Compassion Without Compromise (1)
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin M Overfield
Date: Wed, 10 May 2000
Compassion Without Compromise (1)
(Based on John 8:1-11)
"Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John 8:11b)
The story line here is of great interest and is very instructive to
those of us who need to deal with sinful people.
The scribes and pharisees brought to Jesus this woman, who
was guilty of adultery, and told him that Moses said she should be
stoned (executed by stoning). Then they asked Him, "but what
do you say?"
They were accusing a sinner in the presence of Jesus that they
might have something about which to accuse Him! They didn't
really care about this women who was guilty of sin.
Now, Jesus, Who did care for the sinner (and does still today,
because He is "the same yesterday today and forever"), was put
in a hard position. If He were to answer "Yes, go ahead and stone
her!", they could have accused Him of not caring, maybe even of
being a legalist. One the other hand, if He were to just let her go
free, they could accuse Him of permissiveness, of being a liberal
and against the law of God.
Here's an outline based on this incident:
COMPASSION WITHOUT COMPROMISE
I. The Condemnation of the Sinner
A. Commission of Sin -- Deserving Condemnation and Death
Guilty without doubt -- caught in the very act
B. Commandment of the Sinner's Death Under Consideration
Jesus stooped and wrote -- perhaps something like,
"love covereth all sins" (Proverbs 10:12).
II. The Conviction of the Censorious
(censure -- harshly criticizing and blaming)
Jesus stooped and wrote again -- perhaps something like,
"He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it" (Ecclesiastes 10:8).
Then, while they were insisting that He answer, He arose and said,
"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."
(John 8:7).
A. Confounded by His Comprehension
-- Jesus saw through their carnal conniving
B. Convicted by Their Own Conscience
The scribes & pharisees were legalistic liberals. They insisted on
the letter of the law, but did not have the spirit of the law. "The
letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life" (II Corinthians 3:6).
They required strict adherence of others, but they themselves
compromised and were inconsistent. Jesus said of them (at least of
the scribes), "They say, and do not." (Matthew 23:3).
They allowed the traditions of men at times to break the very law of
God that they prided themselves in keeping (Matthew 15:1-6). Jesus
told them, "The publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God
before you" (Matthew 21:31, 32).
They themselves were already under condemnation, because they
would not believe in Christ - "He that believeth not is condemned already,
because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
(John 3:18). And, because they would not believe to be saved from their
sins, they became willing to have Jesus Christ crucified, the only One Who
has NEVER SINNED.
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
Please pass this Bible Note to others who may
be interested or helped by it.
To subscribe to FREE Bible Notes just send an empty e-mail to
[email protected]