This was the message of Christ. He ate with the sinners, the poor, the tax collectors. The ones who needed Him, who wanted Him. He spent time with the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, but His heart was to those that needed the redeeming love of God. Not those who were too good and were doing fine on their own - or so they believed.
To the woman caught in adultery when they tried to trap Him He said "go and sin no more".
He did not judge. He did not condemn. She knew she was wrong, she was embarrassed, humiliated, and He gave her the way out of the life she was living. He reached out and showed her love not condemnation, not judgment, nor did He condone, or approve, or turn a blind eye.
John 8:1-12KJV
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
The love of Christ is very evident in the way He handled this situation.
When the woman was brought (please note it takes two for adultery but only one was brought) they were trying to trip Him up. His doctrine was love, theirs was the law. They were trying to paint Him in a corner. If He had said she had not sinned then they would have had Him, if He had said anything that would go against the law they would have Him,, whereas if He had said that she should be stoned they had Him as He was going against the doctrine He had preached to the multitudes.
Instead He wrote in the dirt (what He wrote was inconsequential and a matter of endless debate) and allowed the situation to cool. He didn't rush to judgment, no rash decisions, no insults, or condescension. Christ is the ultimate Judge. He knows we as humans shall kick ourselves harder than anyone else ever could. He doesn't condemn, at least not till the Great Judgment Day. He understands we are human and given to sin. He understands that we are striving.
When He said "Let him without sin cast the first stone" He allowed the accusers to see that they are in sin as well. Their hearts convicted them. Hence when He looked up they were all gone.
Then at the final scene He addresses the woman. He again doesn't judge but shows compassion and tells her "go and sin no more."
This instance is perhaps the most used and the most misrepresented part of Christ's teachings. Most people remember that Christ said He didn't condemn the woman. Everyone seems to forget the "go and sin no more". The true teaching of Christ is very simple. Believe on Him. Repent. Love the Lord thy God with all the heart soul and mind, Love thy neighbor as thyself. In those last two statements are the whole of the mosaic Law.
The lesson for us here is very simple. We should never rush to judgment. We should never, ever condone, or approve or sanction the sin. BUT we should never condemn the sinner. We should Love as Christ did and realize that accept for the Grace of God that could be us and very well might be before we are all done. We have the same capacity for mistakes as the person we are looking at, judging, dealing with etc...
Christ Shall forgive the sin, we should forgive as well and then we stand by the fallen brother/sister as they still have to work their way through whatever consequences derive from the sin. A mistake is human be there as they need a hand up.
To the woman caught in adultery when they tried to trap Him He said "go and sin no more".
He did not judge. He did not condemn. She knew she was wrong, she was embarrassed, humiliated, and He gave her the way out of the life she was living. He reached out and showed her love not condemnation, not judgment, nor did He condone, or approve, or turn a blind eye.
John 8:1-12KJV
8 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
The love of Christ is very evident in the way He handled this situation.
When the woman was brought (please note it takes two for adultery but only one was brought) they were trying to trip Him up. His doctrine was love, theirs was the law. They were trying to paint Him in a corner. If He had said she had not sinned then they would have had Him, if He had said anything that would go against the law they would have Him,, whereas if He had said that she should be stoned they had Him as He was going against the doctrine He had preached to the multitudes.
Instead He wrote in the dirt (what He wrote was inconsequential and a matter of endless debate) and allowed the situation to cool. He didn't rush to judgment, no rash decisions, no insults, or condescension. Christ is the ultimate Judge. He knows we as humans shall kick ourselves harder than anyone else ever could. He doesn't condemn, at least not till the Great Judgment Day. He understands we are human and given to sin. He understands that we are striving.
When He said "Let him without sin cast the first stone" He allowed the accusers to see that they are in sin as well. Their hearts convicted them. Hence when He looked up they were all gone.
Then at the final scene He addresses the woman. He again doesn't judge but shows compassion and tells her "go and sin no more."
This instance is perhaps the most used and the most misrepresented part of Christ's teachings. Most people remember that Christ said He didn't condemn the woman. Everyone seems to forget the "go and sin no more". The true teaching of Christ is very simple. Believe on Him. Repent. Love the Lord thy God with all the heart soul and mind, Love thy neighbor as thyself. In those last two statements are the whole of the mosaic Law.
The lesson for us here is very simple. We should never rush to judgment. We should never, ever condone, or approve or sanction the sin. BUT we should never condemn the sinner. We should Love as Christ did and realize that accept for the Grace of God that could be us and very well might be before we are all done. We have the same capacity for mistakes as the person we are looking at, judging, dealing with etc...
Christ Shall forgive the sin, we should forgive as well and then we stand by the fallen brother/sister as they still have to work their way through whatever consequences derive from the sin. A mistake is human be there as they need a hand up.
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