3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court,
4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.
5 “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?”
6 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.
7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court.
10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]” John 8:1-11.
———————————-
This Scripture for today reminds us of 1 John 1:8-10. “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”
Some people misuse the Scripture for today, particularly “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”, to try to make it seem as if either they did not sin or some friend did not sin.
However, Jesus did not teach that the woman did not sin. Yes, he did not condemn her, but he made it clear that she did sin by stating: “Sin no more“. (Emphasis added.)
So, we go back to 1 John 1:8-10. We learn to admit our sins. But, we do more than just admit our sins when we are confronted with our sins. We confess our sins even if others do not confront us with our sins.
We may wrongly think that the worst that can happen to us if others confront us with our sins. But, Psalm 32 reveals the worst. “When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.” Psalm 32:3-4.
But, when we confess ours sins, God forgives us of our guilt. Psalm 32:5.
God provides deliverance and even a hiding place. “You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.” Psalm 32:7.
God delivers us from our sins. 1 John 1:9 assures us that God cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
Can God even provide a hiding place for us? He did so for the adulterous woman. If ever there was a person who needed and wanted a hiding place, it was this adulterous woman. Yet, Jesus provided it for her as Jesus caused her accusers to leave one by one. Her story builds our faith that Jesus can forgive us, deliver us, and hide us.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 