With Opened Bible
"Neither do I condemn you."
“Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.”
At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus declared: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17). If fulfilling the Law is his mission, how can we understand his reaction to what the Law requires?
A woman caught in the act of adultery is brought to him. The Law of Moses is clear on this point, as is the Law of the desert: she must be stoned. (Cf. Deuteronomy 22:22) On this point, the crowd was quite right since it is the Law. But there is a twist in this episode. It is also stated that the adulterous Woman must be condemned along with the man with whom she sinned. Indeed, the crowd brought the Woman but not the man. Therein lies the stark contrast between the Law and mercy that Jesus wants to address.
To understand Jesus' reaction to the Law of Moses, we must also go back to the infidelity of King David, who killed a married man to have his wife. (Cf. 2 Samuel 11:1-27) the prophet Nathan went to him to denounce his sin. However, the king and his soldier's wife, Uriah, survived, and their son Solomon became King of Israel. There was no condemnation or death.
Considering all this, let us return to the question posed at the outset. If Jesus came to fulfill the Law, why did he not condemn the adulterous Woman? By forgiving the adulterous woman, Jesus demonstrates to the Jews that forgiveness and mercy are not just alternatives to punishment but are in fact integral to fulfilling the Law. In a world where justice often means punishing the guilty, we can overlook the fact that God's justice is often expressed through forgiveness. This is the essence of the Law and the prophets: 'Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' Jesus did not come to call the righteous, but sinners (Mathew 9.13; Hosea 6.6).
Thus, God restores what has been broken by the grace of love and mercy. "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you." (John 8:11)
