Now, Moses Commanded

Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say? 

John 8:3-5 

Every generation has, what P.J. O’Rourke once called, ‘the moral aristocracy.’ In Christ’s day, Israel had the scribes and Pharisees. The Pharisees’ name meant, ‘Separatist.’ They were extremely scrupulous about their ostensible obedience to the law of God. To them, image was astronomically important. They were ostentatious in their practice of religion and insistent that everyone they could influence be just as they were. They arrogantly looked down upon the majority of their fellow Israelites and upon Jesus particularly. Everything Christ said and did exposed them for the frauds they were. He challenged all their self-righteous preconceptions. When the situation arose where they caught this woman in the act of adultery, they saw and seized the opportunity to use her to entrap Christ. Their perspective was that they, who obeyed the law, could finally expose Christ by forcing Him to either condemn the woman or ignore the law. They were full of plans to defeat Him and show themselves to be righteous. Parts of us may identify with them. Within each of us lies the inclination for self-righteousness. Christ has the answer for us all.  

Our Gracious and Wise God, 
we rejoice that You know us better than we know ourselves. 
We praise You that You are ever ready 
to show us what is good and right.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning