The Woman Taken in Adultery

 

Two claims about Christianity that really disgust me are, first, the “happy happy joy joy” notion that Christians are supposed to find life always happy; an absurd and offensive thought to hold in the very shadow of Jesus pinioned on the cross. Second, the notion that Christians are not to judge―endlessly used as a get out of jail free card by non-Christians wanting to get away with bad actions.

I think I have dealt with both here before. 

For the second heresy, one passage often cited is the “judge not, lest ye be judged” verse in Matthew.

Matthew 7:1-5—in context.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

It actually ends with judgement; with you judging your brother. You are indeed to judge; but not judge by any standard you are not ready to apply to yourself. It is a warning against hypocrisy, not judgement.

A second Biblical passage often cited is that in John of the woman taken in adultery. 

2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

--John 7:53-8:11

Biblical scholars argue that this is a late insertion, not found in the earliest Greek texts. As a Catholic, I do not care. The Church obviously did find it significant, to insert it.

But Jesus does judge the woman—he says she has sinned. Nor does he say she should not be stoned.

When the Pharisees there to stone her fade away, she remains standing. She could have taken to her heels. Jesus is not looking, giving her this opportunity.  He is deliberately looking down at the ground. She has, by this, expressed repentance for her sin, and has acknowledged that she deserves punishment.

Under these conditions, we can and should forgive. And if we do, we can expect the same forgiveness from God.

If, on the other hand, we take to our heels, deny that we have done wrong, deny the justice of our condemnation, we are damned. 

And it is the fraternal duty of the Christian to point out to us our wrong. Unless, that is, he wants to see us in hell.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.