“耶稣说：‘我也不定你的罪，去吧！从此不要再犯罪了。’” – 约 8:11
耶稣对那行淫时被捉拿的妇人是如此温柔，实在暖人心房。根据摩西的律法，这妇人有可能会被人用石头打死（利未记 20:10）然而，耶稣知道宗教领袖们的目的是要试探衪，而不是真的关心遵守神的律法。妇人在行淫时被拿，表示他们也知道与她行淫的男人是谁，但是这人在哪里呢？这个故事完全没有提起他。宗教领袖们认为，如果耶稣不支持判妇人死刑，衪便犯了不守律法的罪。这样，他们便得到控告衪的把柄了。
然而，耶稣却反守为攻，把箭头转向宗教领袖们、使他们落在一个不知所措的境况中。耶稣说：“你们中间谁是没有罪的，谁就可以先拿石头打她。”拿起石头打她就代表宣告你是没有罪的。没有一个领袖准备这样做，于是控告她的人一个一个地都出去了。耶稣随后告诉妇人：“我也不定你的罪，去吧！从此不要再犯罪了。”
同样，主也告诉我们：“我来到世上，不是要定你们的罪，乃是要赦免你们的罪；你们要悔改，从此不要再犯罪了”（参看约翰福音 3:17-21）。“并且以我对待你们的温柔，去对待每一个在你周围所遇见的人吧！”（参看马太福音 7:12）。
祷告
耶稣啊，你以温柔待我们每一个罪人，令我们感慨惊叹。你是一位如此温柔的救主，我们感谢你。求你帮助我们也以温柔待人。阿们。
约翰福音 8:3-11
3文士和法利赛人带着一个行淫时被拿的妇人来，叫她站在当中，
4就对耶稣说：“夫子，这妇人是正行淫之时被拿的。
5摩西在律法上吩咐我们把这样的妇人用石头打死，你说该把她怎么样呢？”
6他们说这话乃试探耶稣，要得着告他的把柄。耶稣却弯着腰，用指头在地上画字。
7他们还是不住地问他，耶稣就直起腰来，对他们说：“你们中间谁是没有罪的，谁就可以先拿石头打她。”
8于是又弯着腰，用指头在地上画字。
9他们听见这话，就从老到少，一个一个地都出去了，只剩下耶稣一人，还有那妇人仍然站在当中。
10耶稣就直起腰来，对她说：“妇人，那些人在哪里呢？没有人定你的罪吗？”
11她说：“主啊，没有。”耶稣说：“我也不定你的罪。去吧，从此不要再犯罪了！”
The Gentleness Of Jesus
“‘Neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’” – John 8:11
Jesus’ gentleness to the woman who was caught in adultery is heartwarming. According to the law of Moses, this woman could have been stoned to death (Leviticus 20:10). But Jesus knew the religious leaders were more interested in trapping him than in following God’s law. The fact that the woman was caught in adultery means that the man involved was also known. But where was he? He is not even mentioned in the story. The religious leaders simply assumed that if Jesus did not demand the death penalty, he would be guilty of breaking the law, and that would give them a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus turned the tables on the religious leaders and put them into an impossible situation. He said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” So throwing a stone would mean declaring yourself sinless. None of the leaders were prepared to do that. One by one, her accusers went away, and then Jesus told the woman, “Neither do I condemn you. . . . Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Similarly, the Lord tells us, “I came into this world not to condemn you but to forgive you; repent and sin no more” (see John 3:17-21). “And with the gentleness that I treat you, treat everyone around you” (see Matthew 7:12).
Prayer
Jesus, we marvel at your gentleness with all of us sinners. Thank you for being such a gentle Savior, and help us to be gentle with others. Amen.
