Here is the thing, if people close to us never hurt us, chances are that they’re not being their best selves while around us. Meaning also that we don’t know such people so well, and so, we are not enjoying the best possible relationship with them
Torat Moshe, also known as the Torah, is traditionally believed by the Hebrews to have been written by Moses. The Torah refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. These books are replete with God’s laws handed down to Moses and Moses’ teachings based on them. Generally, adultery was considered a hideous offense throughout the Torah.
Much as every adult knows how impossible it is to have an accusation of adultery solely laid on one individual, the punishment meted out to an adulterous woman going by the Torah came nothing close to what the male counterpart received. The society did more than frown at it, she must be stoned to death.
In John 8:11, Jesus seemed to have reacted differently and contrary to expectations, to an adulterous woman.
“….neither do I, said Jesus, ‘Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.”
Jesus discharged and acquitted a woman condemned by law to death!
Let us not rewrite the Bible in a hurry just yet. Is adultery an offense? YES it is, before man and God! So did Jesus not act contrary to God’s laws in John 8:3-11? Were the people not right in their accusations?
It may be true that your wife deeply indulged in adultery to the point that she offered her body generously to men at no good price. And that your boss has decided to keep you ‘under’ because he is intimidated and threatened by God’s glory o’re you. It may have also happened that your husband recently threw you and you 6 months old baby out of the house, preferring a younger woman. Or your parents really don’t give a hood where you are, what you do or how you do it.
In all of this , what does God expect of you…..and I?
This article was informed by one of my recently discovered near favorite scriptures in the Bible, 🙂 Colossians 3:2;
“And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.” (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition-AMPC).
Look at that scripture one more time; is it any obvious that Believers have a choice to act differently in situations were they can legitimately apply the law?
Is it possible to be like Jesus Christ before Pontius Pilate and be given opportunity to exonerate ourselves from false accusations and yet choose not to, because of a secondary gain to another? (Selah).
What are the ‘Higher things’ being referred to in Colossians 3:2?
Am sorry to say it is not Tithing & Offering, as we’ve all been taught in recent times. Jesus classed Mercy, Justice and Faith as the Weightier Matters (Matthew 23:23). The Tithe is a Command from God, you just do it. And your offering is expected as a sign of gratitude. God expects it. However, mercy, justice and faith to me are reflections of a believer’s spiritual growth and maturity. And Agape Love envelopes these 3 attributes!
Now if you think the story of the adulterous woman in John 8 is too archaic to be true, then please patiently read through the following brief real life issue:
A man’s wife was neck-deep in adultery to the point that she didn’t need any man to chase her, she personally made advances at men without struggle and offered her body freely without requesting any form of compensation or payment.
Did I hear you say demonic influence? Well, demonic influence or personal choice, the humbling and yet liberating part for me remains that this woman’s husband chose to forgive her and take her in as though nothing happened in the first place! I mean Matthew 19:9, offers this man an opportunity to separate from his wife if he chooses to even if only to protect himself from contracting sexually transmitted diseases or gaining a personal gratification having been treated badly or just to ensure his wife suffers for her wicked acts.
Pause please….
Could there possibly be a secondary gain of forgiving this woman assuming she is willing to change her ways? Could she like the adulterous woman in John 8, become wholly yielded to Christ, or like Mary Magdalene, never leave the Master’s side?
Isn’t it much more profitable spiritually if one wicked, mean, sinful, wife, boss, colleague, child or whosoever, submitted to God and to His ways?
These are higher thoughts and they attract higher gains. They don’t come naturally, but requires complete disconnection from the senses. They are supernatural choices that bring supernatural rewards.
Colossians 3:15 instructs us thus;
“And above all these {put on} love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness (which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony). And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts {deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds in that peaceful state} to which as (members of Christ’s) body you were also called (to live). And be thankful (appreciative) {giving praise to God always}.” Amplified Bible, Classic Edition.
It was an unusual kind of love that kept Jesus mute before Pilate, choosing instead to die than be acquitted of wrong doing.
Agape is the highest form of love, the kind of love that God has for man and sent Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners. agape is unconditional, does not consider acts done (positive or negative), does not rely on feelings or emotions, it transcends the natural and loves when there’s no reason to love.
We cannot continue with an ‘eye for an eye’ approach to life, neither can we continue to seek personal gratification in every situation; constantly wanting to appear smart, well learned/schooled and in control of everything and everyone at every time.
There’s a ‘yielding’ to God’s spirit necessary to execute and sustain higher things.
When the adulterous woman said to Jesus, ‘none of her accusers condemned her, she also seemed to be saying to Jesus; ‘do you Lord? Jesus did not condemn her, instead He told her and those around her how not to continue to walk in darkness (or indulge in any kind of sin, including adultery)…
“Then Jesus spoke to them again saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 NKJV.
Whether you’re in the position of the accused or accuser, following The Light (Jesus Christ) guarantees that we continue to walk in The Light of Life, so that we live life to its fullest (John 10:10). That is the only way to stay away from adultery and all forms of sin, and to continuously illuminate others with agape. In The Light, Jesus Christ!
Help us Dear Lord Jesus Christ to always recognize and prioritize kingdom gains above personal gains in Jesus Name. Amen.
