Caught in Compromise

“They said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.’”—John 8:4

One of the most startling yet reassuring passages in Scripture is a story of sin and hypocrisy at its worst, but forgiveness and grace at its best. It begins with hurt and hopelessness and then, unexpectedly, it moves to the heights of hope and healing. This is the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery. We don’t know much about the woman. We don’t know whether she was sleeping with another woman’s husband, or whether she was the one married, but whatever the case, she was guilty. What we do know is that she was caught in the act, guilty and fully deserving of punishment. She is brought before Jesus, undoubtedly embarrassed, perhaps partially clothed, dragged out of her illicit affair into the streets for all to see. She was no fool and knew the punishment for such a crime—death. The Scripture commanded the guilty party be put to death (Leviticus 20:10). What is most striking about the passage is not the heinousness of the sin, but the hypocrisy of the accusers. Where was the man? God commanded that they both be put to death,  

"If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death”—Leviticus 20:10. 

But the man was nowhere to be found. Why? Because her accusers didn’t care; it really didn’t matter who she was, or who she was with, they simply wanted to trap Jesus. So we see the heinousness of sin, but we also see the height of hypocrisy. She was caught in the act of moral compromise, a prisoner of illicit passion on display before the world to see. She was not the only one stripped of dignity, clothed in shame, and naked before her Savior. The men who brought her were also guilty—their hypocrisy revealed by Jesus’ response.

They came to Jesus waiting for His response, a terrible trick in the midst of a moral tragedy. They quote to Him the Law regarding the sin of which she was guilty, reminding the Author of the Law what He wrote. Jesus bends down to write on the ground as the jealous jury waited for the verdict from the divine Judge. He stands up to speak, offering words that no one expected to hear, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” The words echoed through the hearts of the malicious mob—words that rang hollow in hypocritical hearts, but from the Savior the words came to life in a way that no one had known before. The intent of the Law from the Lord of life found its mark. Arrested by their own accusations, these men found themselves guilty. She was guilty, yes, but so were they. Their own sins had gone uncovered for so long, but Jesus’ words fell softly to seared souls living in silent rebellion. But the words spoken in the goodness and mercy of Christ led these men to repentance. As Jesus’ words penetrated their souls, still hanging in the air in the presence of the Holy, He knelt back down to the ground and continued writing. Slowly, rocks originally intended to be used as weapons could be heard falling on soft earth. At first, one or two, then three, four, and five. What started as a raindrop of surrender became a torrent of mercy and grace before quietly fading into holy silence as each accuser left. By herself, the woman, likely still shocked by the scandal created by her sin, stood before the Savior. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Where are they? Has no one condemned you?” Her response is short, “No one, Lord.” Jesus responded, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

The story is played out each moment of each day. How many of us have been caught in acts of moral compromise, captured by our sin? There is not one person who is reading this who has not felt guilty in the sight of God, sentenced by the guilt of our sin. But, thank God, there is mercy! For those who come to Christ, He will not cast out. He was condemned so that we wouldn’t be, and He continually offers Himself to us as the condemned Christ on our behalf. He offers Himself to pay for our sin. He showers us with mercy and grace. His grace reveals the hypocrisy of our hearts, as a healing balm, not a condemnation. He desires to heal, to offer mercy, grace and forgiveness.

My brother or sister, are you holding on to your hypocrisy in the face of the Holy One? Are you captured in moral compromise and you know that you are guilty? Turn to Christ. Turn to Him and He will forgive. He will forgive the most heinous of sins, and He offers Himself for you. May God show Himself as the merciful master of our hearts and lives, holding us in the Holy hands that took the nails for us! And may we continually fall at His feet, pleading for grace to continually cleanse us so that we might walk in holiness before Him! And may He receive praise for it forevermore! Amen.