It was a set-up if ever there was one! Everything about the account of the woman caught in the act of adultery
smacks of a trap set by the enemies of Jesus to ensnare Him in a doctrinal conundrum. The scribes and Pharisees tried to back Jesus into a theological corner by seeking to pit Him against the Law of Moses (which He Himself authored!)
Instead of being trapped, Jesus turned the tables on the woman’s accusers by saying, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” I would love to have been there to watch as one by one, beginning with the oldest to the youngest, the accusers let the stones fall to the ground and walked away in silent conviction.
A gang of sinful men condemned the woman. The only person there who was without sin refused to condemn her. Instead, He chose to forgive! “Neither do I condemn you,” was a statement of mercy. “Go and sin no more,” was a statement of grace. Whatever the Lord commands us to do, He enables us to perform. Enabling grace was made available to the woman that day to walk away from the encounter not only forgiven, but empowered to live a new life.
Satan is the “accuser of the brethren” who levels accusations against us night and day before the throne of heaven (Rev. 12:10). But Jesus is our faithful High Priest who intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25). His desire is to save, not condemn (John 3:17). In mercy He chooses to forgive, not condemn. “Neither do I condemn you.” In grace He enables us to walk away from the past and live in newness of life. “Go and sin no more.”
Pastor Todd Weston
smacks of a trap set by the enemies of Jesus to ensnare Him in a doctrinal conundrum. The scribes and Pharisees tried to back Jesus into a theological corner by seeking to pit Him against the Law of Moses (which He Himself authored!)
Instead of being trapped, Jesus turned the tables on the woman’s accusers by saying, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” I would love to have been there to watch as one by one, beginning with the oldest to the youngest, the accusers let the stones fall to the ground and walked away in silent conviction.
A gang of sinful men condemned the woman. The only person there who was without sin refused to condemn her. Instead, He chose to forgive! “Neither do I condemn you,” was a statement of mercy. “Go and sin no more,” was a statement of grace. Whatever the Lord commands us to do, He enables us to perform. Enabling grace was made available to the woman that day to walk away from the encounter not only forgiven, but empowered to live a new life.
Satan is the “accuser of the brethren” who levels accusations against us night and day before the throne of heaven (Rev. 12:10). But Jesus is our faithful High Priest who intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25). His desire is to save, not condemn (John 3:17). In mercy He chooses to forgive, not condemn. “Neither do I condemn you.” In grace He enables us to walk away from the past and live in newness of life. “Go and sin no more.”
Pastor Todd Weston
