Neither do I condemn thee
Today's focusReligious leaders bring a woman caught in adultery to shame her and trap Jesus; he sends her accusers away one by one, then tells her, 'Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.'
Read
2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6This 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. 7So 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. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And 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. 10When 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? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Reflection
The religious leaders brought this woman into the temple to use her as a tool for their trap. By placing her "in the midst" of the crowd to face public shame and the threat of being "stoned," they focused entirely on her failure. You may sometimes feel like this woman—exposed, defined by your past mistakes, or surrounded by voices that demand judgment. Yet, Jesus does not join the shouting. He stoops down, quiet and composed, refusing to be rushed into condemnation.
When Jesus finally speaks, he turns the focus back to the hearts of the accusers. His simple requirement—that the one "without sin" should throw the first stone—strips away their self-righteousness. As they leave "one by one," you see that no human is in a position to cast the final stone at you. Left alone with the woman, Jesus offers a grace that the law could not. He says, "Neither do I condemn thee," providing the only foundation upon which a person can truly "go, and sin no more." His words offer you the freedom to start again, not burdened by shame, but lifted by his mercy.
AI-written reflection on the passage above. Let Scripture itself be the main thing.
Reflect
What would it mean for you to hear Jesus say both 'Neither do I condemn thee' and 'go, and sin no more' about your own struggle?
Pray
Lord Jesus, you did not shame the woman, and you do not shame me. Thank you for your mercy, which is greater than my sin. Give me grace to go and live free.