I can’t imagine being put on the spot- my life being at the mercy of religious men who want to stone me to oblivion for committing adultery. I’m referring to the woman on the passage below. However, the stigma of shame is something we could all relate to. All Born Again believers have a story, that pivotal moment of coming to grips with our depravity and need for Jesus Christ.
“Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:3-12
verses 3-6 – We can see the pretext as to why the Pharisees brought the woman to Jesus. “This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him.” The blind guides (Matthew 23:15-18) did this so they could entrap Him. Can you imagine Jesus, the only sinless man who walked this earth being lectured by those whom He came to save?
Now, can you imagine those who try to live blameless lives being schooled by those who appear to be loving, but promote lifestyles of carnality and depravity? These people tell you to love, yet their justice makes way for constant slander, rioting and violent protests, chaos and lawlessness and robbing the innocence of children by educating them about sexuality (The GayBCs) before they are even sexually active?
verse 7,9 – At least the men got convicted and decided to walk away. It is the epitome of hypocrisy for those who blatantly compromise God’s Word to demand bible-abiding Christians who call them out on their sin for following their Savior.
“Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
verse 11 – Most people want to camp on the first half of the statement, “Neither do I condemn you;” and ignore the second half, “go and sin no more.”
Calling out sin for what it is, even if it is done with the right motive will always be deemed hypocritical by those who are being dealt with. The Pharisees hated Jesus for this reason. That is the instantaneous reaction of the flesh. I have nothing to lose if people decide to ignore the warning as long as I am doing what I’m supposed to do as a Christian (Ezekiel 3:18-19).
verse 12 – “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” – This tells us of the condition of someone who decides to be a follower of Christ.
Have you truly given your life to Jesus?
If your answer is yes, the truth is that His Holy Spirit will convict you to renounce the deeds of darkness rather than make it your life’s mission to affirm those who choose to deliberately walk in darkness. This is the mark of genuine conversion.
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.”
Ephesians 5:8-12
To those who believe they are in the truth and continue to affirm sinful lifestyles, this is what Jesus says on the matter,
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Matthew 18:6
REPENT!
Related read: Sin And Compassion