365 Days in the Gospels and Spirit of Prophecy
Exposing Hypocrisy — June 2 [Description]
Bible discovery
1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 365D 153.2
2 Now [a] early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 365D 153.3
3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 365D 153.4
4 they said to Him, “Teacher, [b] this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 365D 153.5
5 Now [c] Moses, in the law, commanded us [d] that such should be stoned. But what do You [e] say?” 365D 153.6
6 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, [f] as though He did not hear. 365D 153.7
7 So when they continued asking Him, He [g] raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 365D 153.8
8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 365D 153.9
9 Then those who heard it, being [h] 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. 365D 153.10
10 When Jesus had raised Himself up [i] and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers [j] of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 365D 153.11
11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go [k] and sin no more.” 365D 153.12
Spirit of Prophecy Reading
The Desire of Ages pp.460.4-462: 365D 153.13
The woman had stood before Jesus, cowering with fear. His words, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone,” had come to her as a death sentence. She dared not lift her eyes to the Saviour's face, but silently awaited her doom. In astonishment she saw her accusers depart speechless and confounded; then those words of hope fell upon her ear, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” Her heart was melted, and she cast herself at the feet of Jesus, sobbing out her grateful love, and with bitter tears confessing her sins. 365D 153.14
This was to her the beginning of a new life, a life of purity and peace, devoted to the service of God. In the uplifting of this fallen soul, Jesus performed a greater miracle than in healing the most grievous physical disease; He cured the spiritual malady which is unto death everlasting. This penitent woman became one of His most steadfast followers. With self-sacrificing love and devotion she repaid His forgiving mercy. 365D 153.15
In His act of pardoning this woman and encouraging her to live a better life, the character of Jesus shines forth in the beauty of perfect righteousness. While He does not palliate sin, nor lessen the sense of guilt, He seeks not to condemn, but to save. The world had for this erring woman only contempt and scorn; but Jesus speaks words of comfort and hope. The Sinless One pities the weakness of the sinner, and reaches to her a helping hand. While the hypocritical Pharisees denounce, Jesus bids her, “Go, and sin no more.” 365D 153.16
It is not Christ's follower that, with averted eyes, turns from the erring, leaving them unhindered to pursue their downward course. Those who are forward in accusing others, and zealous in bringing them to justice, are often in their own lives more guilty than they. Men hate the sinner, while they love the sin. Christ hates the sin, but loves the sinner. This will be the spirit of all who follow Him. Christian love is slow to censure, quick to discern penitence, ready to forgive, to encourage, to set the wanderer in the path of holiness, and to stay his feet therein. 365D 153.17