Read: Romans 3:9-10 (TPT)
So, are we to conclude then that we Jews are superior to all others? Certainly not! For we have already proven that both Jews and gentiles are all under the bondage of sin. And the Scriptures agree, for it is written: There is no one who always does what is right, no, not even one!
It was early in the morning before the sun had risen. Crowds of students were gathering in the city ready to listen to the words of a guest speaker. The event would have been peaceful if only the religious authorities didn’t stand ready to cast a wrench in what would otherwise have been a day of teaching. As they burst onto the scene, they carried with them evidence of a crime that would challenge the words of the speaker. However, he was confident his teachings were sound. But how would he choose to respond to someone casting doubt into the minds of the crowd?
The man whom so many had gathered to hear, Jesus, was presented with a woman caught in the act of adultery. The religious authorities (Pharisees), in an effort to demonstrate Jesus did not follow the law of Moses, wanted Jesus to agree that the woman should be stoned for violating one of the ten commandments – thou shalt not commit adultery. Remarkably, Jesus responded by writing in the dust with His finger. That act made the Pharisees angry and they insisted He answer the question… and He did. “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7b) He then continued writing in the dust.
Talk about a drop-the-mic moment! I can just picture those Pharisees trying to make themselves small enough to leave the area without anyone noticing. The truth is, the Pharisees aren’t the only ones who try to be judge and jury when it comes to the sins of the rest of the world. We like to be the Monday morning quarterback, forgetting we have never played the game of football.
Jesus saw the woman’s sin the same way He sees ours. There is no differentiator. Sin is sin. We are not allowed to be the ones who decide the punishment. We are, however, allowed to be the ones who forgive. Remember, before we were given the authority for forgiveness, we were first forgiven.
