John 8:1-20

1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

An Adulteress Forgiven

2 At dawn He went to the temple complex again, and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began to teach them.

3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center.

4 "Teacher," they said to Him, "this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery.

5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do You say?"

6 They asked this to trap Him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse Him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger.

7 When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, "The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her."

8 Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground.

9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only He was left, with the woman in the center.

10 When Jesus stood up, He said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

11 "No one, Lord,"^[a] she answered. "Neither do I condemn you," said Jesus. "Go, and from now on do not sin any more." ]^[b]

The Light of the World

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again: "I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life."

13 So the Pharisees said to Him, "You are testifying about Yourself. Your testimony is not valid."^[c]

14 "Even if I testify about Myself," Jesus replied, "My testimony is valid, ^[d] because I know where I came from and where I'm going. But you don't know where I come from or where I'm going.

15 You judge by human standards. ^[e] I judge no one.

16 And if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent Me [judge together].

17 Even in your law it is written that the witness of two men is valid.

18 I am the One who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me."

19 Then they asked Him, "Where is Your Father?" "You know neither Me nor My Father," Jesus answered. "If you knew Me, you would also know My Father."

20 He spoke these words by the treasury,^[f] while teaching in the temple complex. But no one seized Him, because His hour^[g] had not come.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or Sir; Jn 4:15,49; 5:7; 6:34; 9:36
• [b]. Other mss omit bracketed text
• [c]. The law of Moses required at least 2 witnesses to make a claim legally valid (v. 17).
• [d]. Or true
• [e]. Lit You judge according to the flesh
• [f]. A place for offerings to be given, perhaps in the court of women
• [g]. The time of His sacrificial death and exaltation; Jn 2:4; 7:30; 12:23,27; 13:1; 17:1