HE OR SHE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN
OR
GO – AND SIN NO MORE
SUNDAY MARCH 21, 2021
Scripture To Consider:
“And everyone went to his own house. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.”
“Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’”
“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. So, when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’ And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 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.”
“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; go and sin no more.’” John 7.53-8.11
Something To Consider:
In our previous lessons, after Nicodemus spoke up on behalf of Jesus, everyone went to their own home. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives as was His custom, probably to pray and because He had no home of His own. Early in the morning He went again into the temple and taught those who came to Him.
Where is it that we go in the early of the morning? Do we go to a mountain, a hillside, a home office, or a bench in the garden of our own home? And once there do we pray to our heavenly Father? Do we read, study, or meditate on the Word of God, therefore fellowshipping with Jesus who is the Word of God come to earth in the flesh? Where is it that we go, and what is it that we do in the early morning of every new day? For Jesus is still willing to teach all those who come to Him!
Something Else To Consider:
Then the religious leaders brought a woman that was declared to have been caught in the very act of adultery. But Jesus was ready for the day’s challenges because He had spent time alone probably communicating with His heavenly Father. By bringing this woman to Jesus, they thought they had Him between a rock and a hard place. What would Jesus do concerning this accusation? How would He answer the staged dilemma set before Him?
If Jesus condemned this woman, He would appear to not be a friend of sinners. If He acquitted her of all charges, He would appear to be going against the Mosaic law of Deuteronomy 22.24. This law called for the stoning of both the man and the woman in the case of eye witness proven adultery. But in this instance, only the woman was brought. Therefore, it seemed there was no way of escape for Jesus, at least from their perspective. They thought they had Him backed into an unescapable corner. And yet, Jesus, as always, was and is still in total control of every situation and circumstance of life.
As in this biblical example, 1 Chronicles 28.9 proclaims, “The LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts [intents].” The writer follows up by stating, “If you [we] seek Him [God], He will be found by you [us]; but if you [we] forsake Him [God], He will cast you [us] off forever.”
When Jesus returns, will we be found seeking Him, His Word, and the things of God? Or will we be found having forsaken Him and refusing to endure to the end? If the latter is our condition, then being cast off and forsaken of God will be our eternal fate!
Something More To Consider:
But Jesus blasted away at all of their carefully conceived plans when He said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” In other words, he or she who is not guilty of sin, he or she who is not also worthy of God’s punishment, let them throw the first stone of condemnation in the direction of their erring neighbor.
And they all being convicted of their own sin, quietly without discussion, left the scene and their stones of condemnation. Today was not going to be the day of this woman’s demise. And how often have we heard those compassionate words of Jesus, as did this woman, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more?”
Jesus announced in Luke 6.37; “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Can we imagine what drastic change this kind of thinking would bring to every country, state, city, and neighborhood around the globe? According to Jesus, our orders are; “Go and sin no more.”
A Few Final Words:
The apostle Paul, instructed us all in Galatians 6.1, by stating; “Brethren, if a man [woman or young person] is overtaken [caught as the woman in our Scripture to consider] in any trespass [sin and or iniquity], you who are spiritual [Christ-like] restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” That is extremely sound biblical advice!
Paul followed up in Ephesians 4.32, by admonishing all true believers in Christ, by declaring; “And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you [us].” Are we being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving to others around us? Are we exemplifying the instruction of the Word of God on a daily basis? And if not, why not?
Jesus Christ alone is without sin; therefore, He alone is the one qualified to throw stones. And yet, He chooses to extend both mercy and forgiveness to us all! What is it that we will choose to extend to others when their sin is exposed? According to the Word of God, “So when they continued asking Jesus, He raised Himself up and said to them [as He says to us], ‘He [or she] who is without sin among you, let him [or her] throw a stone at her [or him] first.’”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, convince us as leaders in training of our not being without sin, while teaching us to go and sin no more. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 