the old covenant versus the new? Jesus told us to forgive not to punish and it was part of Moses law that Israel carried on. As mentioned above everybody has

We definitely are to be forgiving, loving, and kind to one another for sure!

But, according to the law, that would have been why Jesus didn't stone the woman. He said those of you without sin (the ones who witnessed it) cast the first stone.

The law definitely didn't pass away, though, as God promised that it would never pass away. In the new covenant, the law is to be written on our hearts. The law is sweet. The law is a blessing. The law is a light to our path, as it is the way God tells us to walk and conduct ourselves.

Everyone has sinned, absolutely. But sin is simply the transgression of the law. Where there is no law, there is no sin. So when scripture tells us to keep ourselves from sin, it means to walk according to the law, not for salvation but because that is how we practice righteousness.

 

[Devin P]

Everybody sins.

Everyone does sin. You're absolutely right! No one is free of sin, aside from Jesus that is.

 

[Laodicean60]

We definitely are to be forgiving, loving, and kind to one another for sure!

But, according to the law, that would have been why Jesus didn't stone the woman. He said those of you without sin (the ones who witnessed it) cast the first stone.

The law definitely didn't pass away, though, as God promised that it would never pass away. In the new covenant, the law is to be written on our hearts. The law is sweet. The law is a blessing. The law is a light to our path, as it is the way God tells us to walk and conduct ourselves.

Everyone has sinned, absolutely. But sin is simply the transgression of the law. Where there is no law, there is no sin. So when scripture tells us to keep ourselves from sin, it means to walk according to the law, not for salvation but because that is how we practice righteousness.

Are you talking about Luke 16: 16,17 I read Mathew Henry's commentary and I understand it differently. Peace

 

[timothyu]

No one is free of sin, aside from Jesus that is.

Because unlike mankind, He put the will of the Father ahead of His own.

 

[jacks]

When Jesus said, "He among you without sin, cast the first stone." He was saying if everything was carried out as it should be, and one of the witnesses was present, then they should be the one to throw the first stone.

I see this scripture as saying in essence: "Yes, she may have sinned, but so have all of you."
Kind of like Matthew 7:1-5. And similar verses.

Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

 

[Devin P]

Because unlike mankind, He put the will of the Father ahead of His own.

What is the will of the Father? The law of God.

 

[Devin P]

I see this scripture as saying in essence: "Yes, she may have sinned, but so have all of you."
Kind of like Matthew 7:1-5. And similar verses.

Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's ey

I see this scripture as saying in essence: "Yes, she may have sinned, but so have all of you."
Kind of like Matthew 7:1-5. And similar verses.

Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Scripturally speaking Jesus was acting according to the law. The law says only one of the witnesses could have thrown the first stone.

 

[jacks]

Scripturally speaking Jesus was acting according to the law. The law says only one of the witnesses could have thrown the first stone.

While this may be true, I don't believe it was the main point of the passage. It was a lesson for all of us; not just an example of a Mosaic law technicality.

 

[Devin P]

While this may be true, I don't believe it was the main point of the passage. It was a lesson for all of us; not just an example of a Mosaic law technicality.

What would you say the main point of the passage would be?

 

[Oneofhope]

What you folks are missing is the fact that Jesus, the author of the Law, did not require that this adulterous woman be put to death, or at least offer sacrifices for her sin. Why would Jesus, who is God in the Flesh, not uphold the Law of Moses?

 

[Oneofhope]

Scripturally speaking Jesus was acting according to the law. The law says only one of the witnesses could have thrown the first stone.

? If Jesus's actions fulfilled the Law of Moses, He would have joined in on her stoning. Jesus acted in contradiction to the Law.

Leviticus 20:10 NLT - "If a man commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, both the man and the woman who have committed adultery must be put to death."

 

[Devin P]

What you folks are missing is the fact that Jesus, the author of the Law, did not require that this adulterous woman be put to death, or at least offer sacrifices for her sin. Why would Jesus, who is God in the Flesh, not uphold the Law of Moses?

? If Jesus's actions fulfilled the Law of Moses, He would have joined in on her stoning. Jesus acted in contradiction to the Law.

Leviticus 20:10 NLT - "If a man commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, both the man and the woman who have committed adultery must be put to death."

Well, Jesus did fulfill the law of Moses in that He didn't stone her.

Read my OP carefully. There is a very specific process that is to be carried out (according to God's law) that the Pharisees were intentionally NOT carrying out. This is what they were trying to trick Him with. But, because He understood the law (given that He is the Law made flesh) He didn't fall for it.

Had he cast the first stone, He would be sinning and going against the law.

According to the law of Moses, not only would there need to be 2-3+ witnesses to the adultery, but both offending parties would have required a trial where they both were found guilty. Both offending parties would also have to be present for the stoning (both parties that committed adultery and they only had the woman - not the man), and one of the witnesses to this adultery would HAVE to be the first one to cast a stone.

That's why Jesus said, "He among you without sin, cast the first stone." He wasn't saying, "None of you are perfect either, so let her go." Had he said that, He would have been sinning because it would mean He would be going against God's law (which is sin), and they would have killed Him for that. But, He was found blameless because His actions perfectly aligned with the law.

Jesus's actions never once went against the law of God. Nor did His teachings. To act against God's law or to break God's law ( which is the same as the Law of Moses ) is to sin. Which Jesus never did. Jesus did, however, constantly rail against the traditions of man. The Pharisees constantly placed their own traditions over the law of God, and that is what Jesus spoke against. He even says this multiple times, that they placed their faith in their own traditions, and not the law of God.

 

[Devin P]

Here is an example of a verse where He rails against them for keeping their traditions, and neglecting the law of God:

(NASB) Mark 7: 8 - 9

8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.

There are many, many other instances of Him getting on people for ignoring God's law for the sake of their traditions. But He never once spoke against the law itself. Only people who place their own traditions above the law. As if to make their own traditions (their own judgements) more righteous than righteousness itself.

The law of God is the judgment of God, and to live according to it is to practice righteousness, even as He is righteous. Not that the law can make you worthy of salvation or any nonsense like that, but the spirit longs to keep the law, while our flesh causes us to break it. That is the struggle Paul talks about.

 

[d taylor]

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​

The real reason is Jesus is God and God can not say I forgive you of your sin. Then turn around and say continue on with your life style, but this time just do not get caught or something that would carry the same implications.

Jesus could only say, sin no more, there is no other way Jesus could have address this person.

 

[Oneofhope]

Have you folks studied the Law?

Matthew 5:17 NKJV - "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."

Don't just study the parts of the Bible that suit your fancy . . . learn the WHOLE Book.

 

[water of life]

The Jews, under occupation by Rome, weren't allowed to carry out their own executions. John 18:31.

Sanctioning it, even under Mosaic Law, would've gotten Jesus in trouble with the Roman authority. Saying something against the Law would've gotten him in trouble with the people.

But he wasn't inclined to see her executed. He saw through their facade and knew the real reason they were there.

Disagree with your interpretation. Jesus knowledge of the Scriptures and the Law was widely known starting from the time he was 12 (Luke 2:39-52). He wasn't challenging them to follow the Law, he was challenging them to look within and examine their own motives.

 

[Devin P]

-
​

The real reason is Jesus is God and God can not say I forgive you of your sin. Then turn around and say continue on with your life style, but this time just do not get caught or something that would carry the same implications.

Jesus could only say, sin no more, there is no other way Jesus could have address this person.

I agree with the fact that Jesus couldn't have addressed this any other way. He did what he could at that moment. He told her to go and sin (break God's law) no more. In a way, it was a mercy that was given to her because if she actually had committed adultery, they were both lucky enough that they would not be able to face the death penalty. There may not have been enough witnesses or something, I'm not really sure, but regardless, they got lucky and got a second chance.

So, in a way, it was God having mercy on her and the man she committed adultery with.