“Where Is Your Compassion?” by Margaret Slaughter

³ As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. ⁴ “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”  ⁶ They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. ⁷ They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” ⁸ Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.  ⁹ When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. ¹⁰ Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”  ¹¹ “No, Lord,” she said.  And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

John 8:1-11 NLT

I was caught in an indiscretion.  My accusers wanted me to be publicly punished.  They appointed themselves judge and jury.  Ready to persecute me.  They had no mercy.  No, this isn’t my life story, but God’s Word.  When you thought the story was about me what did you think?  Were you also ready to condemn me, or were you ready to show me forgiveness and compassion?

As the body of Christ, many of us have become like this woman’s accusers.  Devoid of empathy, sympathy, or compassion.  When someone is caught in a sin, or they confess a sin, we’re quick to quote the scriptures pointing out the punishment for the sin, but rarely the scriptures on forgiveness or God’s love.

How are we ever to grow the kingdom of God if we fail to restore our brothers and sisters in love?  There are many instances in the Word where sinners were shown compassion by Jesus.  In Matthew 7:12 The Golden Rule, we are called to, “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”  If you want forgiveness, give forgiveness.  If you want compassion, show compassion.  Don’t be like the Pharisees.  Extend some compassion to the fallen, and restore them in love.

Margaret Slaughter