No Condemnation

The woman caught in adultery was left alone with Jesus after He sent her accusers away.  And Jesus then told her he did not condemn her, but to go and leave her life of sin.

Later, Jesus talks about how everyone who sins is a “slave” to sin and he mentions that slaves have no permanent place in a family.  However, a son belongs to the family forever. 

The only difference between those who believe and those who do not is that we who believe are no longer slaves, but we have been brought into the family.  So that’s why we have no place and no right to condemn those who are still slaves…because we were once slaves ourselves.  This is why Jesus sent the lady’s accusers away.  They too were slaves to sin, yet they stood accusing her.

Those accusers were sons/descendants of Abraham – an earthly guy – and they thought that gave them a one-up on the poor lady caught in sin. In fact, Jesus went on further to tell them that their father was the devil – the father of all lies! Ouch!

Jesus did not condemn the lady, but he did call her out of her life of sin.  He did condemn the religious people who thought they were followers, when they didn’t really believe.

Lord, help us to be true followers of you – not condemning others – but calling them to be sons.