Jesus didn’t say what I thought He said. Did He?
I stumbled across this article by accident. I was attempting to find something else, but the screen-sucking nature of the internet coupled with my inability to avoid opening too many tabs in my web browser led me to this:
“Many scholars agree that [John 7:53 - 8:11] are not original to John’s Gospel, pointing out that the story interrupts the flow of the verses that come before and after.”
I’m glad I found it, though.
For some of us, these verses are some that we’ve heard throughout our lives. We’ve leaned into them and attempted to live by them. They are the type of verses that we repeat to ourselves whenever we begin to judge someone else. And the rug is being pulled out from under us.
Maybe.
I don’t think anyone should avoid this kind of stuff. I think some people (or certain types of people) have a tendency to disregard things like this simply because they don’t believe (or want) them to be true. This has always unnerved me a little bit because it’s kind of discrediting people that are educated in a given field. But, I digress.
But is this a big deal? Does it change anything? I mean, there are other verses in the gospels (and elsewhere in the Bible) where Jesus says the same thing. You know, the whole plank-in-your-own-eye dilemma.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 37:42
There are many more examples beyond these two verses.
Still, the point remains: We’ve got records of Jesus saying something that He may not have said. Does this shake your faith? Do you dive into more research about it? Do you begin questioning other things that Jesus said?
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