John 8:6b-8
The Canadian Men’s Olympic curling team won the gold medal at the Olympics this year. This was somewhat controversial because they were caught double touching the stone upon release when playing Sweden. What I found interesting is how the player, when caught and confronted, responded with a verbal outburst of anger. Then eventually complained that he was set up with non-normal camera views. It’s clear that he double touched stones thrown several times during the match, never admitting that occurred.
In our passage Jesus is dealing with a similar type of issue. The Pharisees don’t like Jesus because He is exposing them to be hypocrites and involved in the various sins that they accuse everyone else of. This exposure drives the Pharisees to try to trap Jesus into a moral dilemma that would cause Him to break the Mosaic law or Roman law. If Jesus condemns the woman caught in adultery then she would be stoned according to Mosaic Law. This would break Roman law because the Jewish people didn’t have the right to initiate capital punishment. If Jesus gives mercy and doesn’t judge and condemn the woman, He is breaking the Mosaic law. Seemingly, a no-win situation.
Jesus listens to the Pharisees' accusations, while calmly writing in the dirt. What Jesus drew on the ground we don’t know but what He says cuts to the heart of the matter. Simply and decisively, Jesus exposes the hardened hearts of the Pharisees and exposes our need to forgive those who have wronged us. “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her,” John 8:7 (ESV). Jesus is teaching us: when we find fault with others we should reflect on our own actions and be harder on them rather than the shortcomings of others. Turn to and read: Matthew 7:1-5, and you will find Jesus’ teaching specifically on judging others and the importance of having proper perspective when examining other’s actions or lives. Jesus is reminding us to clean up our own act before we pass judgment on others. Pull the 2x4 out of your own eye before confronting others on their sins. When we reflect on our own lives, seeing the failures, then we see the need for forgiveness. Forgiveness from God and forgiveness from others. The proper perspective of our lives demands us to forgive because we have needed and will need God’s forgiveness ourselves. The Pharisees were avoiding self-assessment and looking to drag Jesus down to their level. Jesus is showing us a better way - let’s not judge and condemn one another but let’s forgive and work together to try to live up to God’s standards.
Jesus offers forgiveness to the repentant heart. Examine your life and ask God for forgiveness for wrongs that you’ve done. Maybe, someone has wronged you, even though you have not sinned against them. Forgive them even though they may not deserve it. None of us deserved the mercy Jesus extended us, so extend the same kind of mercy. Judge not and forgive, it will ease your load and bring a sense of peace to your life.
In our passage Jesus is dealing with a similar type of issue. The Pharisees don’t like Jesus because He is exposing them to be hypocrites and involved in the various sins that they accuse everyone else of. This exposure drives the Pharisees to try to trap Jesus into a moral dilemma that would cause Him to break the Mosaic law or Roman law. If Jesus condemns the woman caught in adultery then she would be stoned according to Mosaic Law. This would break Roman law because the Jewish people didn’t have the right to initiate capital punishment. If Jesus gives mercy and doesn’t judge and condemn the woman, He is breaking the Mosaic law. Seemingly, a no-win situation.
Jesus listens to the Pharisees' accusations, while calmly writing in the dirt. What Jesus drew on the ground we don’t know but what He says cuts to the heart of the matter. Simply and decisively, Jesus exposes the hardened hearts of the Pharisees and exposes our need to forgive those who have wronged us. “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her,” John 8:7 (ESV). Jesus is teaching us: when we find fault with others we should reflect on our own actions and be harder on them rather than the shortcomings of others. Turn to and read: Matthew 7:1-5, and you will find Jesus’ teaching specifically on judging others and the importance of having proper perspective when examining other’s actions or lives. Jesus is reminding us to clean up our own act before we pass judgment on others. Pull the 2x4 out of your own eye before confronting others on their sins. When we reflect on our own lives, seeing the failures, then we see the need for forgiveness. Forgiveness from God and forgiveness from others. The proper perspective of our lives demands us to forgive because we have needed and will need God’s forgiveness ourselves. The Pharisees were avoiding self-assessment and looking to drag Jesus down to their level. Jesus is showing us a better way - let’s not judge and condemn one another but let’s forgive and work together to try to live up to God’s standards.
Jesus offers forgiveness to the repentant heart. Examine your life and ask God for forgiveness for wrongs that you’ve done. Maybe, someone has wronged you, even though you have not sinned against them. Forgive them even though they may not deserve it. None of us deserved the mercy Jesus extended us, so extend the same kind of mercy. Judge not and forgive, it will ease your load and bring a sense of peace to your life.
Posted in Devotional