“To err is human, to forgive divine”
We are forgiven by God and therefore are commanded and enabled by God to be forgiving.
Religious leaders of Jesus' day asked a “trick” question to make Jesus appear too forgiving or not forgiving enough. They went so far as to drag a woman “caught in the act” of adultery into a public setting and then quoted a Bible verse!
Jesus’ response is so wise and so wonderful! After writing on the ground(we don’t know what), He challenged her accusers to throw stones at her if they had no sin. (The Bible expositor, G. Campbell Morgan said that got him out of the stone-throwing business.) Each accuser left and then Jesus forgave the woman. He did not condemn her but exhorted her to do better.
Talk about hope and change!
So when we are confronted with sin in others, let’s remember our own shortcomings and focus on doing right instead of what’s been done wrong.
See you Sunday.
1. Some ancient manuscripts don’t have this Bible story in them. Why do you
think it might not have been included?
2. What Scriptures did the religious leaders base their question on: See
Leviticus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22.
3. How do you feel about the “sinner “being put on public display? John 8:3
4. If she was “caught in the act” why isn’t the adulterer also brought to
Jesus? John 8:3
5. Can you think of any instances where someone would use a Bible verse to
their “advantage”?
6. Compare the following Scriptures with John 8:7. Matthew 7:1-5, James 2:13
and 4:11
7. Why didn’t Jesus condemn the woman? Consider Luke 12:14, John 3: 17
8. Do you find it more challenging to be forgiving in regard to “big sins”?
It is interesting to study the mixture of sins listed together in Galatians
5:19-21
9. How do you think the woman felt after her encounter with Jesus? How would
a “sinner” feel after encountering us?
