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Moses Lake, Wash.<\/em><\/p>\n Both casual and committed readers of Scripture are familiar with the woman caught in adultery that is shared in John 7:53-8:11. Jesus was teaching at the temple (John 8:2) when the religious leaders (John 8:3) brought a woman who was accused of being caught in the act of adultery (John 8:4). Old Testament law required punishment for this sin which was death (Leviticus 22:10; Deuteronomy 22:22-23), but this was a trap the religious leaders were setting for Jesus.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The gospel writer John tells us about the religious leaders\u2019 purpose in setting this trap. \u201cThey were saying this, testing him, so that they might have grounds for accusing him\u201d<\/em> (John 8:6a).[1] New Testament scholar Leon Morris says that the Greek word for \u201ctesting\u201d<\/em><\/strong> here indicates a test in which the tested person fails. As The Message <\/em>puts it, \u201cThey were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thus far, we\u2019ve seen the place Jesus is located (John 7:53-8:2) and the problem He faced (John 8:3-6a). Next, let\u2019s see the point Jesus decides to make. \u201cBut Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, \u2018He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.\u2019 Again, He stooped down and wrote on the ground\u201d<\/em> (John 8:6b\u20138).<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But what was Jesus writing? Even though we don\u2019t know what Jesus was specifically writing, we do know what He was generally declaring: The accusers have to throw the first stone (Deut 17:7). But they can only throw that stone if they do not have sin in their own lives. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>This story is significant for three reasons. First, it\u2019s a lesson in humility. <\/em>Before we judge others, we need to judge ourselves. We all have sin in our lives. Some of us have more sin<\/em> than others. Some of us have more public<\/em> sins<\/em> than others. Ours might be a private sin we struggle with that no one sees, such as jealousy or envy. Some are more public, like inappropriate anger or our language. We all have struggles. And before we judge another person\u2019s sin, we need to take an inventory of our own sin.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Second, it\u2019s a lesson in grace. <\/em>Notice, Jesus didn\u2019t dismiss the woman\u2019s alleged sin. He didn\u2019t rationalize it, saying, \u201cWell, she had needs.\u201d He didn\u2019t do spiritual gymnastics to twist the Law to say she was okay, \u201cWell, her husband is always gone and it\u2019s like she\u2019s a widow.\u201d Jesus extended grace to her. Jesus did not dismiss her sin; He placed His cross between her and her sin. If we explain away wrong and we say that sin is not sin, it makes what Jesus does to forgive our sin meaningless. If there\u2019s no right or wrong, Jesus\u2019s death is meaningless.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Third, it\u2019s a lesson in holiness. <\/em>After everyone has left, Jesus\u2019 final words to the woman are these, \u201cFrom now on sin no more\u201d<\/em>(John 8:11). He\u2019s telling her to cease to continue an action that has already started. In other words, He\u2019s saying, \u201cstop your sinful habit\u201d and \u201cdon\u2019t return to it.\u201d Forgiveness is not permission for someone to do the same thing again. We won\u2019t be perfect, but our calling as believers is to strive for holiness just as Jesus tells this woman and the audience.<\/p>\n \u2014<\/p>\n Christopher L. Scottwrites from Moses Lake, WA. ChristopherLynnScott.com\u00a0<\/p>\n [1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.<\/p>\n ____________________________________________<\/p>\n Christopher L. Scott, a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, is a pastor and freelance writer. Christopher L. Scott writes from Exeter, CA. Learn more about his writing ministry at\u00a0ChristopherLynnScott.com.<\/p>\n \u00a0Read more good Christian News\u00a0HERE.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Moses Lake, Wash. Both casual and committed readers of Scripture are familiar with the woman caught in adultery that is shared in John 7:53-8:11. Jesus was teaching at the temple (John 8:2) when the religious leaders (John 8:3) brought a woman who was accused of being caught in the act of adultery (John 8:4). 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