Imagine being in the Temple when Jesus sat teaching. Suddenly, you could hear a commotion. The scuffling of feet and the plethora of voices rises in intensity until a group of Pharisees burst into the room and bring a woman forward. With indignant voices they said to Jesus, “This woman was caught in adultery. The law of Moses instructs us to stone her to death. What do You say?” (my paraphrase). You could undoubtedly see the condescending fire in their eyes and hear the arrogant derision in their voices. Can you imagine the guilt, shame, and intense fear in the woman’s heart knowing she could be stoned any second? She likely stood there trembling with deep fear.
But Jesus ignored the Pharisees. Likely to their irritation, He gave them no eye contact, but stooped down and, with His finger, wrote on the ground. The Pharisees were undoubtedly baffled. The woman was likely puzzled too, perhaps holding her breath. After further persistence by the Pharisees pressing Jesus concerning the demands of the law for capitol punishment and inquiring of Jesus His take on the matter, Jesus sat up. I would imagine He looked the demanding accusers in the eyes. Then Jesus calmly said, “He who is without sin among you all, let him be the first to take up a stone and cast it at her” (my paraphrase). Then Jesus stooped down again and continued to write on the ground.
After an awkward silence, the Pharisees slowly began to exit the room. First, the oldest one among their rank slipped out, followed one by one until they all left. Finally, the woman was left alone in front of Jesus and His original audience. Her heart must have been still racing, yet perhaps slightly relieved knowing the swarm of piranhas had actually left the tension-filled space.
Finally, Jesus sat up and fixed His eyes on this petrified woman. He spoke directly to her. “Where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you?” She answered, “No man, Lord.” Then Jesus, as only Jesus could, said to her, “Neither do I condemn you: go and sin no more.” What an amazing statement! Neither do I condemn you (mercy). Go and sin no more (truth). The sin problem was not overlooked, not at all, but the compassion of the Savior, knowing He would bear the sins of the world, offered this dear woman hope.
But why did the Pharisees leave? They were not believers in Jesus. They did not possess the indwelling Holy Spirit. But they did have a conscience. The narrative in John 8 states, “they…bring convicted by their own conscience went out” (John 8:9).
The word conscience occurs 31 times in 29 verses in the New Testament. Negatively, we read of an evil conscience, a weak conscience, a defiled conscience, and a seared conscience—all examples of an unhealthy conscience. Positively, we read of a pure conscience, a good conscience, and a conscience void of offense—all examples of a healthy conscience.
Paul said, “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16).
People exercise for physical benefit. But since a healthy conscience is powerful, we must exercise ourselves to have always a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men.
In the next four articles we will consider four reasons for this intentionality regarding the conscience.
John Van Gelderen
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