law

“Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” John 8:4,5 (TNIV)

What, indeed! The teachers of the law and the religious leaders are attempting to trap Jesus in some form of religious infraction, yet again. My gut reaction to this situation is one of anger, and it takes the form of challenging these teachers of the law with the law itself. If these teachers know their subject, they know that both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be equally judged and condemned together (Leviticus 20:10). These teachers and leaders say that this woman was “caught in the act“ of adultery and yet she is presented alone. Surely these accusers are smart enough to know that the sin of adultery is an act that requires two participants, not one alone (there is a name for engaging in a sexual act all by yourself, but “adultery” isn’t it). How can their charge be taken seriously from a legal viewpoint if the accused isn’t capable of committing the sin alone, and no other participant was apparently seen or apprehended when the woman was “caught in the act”? I am not a legal professional, but if I were the judge, this is where I would slam down my gavel, declare the woman innocent of all charges brought against her, invite her to leave the courtroom as a free person, dismiss the case for the sham that it is, and penalize the accusers in some manner for their obvious disrespect of my courtroom and the law itself!

Jesus, however, goes much deeper than I. By responding, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” Jesus goes into the heart and soul of every person present in the temple courtyard (where this incident took place) that day. I would have exposed the charge against this woman as a sham, but Jesus exposed the hearts and souls of all present as being sinful and in need of forgiveness, as well as in need of compassion and grace for their fellow humans. My anger-driven response keeps me shallow, causing me to accomplish nothing more than acting just as disrespectful of the accusers as they were of the woman, the Law and God. I’m so impressed by and so grateful for the depth of perception, insight and wisdom of Jesus!

God’s Law is both good and just, but it is impossible to obey and uphold in goodness and true justice in a sinful environment by sinful people. God’s Law is too pure for sinful mankind to process and use in correctness of action as well as correctness of heart. I know this to be true in my mind, but has the depth of it penetrated my heart yet? Only God, in his perfection, can uphold not only the letter but also the spirit of the Law simultaneously. God’s Law is beyond me, as are his compassion, forgiveness, mercy, love and grace. His Law is pure, as are his attributes. They all belong, not just in my mind but also in my heart, and both places are where I long for them to reside. I am in debt to God regarding the Law and his love for me.