JOHN Chapter 8 verses 3-9 ( NIV)
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, “Let any one of you who is without sin 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.
Leviticus chapter 20 verse 10 (NIV)
‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.
Romans chapter 3 verse 10 (NIV)
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;”
In this familiar story we see how quick to judge those who brought to Jesus a woman caught in adultery were. It seems they were also being selective in their judgement. The law stated that both the man and the woman be stoned so if the woman was caught in the act, as the people told Jesus, why did they not also bring the man she had been with? We know its easy sometimes for us to make a judgement on people for how they act or behave and how they look, but yet may be able to overlook the same behaviour in others, perhaps making excuses for them. More particularly we may make excuses for our own behaviour.
We might see ourselves as a “good” person when we compare ourselves to others. But Jesus was trying to show the people that its not our behaviour that sets the standard, it is His. We see how those, when challenged to examine their own attitudes, were unable to carry out the prescribed punishment. Jesus was the only one who could have done so, yet offered forgiveness. So if we are tempted to make comparisons about the behaviour of others, we need to remember that we are not the benchmark. Jesus is, and this is why we need Him, because none of us can match His standard on our own.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for reminding me again of Your compassion, mercy and grace. May I be quick to extend and share it with others. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.