Editor's note: the following is how legalists might re-paraphrase a passage. Thankfully this is not what Jesus did, but it does remind us that Jesus did not choose partnerships with everyone. Look up the Scripture yourself to see what Jesus really did.
1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts,
where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.
3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought
in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4
and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of
adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what
do you say?"
6 They were using this question as a trap, in
order to have a basis for accusing him. 7 But Jesus, knowing they were
trying to trap him and fearful they would hurt his ministry, surprised
them.
8 He bent down and started to write on the ground
with his finger. The Pharisees were startled at first to read what Jesus
was writing, but then they began to smile and rejoice.
9 Jesus rose and said, "Noble teachers of
the law, you are right. We have to take a stand. If you do not stone this
woman, the world will think we support adultery. Everyone will think we
support sin. 10 Allow me to get out of the way while you gather your stones."
And Jesus stepped aside as the Pharisees joyfully stoned the adulterous
woman to death.
11 Jesus turned and said to the Pharisees, "Well,
she won't be sinning anymore." And more and more people followed
Jesus because he had taken a stand and he and the Pharisees partnered
together the rest of his ministry.