Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

– John 8:10-11 (NIV)

Today’s commentary
by Dave Whitehead, Author of Making Sense of the Bible

This is the climatic moment in the account of an adulterous woman who was brought before Jesus. The religious leaders wanted justice, but Jesus exposed all of them to their need for mercy. Notice that mercy does not overlook the sin of the woman. On the contrary, it is Christ’s mercy that frees her to live in a new way. It is no different for us, for we all stand guilty and condemned. We all need Christ’s mercy to free us and guide us to new life.