“And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him ‘a woman’ taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, Master, ‘this woman’ was taken in adultery, in the very act.” John 8: 3-4. 

 Who were these Scribes and Pharisees?

Scribes were Bible teachers. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but if I were a Jew who lived in 1st century Palestine, I’d be a scribe. Scribes were Bible teachers. They were experts in the Law of Moses, the Torah, and the Prophets.

Who were the Pharisees?

The Pharisees were the devout, pious people. They were religious leaders who tried to live out the Law in practical ways. Today, they would be our church leaders.  

When we hear those two titles today, we automatically think of them as bad people. But they were deemed the best of the best. They weren’t bad people. These were the ‘holy’ guys. Most of us couldn’t get into their club. Perhaps a few could squeeze in, but most of dare not try, we certainly wouldn’t be welcome. 

A deeper look at John 8: 3-4

Surely, these are not the attitudes of religious leaders – publicly exposing sinners, readily accusing, sternly hard-faced, devoid of human pity. Being in their presence should have been the recipe for love and forgiveness. But instead, she was dragged, pulled, yanked naked from the bedroom to the temple. The noble aim, restoration, of the church’s holy image. This woman had gone against its teaching in her quest for love. This presented the perfect opportunity to finally entrap Jesus. The law demanded her death by stoning. Christian love should have sought to restore her, but this was absent. Would divine love break the divine law or human law? The test was perfect!   

Remember she was taken into the Temple. This is where they dragged her. They had turned Jesus’ Prayer meeting into a Court Scene. The Church was transformed into a judgement hall. The church, a place of refuge, a haven, a sanctuary, had become a courthouse and a death chamber. The keepers of the law were more concerned about image than individuals. They were more anxious about saving face than extending love to a vulnerable person. Where was the Christian love they should have shown? How often do we abandon the most vulnerable to satisfy our own selfish motives?   

The Apostle Paul makes it very clear in his letter to the Galatians in chapter 6 verse 10, Christians should have love for all men and women, but especially for those who are the ‘household of faith’. Those who share in God’s inheritance should treat others as sons and daughters of God.  As Christians we ought to be different from the world. We are called to give love even when the image of the church is threatened. The woman was entitled to love from her religious leaders. Should she have been chastised? Yes, but in love, instead she was exposed, degraded and sentenced to death for what was clearly a two-person offence.   

It is so often the case that those from whom we expect love and acceptance come disappointments – mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, even the church.  Israelmore Ayivor an inspirational writer said, “You should either be like the candle that produces light, or you live like mirror which reflects it. Pray for love; Sow love, Show love and share love!” 

Father God, help us to follow your example and show genuine love to others, through Jesus Christ, amen.