John 8:3-6,7,9–The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” …7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

If you have made it a point to carry out a conviction, a rule, or truth and want to enforce it so you don’t compromise it, no one probably would accuse you of being irrational in any way.  But living by the “letter of the law” without love can begin to look irrational when you are called to love people and not condemn them.

Jesus was confronted by men who couldn’t wait to carry out the “letter of the law”.  They really didn’t care about the situation and how to restore the woman, they just wanted swift justice on her sin!  Now obviously being scriptural is important, and carrying out the truth of God’s Word is our goal, but it is not more important than loving God and people as yourself with the scriptures!

The Law which they were so ambitious to carry out, is summed in these two commandments, Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:38-40).  If these men loved God they would first be dealing with God on how to work on their self-righteous arrogance and judgmental hearts to receive mercy.  Also if they loved their neighbor as themselves, they would see the mercy God extends to them and love their neighbor as God loves them, mercifully!

Jesus would go on and ask the penetrating question that silences them in verse 7.  Realizing that they all have sin, they all left one by one.  The woman was then exhorted by Jesus to sin no more.  Jesus was coming to show that none of us want swift justice on our sin, we want mercy and grace, so that is what we should extend to others.  Seek Christ for love and mercy to be the goal of your heart over swift judgment and condemnation.

In His Love, Ld