By Brent Veyon
Ephesians 5:17
Scripture is far too often taken out of context and twisted to meet a fleshly and untruthful conclusion; to fit the ends of the user. Peter warned us of this, when eluding to Paul's letters "... in which are some things hard to understand, which those who are untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the scriptures." (II Peter 3:16) Likewise, we
If we do not already know the context of this passage, it would benefit us to come to a truthful understanding of it. For, more than likely, you will hear it misused at some point, and we must be ready to earnestly contend for the truth. The truth has nothing to fear, but it should be spoken. "Therefore do not be ignorant, but understand what the will of the Lord is." (Eph. 5:17)
First we should read the passage (John 8:1-12), and understand clearly what Jesus was presented with, so we can understand the response He made. Jesus knew those who brought the woman before Him had not followed the Law.
The woman's accusers were not taking her before the elders of the people or a judge like the Law required. (Deut. 19:15-21) The Law of Moses, was not a law to promote vigilantes. If they had the required proof, they would have taken her to the judges. Yet, why did they not do this? Could it be, they did not have what the Law required to accuse her?
The Law of Moses does indeed require death for the adulterer. Yes indeed it does! For both the woman and the man! (Lev. 20:10) If they had caught her in the 'very act' as they charged, where was the man? The Law of Moses also condemned showing partiality in judgment. (Ex. 23:1-2; Deut. 1:17)
Jesus knew the Law, and would not "follow the crowd to do evil" (Ex. 23:1-2). He also knew the Law required that the witnesses of the accused had to, according to the Law, be the first to cast a stone at the condemned (Deut. 17:6-7). Knowing that either, the mob had only one witness and he was hypocritical, or there was more than one and they were judging partilly in favor of the quilty man; in either case, as we have just read, they were acting unlawfully. Jesus would not go along. Jesus points out that the accused was not the only one deserving of condemnation, by His response to them.
Understanding the implication of His statement, it is easy to see why Jesus simply said, "he who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone." (John 8:7) At that point the guilty men knew, Jesus had called their bluff, knowing they didn't have what the Law required to put her to death wihtout condemning themselves. Therefore, they had not recourse, except to walk away.
This statement shows us, Jesus did not condone her sin. On the contrary He emphasizes her adulterous act as sin, and tells her to sin no more. He goes on in the next verse to say, "he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." If we are to follow Him, we must not walk in darkness; thus we will "go and sin not more."
Jesus was not overlooking the law and excusing her sin. He was howerer, following the Law perfectly. Following the Law was Jesus intention from the beginning of His ministry (Matt. 5:17-20) Therfore, it is an utter misuse of scripture to use this passage as a means to silence God's word, because a christian had sin in his life at some point.
The apostles did not stay silent either. Paul said, "... have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." (Eph. 5:11) It's rather hard to expose them if anyone who has ever sinned, can not even speak. Paul did not keep silent!