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Jesus and the Woman Caught in Adultery
January 18, 2014

Last week I wrote about how access to the Father is based on the truth and that having a lie misrepresented as the truth leads to many societal problems. Jesus came across many of these problems during his earthly ministry while also dealing with the Pharisees.

John 8:1-11
Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

The Pharisees had brought a woman to Jesus who had been caught having sex outside of marriage. Perhaps she was married or the man was married and the penalty the Pharisees wanted to impose on her was death by stoning as was recorded in the Old Testament. They asked Jesus what should be done because the Pharisees wanted to trap him. They probably wanted to force Jesus to say that the woman should be put to death because if he did not say that they would be able to say that Jesus was not obeying the law. Instead of providing the answer the Pharisees wanted to hear, Jesus provided the answer the Pharisees needed to hear by writing on the ground and asking those who were without sin to be the first to cast a stone at the lady. Jesus was making the point that all sin is worthy of death, not just that which was listed in the Bible. He also taught an element of compassion by showing that those who sin should not judge. As the one person who did not sin, Jesus went one step further and refused to condemn the lady. He released her and told her to sin no more. There were other occasions when Jesus was challenged by the Pharisees on this topic.

Matthew 19:3-9
The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

Jesus taught a higher standard of marriage than what was commonly expected. In the Old Testament, men could divorce their wife for whatever reason. Jesus showed divorce-at-will was allowed by Moses because of people's attitudes and not endorsed by Jesus. Just as Jesus did not condemn the lady caught in adultery, Jesus did not condemn Moses for his decision regarding divorce. In essence, what Jesus was saying was Moses allowed sexual immorality to flourish in Israel. What might Jesus say about homosexuality? He would support the teachings against homosexuality and these verses show he would likely not condemn somebody for homosexuality. At some point, he would tell homosexuals to go and sin no more. Because I am not without sin, it is not for me to condemn others. I believe while I lead a life in search of a higher standard of conduct through Christian Living, I am nobody to condemn others. To me that leaves the option of toleration without condemnation, and that is my approach to all who live a life I cannot agree with for whatever reason.

Matthew 7:1-5
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

I believe the more I judge others, the more I will be judged, and it is with this thought while I understand what is required of us all, I truly wish peace and love to all as we live in this turbulent time. I also believe it is time for us to return to a time of faith based on the truth and I invite you to join me.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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