Jun 13, 2021
Scripture Reading: John 7:53 – 8:11
This is one of the most well-known of the stories of our Lord, probably because of the great comfort we find in the mercy of Jesus. Our hearts long for Him to show us the same mercy which we see in this passage.
The Pharisees and scribes who brought the adulterous woman to Jesus were not at all concerned with holiness and justice. John 8:6 reveals that they were looking for some way to discredit Jesus. It was an ethical trap and their inquiry "So what do you say?" was a loaded question.
The Old Testament law taught that adulterers were to be executed (cf. Lev 20:10; Dt 22:22). In giving an answer, Jesus ran the risk of undermining Roman law (which did not allow for the death penalty for adultery) or forsaking Jewish law (which commanded that adultery be punished by death). No matter what Jesus answered, He would at least offend either the lenient or the strict among the Jews.
His statement "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her" was as convicting as it was disarming. But we must not take this to mean that Jesus condoned what the woman had done. He offers mercy when He says, "I do not condemn you," but He also calls for repentance when He says, "From now on sin no more." Mercy is offered to all, but in the day of judgment, it is only given to the repentant.