05/03/2026
'Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."' 📖 John 8:10-11
This story is intriguing on several levels. The lady in question had been ‘caught in adultery’ (v 3), but there is not a man being charged with her, as one might have expected. Where is he? Also, if she had been seen in such circumstances, it is likely that a trap had been set for her – it being highly unlikely that the authorities merely stumbled across this sinful deed. Finally, this woman found herself being used merely as a pawn by the teachers of the law and Pharisees while they tested Jesus. Their interest hardly seems to be in the woman and her adultery, but much more about how they might catch Jesus out. Despite her actions, it’s hard to not have sympathy for her.
The woman stands before Jesus in shame and terror. The leaders had exposed her adultery and the law required her ex*****on. The tension was almost tangible. But Jesus began to write on the ground with his finger. We don’t know what he wrote, but his spoken words were potent: ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her’ (v 7). One by one they dropped their stones and walked away. The law is unaltered, but the woman is forgiven.
If we are genuinely repentant, there is no unforgivable sin. We should turn from our sin and seek forgiveness. But equally, if we find we have a stone in our hand, having seen or heard of the behaviour of someone we know, it might be time to drop it and walk away.
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