Neither Do I Condemn You" – A Catholic Reflection on John 8:1–59

Mercy, Truth, and the Light of the World

---

Introduction: Mercy That Restores and Truth That Divides

John 8 contains some of the most tender and controversial moments in the Gospel. It begins with the stunning encounter between Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, and it ends with a heated debate where Jesus boldly declares, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”

In this chapter, we meet a Jesus who stoops to write in the dust, stands to defend the sinner, and then speaks divine truth with unwavering authority. It is a chapter that reveals both His infinite mercy and eternal identity.

---

Verse-by-Verse Catholic Commentary

8:1–11

“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.”
This passage, though absent in some early manuscripts, is fully accepted by the Church and included in the canon. It reveals the balance between justice and mercy. Jesus neither condones sin nor condemns the sinner. He restores her dignity and calls her to a new life: “Go, and sin no more.” (CCC 1846–1848)