What Did Jesus Write on the Ground with His Finger? (John 8:6-8)

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My mother realized this in Jeremiah a few years ago and taught me the connection to what Jesus did. God bless her.

[@rezamohamadakhavan_abdolla8627]

Amén. Hallelujah.

[@barbaraahimadadson217]

What a mother!!!

[@patbrennan6572]

She did? Well good for you.

[@naomijohnson1080]

I had a Pastor who believed Jesus wrote from the Ten Commandments but this is also good.

[@Morning.Coffee]

​@@patbrennan6572, maybe you don't mean to, but your remark sounds very snarky, jealous, & condescending.

[@carguy1979]

That's a solid explanation. I always liked to think since he said "whoever has not sinned, cast the first stone" and Jesus was writing down the sins of each accuser.

[@rezamohamadakhavan_abdolla8627]

So Jesus is writing the sins of each accuser and not the names of them.

[@krisyallowega5487]

Has it changed your interpretation? It has for me, Fr. has opened my eyes with little effort. I have been coping with someone that relives all of the "terrible" events of the past. I had to wipe the tears from my eyes when he mentioned John 8.

[@saxmanjpr5092]

@@rezamohamadakhavan_abdolla8627 I bet Jesus was going BOTH!

[@kevinevans7507]

My understanding of " throwing the first stone" is in the context of Daniel 2:34 "mountain cut out without hands" that fills the whole earth representing Jesus bringing the Kingdom of God.

[@Vic-of8pd]

You may be correct because no one knows what he wrote I like your answer

[@MazePage]

I've known about Jer 17:13 but hadn't made a connection with shame, rejection, and the fountain of living water... Excellent! 👏👏🙌

[@patbrennan6572]

You have, Well good for you.

[@jonniefandango3013]

Christ drawing a line in the sand was Him laying down the law as God had written the 10 commandments on stone with His finger. It was a proclamation of His authority as God in the flesh. I really like how you explained the four elements in relation to jeremiah 🙏

[@regis_red]

How about Daniel 5:5-29, the hand writing on the wall? Jeff’s comment reminded me of that. Jesus referring to Himself as Son of Man also comes from Daniel.

[@jonniefandango3013]

@@regis_red 🙏

[@LairdKenneth]

That has been my take on this, with the 10 commandments, and the writing on the wall, both being written with the finger.

[@scented-leafpelargonium3366]

@jonniefandango3013 : It says "the ground," not "sand." The precincts of Jerusalem and the Temple were made of rock built atop of mountains, namely Zion, Moriah etc. Yeshua wrote with the Finger of God in the stone, just as He did atop Mount Sinai, which was proving to the condemners that He was God, and simply writing out the Commandments convicted them all. The assumption of "sand" and "dirt" as the video states is tradition, not the Word.

[@WakkasLove]

Everything I hear of Jesus and the way He works is just so cool!

[@achildofthelight4725]

Help me understand Jesus referring to a woman as a dog in Matthew 15, and I shall share mine 😊

[@achildofthelight4725]

I believe it was a single line.... Jesus is the light that they cannot see in themselves.... he has spoken truth yet they not know. So with a single line that seperates him from them, they see only thier own name (authority) without a leg to stand on in the darkness of their own heart... one by one as the elder leads, rest follow behind him with their tails between their legs dragging behind thier lost master with only a stick in his hand to keep him from falling any further 😊

[@troyjoshuasalomon9361]

​@@achildofthelight4725troll

[@tonygville2969]

Create in me a Clean Heart OH Lord My God 🙏

[@laugustam]

Wow, that's amazing! I've wondered about Jesus's writing on the dirt. Amazing exposition! God bless!❤️🙏

[@bonnielucas3244]

Thanks! Very good and encouraging! The Lord knew every heart then, and still does. I need that assurance all the time

[@Hippo.556]

Thank you. Glory be to Jesus you’ve given me hope!

[@codycox2685]

I'll be looking into this bible in a year series. I have been trying to reach my own understanding of the bible, the word, whatever it really is. My brain is getting in the way. But, I am hearing or maybe feeling a call to him. Maybe someday I'll get there with it. Congratulations to all of you out there who are able to believe.

[@AliasPhex]

Praying for you! Don’t be afraid to ask God: “Father, You say Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. You know all things, but I am struggling to understand and believe this (what I am reading/hearing) . I do believe; help me in my unbelief. I ask you for wisdom and discernment. Let there be light in my understanding.” (Praying Scripture has been enormously helpful to me! ‘Reminding’ God of His promises and love to us!) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.” - Proverbs 3:5-6 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” -James 1:5-6

[@judywilson5183]

Knowing the facts isn’t as important as knowing Him. My favorite thing about this story is that the men who brought her to Jesus were trying to trap Him because THEY KNEW HE WOULD NOT WANT HER KILLED. They didn’t know what His argument would be, but even they understood that much about Him; and she got a 2nd chance.

[@feistyferret13]

Yes! I made the connection to Jeremiah 17:13 and writing in the dirt a few years ago but haven't heard anyone talk about it before. And I like the way you expanded on it with the rejection and living water aspects.

[@Jeremy-mu6cd]

I’m quite impressed brother, God has blessed you with wisdom and understanding to unravel this mystery

[@thomaspospiech6764]

Wow! I thought about this many times over the years, and wrote short articles pertaining to this text, but I had never considered or connected these verses before. Amen. What an insight.

[@joanne4120]

Dearest Jeff, You cant possibly begin to know what an incredible gift of peace you just gave me from that Amazing explanation..Thank you from the depths of my healing heart and soul... Wow..Yruly truly grateful ❤❤❤❤

[@glenncalzada1707]

Their names is exactly what I thought He was writing. Thank you for validating my opinion.

[@visitor5009]

Godly. Epic. Pure. Thank you Mr. Cavins!

[@kieferjustine9392]

Wow. This is incredible. This was really timely for me to hear today. Thank you sharing your knowledge of Scripture. It truly makes me feel loved by God when I hear it explained.

[@MorreHope]

That hit home. Wow. Thank you.

[@Meteor_pending]

I like Fulton Sheen's guess on this too. He guessed that the Lord wrote down their actual sins until all of them had left in shame.

[@kathymacellis9478]

I prefer Fulton Sheen's guess.

[@5150show]

That’s what I was taught

[@TheDonovanFisher]

That seems most likely. I also think he could have finished the OT reference because Moses said if there was adultery than BOTH had to be stoned. Why didn't they bring the man? Probably because they set her up, and Jesus knew it

[@neomagnon]

This is the problem. Everyone speculate things written in the book. The reason why thousands of denominations with different interpretations. Schism. Fighting. Animosity. Hatred. No love at all.

[@mikemcleroy8265]

@@neomagnonI didn’t get that at all from this friendly discussion. God speaks to us through other people sometimes.

[@skippingstones2023]

Mother Angelica once quipped, "He wrote down the name of the man the woman was committing adultery with"! 😂❤😂

[@wms72]

Maybe he wrote the names of ALL the men

[@bobbythompson3544]

This has always been my take on the event, the learned gentleman relays too heavily on the crowd being intimate with the scripture, which they weren’t !

[@garyr.8116]

Brilliant Mr. Cavins! Still learning from you for decades now, when we first went thru your Our Fathers Plan bible study!! Peace!

[@ernajuliannaprimo9745]

thank you Jeff for explaining this so eloquantly yet so simple that I had no problem understanding it at all

[@davepugh2519]

How do you explain the fact that this particular story did not appear in Bibles until 400 years after Jesus died?

[@tamaveirene]

Allelluia! Enlightenment Plus!!!! Thanks to the Almighty God and for you, His servant, who has clarified this for me...and now others with whom I shall share this good news! God be with you, sir ➕🔥😁➕💯

[@adrianthomas1473]

Very good presentation ❤thank you for sharing

[@michaelman957]

That powerful way you brought it back to relevance to us and how we should go to God when we struggle with being shamed is beautiful.

[@SaraH-my5cw]

Love The Bible in a Year! thanks so much Father Mike and Jeff for the journey!! We're praying for you guys!

[@skyflight1able]

There is only one Father in Heaven as the Bible says not to call anyone Father on earth.

[@EpicSwedishFika]

That was wonderful!!! Thank you, Bless you!

[@kimthetruthofit6965]

She was brought to Him as shame and she recieved her living water 🙏❤️‍🔥

[@johnpglackin345]

How did she receive her living water?

[@adamcarr9442]

Notice that the accusation of sin came from man. Jesus did not accuse. He said "Go, and sin no more". He set her free.

[@gomezjkv]

Not really. The living water that Christ gives us did not come until after His death, burial and resurrection. Actually, not until Pentecost. Jesus did not even forgive this woman. He simply did not condemn her. He only says to sin no more. Which is consistent with the Old Covenant that the world was still under at the time this event occurred. God bless you.

[@dianefrank3688]

Thank you for this greatly explained answer. Mother Angelica gave the same answer on her show, but did not give the biblical reasons for the answer.

[@hannetjiedebeer9480]

Thank you for the explanation. It is very enlightening! Just a thought: the accusers were also hypocrites for only dragging the woman to Jesus. Adultery can only be committed if a man was also present, whether he knew or not. It was obviously an act outside of wedlock on both sides. May God bless you and your loved ones in abundance.

[@mikemcleroy8265]

Exactly! The Torah says that both adulterers are to be brought in front of the priest. I believe He was writing that particular instruction out, being that He IS the Torah!

[@lauriestump7134]

@@mikemcleroy8265I am wondering the same thing.

[@shdwbnndbyyt]

@@mikemcleroy8265And per the Torah, by letting the man go, they were in fact guilty of the act....

[@B.A.Pilgrim]

​@@mikemcleroy8265I agree and it is a far more solid explanation than the one provided by Father Mitch.

[@nellennatea]

Awesome. Thank you Jeff. God Bless you.

[@donwilson1307]

And that's a great way to end my day with a beautiful story from the bible.Enjoyed the manner in which told the story. Thank You

[@lheggestad]

The Rabbi at the Messianic congregation I attend offered this very same explanation a while back. I love it, and I am fascinated by it.

[@margiedekock2719]

Praise God for your enlightenment!!I pray for the conversion of the world...Gods people must stand up against all Heresy.He deserves our Adoration Praises Worship and sincere Love.He is the same today and forever May se humble ourselves before Our Beloved Abba. ...Come Holy Spirit renew refresh and reform us....Peace and Prayers Margi

[@douglascasey3486]

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.

[@VeronicasVeil333]

Wow! This is so powerful! Thank you so very much and God bless you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@ruthortega5822]

Wow, so very interesting. I have never thought of what Jesus might have written on the ground nor has it been explained to me before. Thank you Jeff. Learning as I go!

[@Crtnmn]

Very good. Praising Jesus with you.

[@josephmartin1540]

Love it. This fits better than all the other ideas I’ve heard from people in my 66 years. It follows more logically. I don’t know that it follows necessarily, but it follows very solidly. And the point - always being the most important thing - is so fittingly worthwhile! Love this! Bless the One Lord!

[@benjodan9069]

Thank you.

[@donaldscully5656]

Superb clarity with biblical backing. Thanks

[@R2NOTU]

I love the old Medford. the symbolism.such communication by poetry.

[@lauraabrodsky8155]

Wonderful explanation! Thank you, Jeff, and God Bless you and your work. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@mattscholbe7237]

Incredibly insightful. Thank you.

[@melciad8980]

Thank you 😊 Jeff cavins for enlightening us with your wisdom. We really appreciate your help, time, effort and knowledge! God bless you and your family abundantly! I've taken your bible studies in the past I really learn a lot....u are also very funny hahaha I love the joke you once told us about a new "Hebrew" word you wanted to teach us 😂 "bah-lo-ney" hahah I will never forget that...I've learned so much from you about bible study and I wish you and your family the best God bless you all!😅😂

[@jeffreynerhood1096]

Well done. Thank you. In the past, I've heard variations of this exposition. This one however, makes more sense.

[@seamusweber8298]

Thanks. That theory about what Jesus wrote in the dirt, isa plausible one and very interesting. We can't know for sure what He wrote of course.

[@ulrikaclasson3856]

Thanks for this for ever!❤

[@1im4real]

WOW, that is beautiful and profoundly insightful. Thank you so much Mr. Cavins. God Bless you always 🙏🏻

[@TheWoodlandFellowship]

I think it is also worth noting that Jesus bends down and writes *twice*. The first time did not convince the accusers, but it was the second time that shamed them. I think it is very likely in my mind that Jesus' first writing was calling back to Leviticus 20:10, which detailed the requirement for both the adulterer and the adulteress to be put to death. The fact that the accusers only brought the woman for condemnation is the source of the whole dilemma they were hoping to catch Jesus with. (Where either 'Yes' or 'No' to their question could give them a reason to say that Jesus was not worth listening to. If yes, then they could claim that Jesus didn't know the Law well enough to be a rabbi; if no, then they could claim that Jesus was disregarding the Law altogether.) Being that this was the very passage that they would have been referring to condemn the woman (Lev 20:10), they could have seen this writing as a non-answer, so they continued to question him on it. Additionally, as the religious/political leaders were using the woman as a simple pawn in their feud with Jesus, they were collectively acting in sin against the woman, the adulterer, and Jesus, in their deliberately inconsistent application of a just law. I think Jesus' second writing would have then called back to any of the plethora of OT passages that condemn the sin of partiality and perverted justice (such as Lev 19:11-12, or 19:15, for example.) They were all in active sin in that very moment, and this pairing of callbacks would reveal the reality that if anyone should pick up a stone to condemn the woman, they all must also pick up stones to kill that person too. If Jesus wrote callbacks like these, he affirmed the holiness of the Law and that the adulteress was still wrong to sin, but it also affirmed that true justice can only be done with righteousness and right motives, and that the Law is not a weapon for the elite to wield against their perceived enemies.

[@dibdap2373]

I thought it mirrored God descending on Mt Sinai twice to write the law with his "finger". Jesus stoops down twice and writes with his finger.

[@TheWoodlandFellowship]

@@dibdap2373 That's a really interesting connection. God is so cool.

[@thomasgildersleeve4723]

Right on the numbers Brother praises to your understanding

[@jeepinspence]

What a great expository. Something that caught my attention while studying this also is that God is only mentioned 3 times in the entire Bible to have written, The first were the commandments on stone tablets, the second was on the wall which was likely brick or stone , the third wad said to be in the dirt. The thing that was immediately apparent to me were the medium on which they were written God wrote with his finger each time and the first two were into a permanant medium , but the third, dirt, is a medium that is easily wiped away. Which immediately put me in mind of Jesus waiping away our sins no matter what they are or who we are if only we are to ask.Shrug It made sense to me and I felt that it was revealed by the Holy Ghost as I'm not usually that quick on the uptake. ;) Thanks for your video! Brent

[@mattnobrega6621]

Water is life. The lord is the infinite fountain. Without it you are dead. Praise the lord 😌🙏

[@ChristianSaintSavior]

Jeremiah 17 verse 13: thank you for explaining!

[@andysmith6124]

Adultery IS wrong, and His response was NO condemnation, but instead the command to go and sin no more. This is a good illustration how we deal with any shame. Accept the facts, accept forgiveness and look forward, to doing better.

[@The-Carpenter]

Oh my goodness; this gave me goosebumps.

[@davepugh2519]

This particular story did not appear in the Bible until 400 years after Jesus died.

[@The-Carpenter]

@@davepugh2519 What's your source?

[@bobvadney7240]

Thx for that explanation....that's more than I had before I caught ya vid, clip...now I got something to research with....thx again...Prov.15 :18

[@fightthegoodfightoffaithmi8676]

✟ When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 (KJV)

[@dezericka]

Wow! Our God is an awesome God!

[@albertoghall1]

I like your interpretation and your knowledge of the bible, as well as the traditions of the time, and how they all come together. What I had read through the writings of Maria Valtorta, an Italian Catholic mystic, is that Jesus was writing the specific sins of each accuser as they spoke, which they instantly recognized, and as such, they all walked away in shame. I recommend her writings.

[@gomezjkv]

You like his interpretation? Mr. Cavens is not “interpreting” anything. He’s making stuff up. If you truly understood that John wrote his Gospel under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, you’d understand that what Jesus wrote on the ground was not important enough to include. In my opinion trying to add detail that God chose not to include is a very dangerous thing. May God bless you.

[@ellenbuttner6091]

Love this. Thank you

[@MsARC]

Thanks

[@borneandayak6725]

This interpretation make sense. Thank you ❤

[@johncalvert7243]

I can't believe it! Finally, somebody got it right!

[@kristidygert9642]

That really seems correct! Thank you

[@TruthLivesNow]

Good video clip! Being a Biblicist, it talks about two times Jesus wrote something on the ground. Of couse, we don't know. I think the first time on the ground He wrote reference passage, Psalm 14:3, and the second time He wrote reference Psalm 53:3, "They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one." - (ESV) John 8:7 - "7 When they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (NASB) vs. 6 First verse reference vs. 8 Second verse reference. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12 (KJV, since that is the one this older guy writing memorized it in).

[@bachfan7537]

Outstanding. Good teaching.

[@user-xf8sc3jz5f]

Interesting. Thank you.

[@Lizett-gl4pq]

Jeff, thank you ! 🙏❤

[@treystevenson9872]

Jeremiah 17:13-“O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.”

[@kimberHD45]

4:16 is where he gets to it.

[@katesanchez3407]

Thank you! God Bless you!

[@17CW68fNv]

Thank you, Mr Cavins, for this explanation. May you be blessed.

[@flyingcolors7917]

WOW!!!! Mind blown…🤯🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@toddday8774]

Very interesting point of view, just goes to show you the Bible is a living word. No other book like it , amen

[@ericheckenkamp6091]

As a trouble maker myself, I always liked to think that whatever it was it was two things: 1st and foremost Truth, and 2nd something that would make them VERY ashamed.

[@ForeclosureGhost]

To understand what Jesus said, you've got to understand whom he was speaking from, Jehovah, our living God. See John 7:!6 And know what is written in Isaiah 55 "Seek LORD JEHOVAH, and whenever you have found him, call upon him,". Jesus was quite a man with a powerful message to mankind. The kingdom is at hand.

[@uknancy3]

Thank you! 🙏❤

[@OxyCleanForYourBrain]

First comment?! I assumed Jesus wrote sins in the dirt as an echo of the woman at the well whose sins He knew. Everyone went away shamed.

[@bobbyhanly3466]

Yes. He wrote the sins of all the Pharisees etc who were going to stone the woman. (Valtorta)

[@WilT2594]

I think both theories are equally valid and if we follow each of them through logically, it makes the same point. Whether he wrote their names or sins, he shamed them and invalidated the judgment they attempted to pronounce on the woman.

[@glenncalzada1707]

It would have taken too long to write their sins. He wasn't writing a story. He was writing their names. They recognized it and walked away in shame.

[@WT-Sherman]

Right ! Our Lord would have been there all day writing my sins. Writing of names seems to be more consistent with Jeremiah. Besides, these Jewish leaders would have been very familiar with Jeremiah.

[@mauriciolopes8502]

My guess is that he wrote names and sins. You don’t need to write more than two words for each, just the first name and the sin. What ashamed them was probably the perfect assignment made by Jesus, making them wonder how he knew it. Just the names and just the sins would not be enough to make them stop, I believe.

[@patodwyer721]

Thank you for enlighten us with this explanation

[@doreenevans5945]

Interesting . Thanks.

[@rustneversleeps01]

Jer.17.13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters. Gen.3.19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Peace

[@arizonapancake349]

Wow, very cool. I always thought it might have been their sins, but this answer seems much better.

[@NyashaMuz]

I was watching David Pawson who went on to point out that it goes back also to the commandments and laws and meant that Jesus was showing that he wrote those laws and yet they came to trap him between Roman law and the laws of Moses. He also points out that when Jesus says "he without sin", in fact doesn't mean completely without sin, but one who is not guilty of that same sin could not stand in trial as a witness which the law stated in its fullness.

[@SusansRoadLessTraveled]

I think there's several Scriptures that can be viewed -- how about this from Numbers 5? "The priest then brings her forward before the Lord and gives her holy water mixed with dust from the tabernacle floor, “bitter water that brings a curse.” She will be unaffected by this bitter water if she is innocent of the accusations. But if she is guilty, “the water that brings a curse will enter her to cause bitter suffering; her belly will swell, and her womb will shrivel. She will become a curse among her people.” See, everything that was being given to her was HOLY - the water, the dirt within the Tabernacle curtains, the Priests were washed clean. It wasn't the mixture that determined her cleanliness, but only YHWH that would render judgement or salvation. Pretty neat!

[@marktaylor2502]

Woooooow!!! This is amazing! The writing is a type!

[@jeanninecook6661]

Excellent thoughts and discussion!

[@Randompancakes12345]

I never thought of the living water and the temple water together like that before, wow!

[@Macias8200]

Fantastic! Fantastic!

[@ringthembells143]

Our earliest manuscripts have the story in The Bible. Although it’s an awesome story. It was Added later, and it’s Not cannon✅🤙🏽🔔

[@R.C.425]

Beautiful ❤

[@007CHISOM]

The Living Word

[@SuperRuthJ]

I always thought it was their names. But many said to me it was their sins.

[@Davidjune1970]

I heard one person posit that he was writing down the sins the accusers had committed and when they saw their sins written down they felt shamed and left

[@EyesOpeninCaliforniaDreams]

Jesus wrote 2 of the 10 Commandments: “Thou shalt not kill,” and “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” God Bless

[@January_Cold]

Whoa. Wow, this was really good. Thank you for the revelation!

[@davidquatermass789]

Great video

[@ort8410]

I have always wanted to know this! Thank you!

[@frankfowlkes7872]

Thank for your insight on the scripture from John's Gospel. I have always wondered what Jesus was writing and while we can not know for sure there is logic behind this idea. This incident in John has always been one of my favorites but it is also of interest that this passage about the woman brought before Jesus was not included in the original text but added at some point before the 5th century. This ,of course does not mean it did not happen but only that it was a later addition.

[@dominiqueubersfeld2282]

Yes, He Wrote: the Answer is 42.

[@kevin8360]

This answer has just as much proof as this video… Plus, 42 is the answer to literally everything. It answers THE question.

[@brenttamatea7578]

thats seems a plausible explanation to me very good and based on scripture which is awe some