Bro. Eddie Ministries: The Word Gives InstructionHalimbawa

While Jesus attends to the needs of the multitudes that thronged Him, the Pharisees and teachers of the law brought to Him a woman they said to have been caught in adultery.

They said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do you say?” (John 8:4-5)

Their question was meant to entrap Jesus that they might have basis to accuse Him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger. When they kept on questioning him, He straightened up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (v. 7)

Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” (v. 10)

She said, “No one, Lord.”

Thus Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” (v. 11)

Many times the Pharisees felt disgust upon seeing Jesus dining and spending time with prostitutes and tax collectors whom they view as sinners. As if they are not. For “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

But it is not only the Pharisees who displayed self-righteous attitude. All people have the tendency to act that way.

As people who were changed by God, we need to reach out to transgressors with the same love and compassion we received from Him. Unless we do it with all sincerity, we will not be able to let them know that God shows mercy and that He forgives.

Jesus responds to people based on their honest opinion of themselves. It comes as no surprise to Him anyway. In fact He waits for us to realize who we really are before Him. That is why He said to the alleged adulterer, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

But to the self-righteous, He said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 13:27-28)

Sin harms us. We may ignore or justify it according to our own standards of right and wrong. We may even pretend that we do not sin so that we can keep on doing it.

But Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

We must know how God views sin. That He hates it. Likewise we must know how much He forgives when people come to Him, repent and decide to forsake sin. If we know it, we will embrace sinners who come to God begging Him to change them. And because we know that we have received the same mercy from God just as they have, we must shun the evil of becoming judgmental.

Reflection:
1.What are the dangers of pointing at others’ sins and failing to look at our own?
2.List down ways on how you can be friendlier to those who need God’s healing and forgiveness.

We can fully know the meaning of mercy and forgiveness only in the eyes of God.