*[[Mat 7:1-2]] KJV*
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again
*[[Joh 3:17]] KJV*
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
*[[Joh 8:7]] KJV*
So 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.
We all know the story of the woman who was taken in adultery and brought before Jesus.
His adversaries knew they had him this time. Would this peoples prophet who had such compassion that he healed even on the sabbath, even had healed and ate with sinful Jews, had gone so far as to heal gentiles, all the while speaking of the love of God.
Shaming them for not showing that love, proclaiming the law could be completely obeyed by love. Now what would he do disobey the law ignoring the judgment of God given by Moses or show that his compassion has limits..Either way would do.
Either way would show his ignorance and lack of authority to loose what they had bound.
When you are in a fight, the punch you don't see coming is the one that knocks you out. In my minds eye I see Jesus' adversaries stumbling away punch drunk. They brought a woman they caught in the act of a stonable offence but with just a few words conviction of their own sinfulness made them unable to wield the stones.
We are judged by God in the same way we judge others. If we think sinners should be condemned...God will condemn us. If we think sinners should be exposed...God will expose us. If we will have nothing to do with them...God will have nothing to do with us. If we think sinners need to be saved, loved, and helped...God will save, love and help us.
One last thing about condemning sinners; Jesus doesn't condemn those who don't accept him. In truth they where condemned before he offered to save them so rejecting him simply keeps them in the same situation. This is how the christian is to deal with those bound by sin without judgment but with salvation.The fear of the Lord may be the beginning of wisdom, but it is the love of God that draws men to repent. We trust that as the Spirit lives in and through us he conforms us to the image of the lover of men's souls.
*[[Joh 8:11]] KJV*
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Rick Rosamond
A bond slave of Jesus
