The self-righteous Pharisees had brought a fallen woman to Jesus and, βwhen they had set her in the midstβ, they began to accuse her, saying: βNow Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest Thou?β (John 8:5).
They were using this fallen woman to embarrass the Lord into agreeing that this woman should be stoned, or else leaving Himself open to a charge of repudiating Mosesβ Law.
At first He made βas though He heard them notβ, but, when they continued asking, they got what they asked for! Simply answering: βHe that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at herβ, the Lord turned away again to let that sentence do its work. They had βset her in the midstβ. Now He had set them in the midst and, βbeing convicted by their own conscienceβ, they βwent out one by oneβ (John 8:9).
And there stood the woman alone before Him: a great sinner and a great Saviour. Since none of the Pharisees had dared to cast a stone at her, the Lord said: βNeither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no moreβ (John 8:11).
Thus the Lord graciously forgave the sinner-woman, yet without ignoring the demand of the Law. He had not denied that the woman deserved punishment. He had only pointed out that the Pharisees themselves were sinners; that they, like she, needed aΒ Saviour.
Thank God! Since βChrist died for our sinsβ, God can justly forgive us β and He will, IF we but acknowledge our sin and our need of a Saviour, and do not join the self-righteous who keep βgoing about to establish their own righteousnessβ (Rom. 10:3).
βThis is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to saveΒ SINNERSβ¦β (I Tim. 1:15). God is very gracious to those who will acknowledge their sin and their need: βFor the same Lord over all is RICH UNTO ALL THAT CALL UPON HIM.β source
