9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11 "No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Interestingly, as depraved and corrupt as the human heart can be apart from Jesus, God has placed within it this thing called conscience, pricking even the hardest hearts of stone with a certain sense of right and wrong. While our conscience cannot save us or even lead us to Christ, it bears witness to the Truth and can prick and accuse us. The conscience brings to light – to the forefront of our minds and hearts so to speak - one’s own moral conduct prompting us to choose good over evil, right over wrong. We are wise to heed this prickling – it is a gift and blessing from God that if adhered to could save us from much sorrow, pain and destruction. Unfortunately, Scripture teaches our conscience can become seared and hardened by the continual disregard of it. Paul tells us in First Timothy:
1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 1 Tim 4:1-2 (NIV)
Spiritual error is seldom due to innocent mistakes but rather by continually searing the conscience they sadly find themselves vessels which are prey for Satan’s bidding. Just as Pharaoh continued to harden his heart against Moses, God in finality allowed Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened. Certainly not a position anyone would want to find themselves in.
In our verses for today we see the hearers thunderstruck over the authority of Jesus’ Word. Conscience smitten, beginning with the older ones - those being the religious officials harboring an extreme desire for the crowds to follow them – began to go away. Here, rightly so, these leaders finally get their wish as one by one the others followed leaving no one left but Jesus with this woman. Our Savior asks of her where her condemners are. Interestingly, the wording in her reply indicating she considered Jesus to be her Master – the word translated “sir” is from the Greek word “Kyrios” meaning might, power, Lord, master and owner.
In perfect kindness and wisdom, Jesus refuses to condemn her as well. He did not state that she was without stain or blemish but rather that in the absence of witnesses, she was pardoned of her punishment. He tells her to go yet sin no more. Jesus’ Words being the definition of true repentance: turning from sin – leaving it behind.
“That repentance which consists in nothing more than feeling, talking, professing, wishing, meaning, hoping, and resolving, is worthless in God’s sight. Action is the very life of ‘repentance unto salvation not to be repented of.’ Till a man ceases to do evil and turns from his sins, he does not really repent.” J. C. Ryle
It is folly for us when we find ourselves under the conviction of sin to simply strive to avoid shame. We should be more concerned over the condition of our souls than of our fleshly pride – fleeing to the feet of Jesus for mercy and pardon once pricked. We are to turn from the sin and not continue to wallow in it while all the while praying constantly for forgiveness. Seriously, what kind of repentance is that? It is similar to paying penance for absolution of sin with no change of action amounting to no more than trampling upon the grace of God. This does not mean that we are perfect and never sin rather it is perhaps that we fall into it rather than delve. One produces Godly sorrow over actions which leads to repentance the other produces nothing more than grace abusers. Scripture tells us that it is Godly sorrow which brings repentance leading to salvation:
9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Cor 7:9-10 (NIV)
King David, the man after God’s own heart, showed us through his example after his blunder with Bathsheba that God looks for the broken heart over the sin committed rather than some sacrificial offering that only makes us feel better about ourselves. All sin breaks communion with God – for our own good we should strive never to go down that path.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalms 51:16-17 (NIV)