Clarification/Follow-up by PraiseJah on 05/18/04 3:19 am:
Cherab - both the man and woman were to be stoned to death for adultery in Israel. Lev 20:10. It was by no means one sided. Jesus knew that and that is why he intervened.

Clarification/Follow-up by Cherab on 05/18/04 9:10 am:
PJ - you are right that the law made that provision, and I was wrong. Sorry.

However, in the execution of that law, it was not uncommon for adulterous men to go free, as was the case with King David, who, for the crime of adultery with Bathsheba, and for ordering Uriah to be put in the front of battle in a time of war, where he was slain by the enemy, suffered only to lose his kingship, and his soul thrust into hell.

The law of Moses, as you have rightly pointed out to me, as first given to Israel, was that if any should be found in adultery they should be stoned to death.

However, the Rabbis, by nice discriminations of words, practically had rendered that law a dead letter, by reason of which the adulterers in Israel escaped the punishment that God had decreed against them.

Therefore, they thought, if they could take a person who unquestionably had been guilty of this crime and bring her into the presence of Jesus, they would either bring him in conflict with the law of Moses, or with the tradition of the elders, and in either case would have sufficient cause to denounce him to the people.

So they found a woman caught in the very act, they dragged her through the streets, and cast her at his feet.

"Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?"

He replied, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."

One by one they slunk away, until the woman was left alone with Jesus. When Jesus looked around, and saw none but the woman, he said to her, "Woman, where are thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?" "No man, Lord," she said.

Then Jesus said: "Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more."

That is how God deals with sinners. It is written that God cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance, and that is true, he cannot. But how about the sinner?

He may look upon the sinner with infinite compassion. While sin is hateful yet will God help and love the sinner, if he will but go his way and sin no more.

Such is our human weakness, and so nearly the level upon which we all move, that there is none of us that will not need to plead mightily for mercy and, thank God, we shall not plead in vain.

Even though our Judge cannot look upon sin with any allowance, his heart goes out in compassion and love to men and he will help them to overcome sin, to fight a good fight, to keep the faith, and at last enable them to win the crown in the kingdom of our God.