The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”

John 8:3-5 (ESV)

 

The Pharisees and Jesus views sin differently. While the Pharisees saw sin as a crime to be punished, Jesus sees it as a wound to be healed. Nothing better exemplifies these two opposites than the story of the woman caught in adultery (cf. John 8:1-11).

The Pharisees were legalistic-minded people who justify punishment over forgiveness. They desired to exercise retributive justice, but only on the woman, not the man. Jesus, on the other hand, puts forgiveness before judgement. His justice is restorative justice. He went beyond the sin of the woman to restore her to herself (“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? ”She said, “No one, Lord.”) and to God (“Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”)

Although Jesus' judgement appears to be far too light, He did not dismiss the woman's transgression. Rather, He bore her punishment on the Cross for her to receive God's free and full pardon. Jesus did not need to condemn the woman since He would condemn her sin in His own flesh. (cf. Romans 8:3-4). Christ’s gracious act of self-sacrifice reveals a significant contrast between the Old Covenant and New Covenant.

The Law has the authority to condemn sin, but it does not have the ability to eradicate sin. In contrast, Jesus destroyed sin’s power over us and set free us from its condemnation.

Now, as new creations in Christ, we must learn to walk victoriously and free, always relying on His grace to overcome every sinful habit. We will still stumble in many ways. However, rather of feeling condemned, we should continue to draw near to Jesus, allowing His Spirit to reign and direct our hearts to live righteously before Him.