A woman caught in adultery
Published Apr 3, 2022 12:05 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
JOHN 8:1-11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
Who is without sin among you?
When we are confronted with supposedly sinful people, we often think only of the evil things they do. But have we ever wondered what their situation in life is, which may explain why they committed those wrongdoings? The woman caught in adultery may have violated the rights of others or disturbed the peace of a family. But this does not give us license to do to her as the Jews want even if in the eyes of the Law she is worthy of being stoned to death. Jesus’ response is different. Instead of joining the band that wants the woman killed, he challenges them to examine themselves. Are they also not guilty of any sin? It may not be adultery but something else. As we can see at the end of the story, Jesus does not condone what the woman did, but gives her another chance and urges her to sin no more. And we can only guess the change about to happen in the life of the adulterous woman who is given another chance.
Do we sometimes usurp God’s prerogative to judge? Why not give people the benefit of the doubt?
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
JOHN 8:1-11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
Who is without sin among you?
When we are confronted with supposedly sinful people, we often think only of the evil things they do. But have we ever wondered what their situation in life is, which may explain why they committed those wrongdoings? The woman caught in adultery may have violated the rights of others or disturbed the peace of a family. But this does not give us license to do to her as the Jews want even if in the eyes of the Law she is worthy of being stoned to death. Jesus’ response is different. Instead of joining the band that wants the woman killed, he challenges them to examine themselves. Are they also not guilty of any sin? It may not be adultery but something else. As we can see at the end of the story, Jesus does not condone what the woman did, but gives her another chance and urges her to sin no more. And we can only guess the change about to happen in the life of the adulterous woman who is given another chance.
Do we sometimes usurp God’s prerogative to judge? Why not give people the benefit of the doubt?
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.