He Did Not Condemn Her

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." John 8:1-11 NIV

This woman was caught in the act of adultery. She was guilty. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees (today they would be called leaders in the church) were ready to stone her. They offered no mercy or compassion just condemnation. They brought her to Jesus but not for compassion. They wanted Jesus to agree with them as well as to try and trap him so they could accuse him. Jesus responded, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her," the teachers of the law and the Pharisees as well as those who heard went away. They could not refute his words for they too had sin. Then Jesus said to the woman, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Jesus did not condemn her even though she was guilty. He had compassion on her. If Jesus our Master can show compassion, why can't you? Jesus displayed the attitude we're suppose to have for others whether they are guilty or not. So many of us Christians behave just like the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. We're so ready to condemn, to accuse, and to stone others who we think are guilty and those who are. Do you have wicked motives towards the person you judged as guilty?

Brothers and sisters we need to repent of such behavior and show compassion not condemnation. Remember, you have sin also. Why put yourself above others and look down on them? Why do to them what Jesus would not do?

Remember, "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 NIV Will you stand up to your own scrutiny if the tables were turned?

Know this: The prayers of that person you condemned are before the altar of God crying out against you for vindication and God hears it.

- Posted From The Road