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what do You say?

John 8:4&5
"4 They say unto Him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?"

We should never doubt Jesus. Sometimes, however, it is good to doubt people. Jesus has shown up at the Temple to offer some lessons. The scribes and Pharisees conspired to teach Jesus a lesson. They have brought forward a woman caught in the act of adultery. Conspicuously absent is her "partner in crime." It takes two to tango. Just what are the scribes and Pharisees up to?

Scholars argue about the punishment here of stoning being the correct "law." Some say strangulation would be the correct punishment. I think they might be missing the point. The scribes and Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus. They think they have presented Him with a loose-loose opportunity. If He answers that she should be stoned, many people would be furious with Him. The immorality of Rome had spread through the provinces of the empire, even to Israel. Severe punishment would undermine popular support, AND a pronouncement of capital punishment would put Him on a collision course with the Roman Empire. On the other hand, if Jesus offered a lax solution, not holding the adulterer accountable, they would charge Him with breaking the Law! They would take Him to the Sanhedrin, saying He is a false Messiah, because He is not upholding the Law.
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