In verse 6, not surprisingly in our story, the Pharisees stand in stark contrast to Jesus.
“ This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.”
Here Jesus is dealing with some of the most blatant hypocrisy found in scripture. The most disturbing part about it is that it is clothed in a religious garb by people who claim to follow God. They seem to need Jesus more than the woman! Here we see that…
Often those who accuse you are just as much in need of grace as you are
I am reminded of a young lady at a church we went too one time. She had a very critical spirit and always had something negative to say about the character flaws of people in the church. She always seemed to get into other peoples relationship issues or had something to say about other people’s marriages. All the while she had a hot temper and nasty attitude. Come to find out her own marriage was falling apart. She spent so much time judging other people’s issues that she didn’t have time to address her own.
Many times those that are the most critical, accusing, or fault finding are those who haven’t yet experienced grace for themselves. Many times they may actually be guilty of sin worse than your own. I have even seen where the very sin that they are accusing you of is actually the very same sin they are guilty of!
Jesus sees right through the hypocrisy. He knows the heart. Nothing is hidden from Him. I just love how Jesus deals with the Pharisees! It is as though He pays them no attention. The Bible says that He stoops down to the ground and begins to write on the ground as though He did not hear them. Sometimes silence is golden! There seems to be a prolonged tension as the impatient religious leaders look down at what Jesus is writing. He seems to them to be indifferent to their question. Then He raises Himself up and says to her accusers, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” The law stated that in a stoning, the witness in the case should be the first to throw the stone. Jesus then quietly stoops back down and begins writing on the ground again. Many scholars suggest and Ellen White confirms through inspiration that what Jesus was doing was writing out in the sand the very sins of the woman’s accusers. And you get the sense that that is exactly what happened, because in verse 9 it says…
“Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last.”
One of the things that struck me as I studied this story is that the Pharisees actually took on a characteristic of Satan! In scripture he is called the “accuser of the brethren.” That is exactly what the religious leaders had done. Remember, they weren’t after the woman. She was just a pawn. They were after Jesus! It is the same thing with Satan, when he leads you into sin. It is not about you! Remember there is a “Great Controversy” going on between Christ and Satan over the character of God. Satan tempts and attacks you because he hates Jesus. This is why it is so important for churches to be a safe place for people in need of grace! Sometimes people forget that church is a hospital for sinners! That is why I am so grateful for churches where people can encounter what this woman is about to encounter at the feet of Jesus.
"CJ" CLAYPOLE S. COUSINS JR., IS SIMPLY A MAN WHO IS IN LOVE WITH JESUS. HIS PASSION IS TO LIVE, PREACH AND TEACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. IN ADDITION TO PREACHING & TEACHING, CJ ALSO LOVES TO SING AND WRITE ABOUT JESUS.