Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way: When his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, decided to put her away privately. (Matthew 1:18-19 KJ2000)

Many Christians, in their zeal to love and obey God, seek to put themselves and others under the Law, the Torah, again.  They believe that to fully obey this written code of law would glorify their LORD and display their justice and righteousness.  Although they rarely say so, if given the chance they would likely enact the literal Old Testament law as our civil statutes. The question is, is this what Jesus would want from us?

Here is the Old Testament penalty for adultery in this particular situation:

If a young woman that is a virgin be betrothed unto a husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then you shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and you shall stone them with stones so that they die; the young woman, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he has violated his neighbor’s wife: so you shall put away evil from among you. (Deuteronomy 22:23-24 KJ2000)

Matthew says that Joseph was “unwilling to make her a publice example,” which means that he was not willing to bring her to the public square and cast the first stone that would  ultimately disfigure and kill her. No, Joseph was a “just man.” He would not implement God’s Law in this case. What?! How can it be that one’s decision to not enforce God’s laws could ever be called just? One simply cannot see it in the natural; the Law of Moses does  not spell this out. But the prophet Hosea tells us when he proclaims, “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6 KJ2000)

Jesus attempted to explain this maxim to the Pharisees on two separate occasions when they accused him and his disciples of being law breakers, the first time when he ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners, thus associating with the “unclean,” and the second time when his disciples “worked” on the Sabbath by harvesting food to eat. On both occasions he told them that they would not condemn the innocent if they knew what this means, “I will have mercy and not sacrifice.” See Matthew 9 and 12. Afterward Jesus himself implements this maxim when he refuses to the condemn the woman caught in adultery to public stoning.

Men have not understood either Joseph, who refused to stone Mary, or Jesus in this story from John 8. Instead, throughout history we have seen two extremes among men. One extreme zealously guards God’s Law, or their particular church laws which enact bits and pieces of it, taking joy in punishing any breach.  These, like Protestants Calvin and Cromwell and Catholics in the Spanish Inquisition, go on to kill those who disagree with their doctrine, their understanding of truth. Their understanding of righteousness compels them to go and kill in the name of Christ and truth. These reject mercy for their brand of truth. Others, including present-day liberal churches, totally reject the law and the notion that sin even exists anymore. These promote gross sinners to their pulpits and palaces of authority. They replace truth with a lawless mercy, a lawless grace.

Yet, in Christ truth and mercy meet and become one, just as two lovers kiss and become one. As the Psalms say,

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. (Psalms 85:10 KJ2000)

Righteousness and justice are the habitation of your throne: mercy and truth shall go before your face. (Psalms 89:14 KJ2000)

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations. (Psalms 100:5 KJ2000)

For your mercy is great above the heavens: and your truth reaches unto the clouds. (Psalms 108:4 KJ2000)

Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto your name give glory, for your mercy, and for your truth’s sake. (Psalms 115:1 KJ2000)

And as the Proverbs also bear witness:

Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them upon the table of your heart: (Proverbs 3:3 KJ2000)

Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good. (Proverbs 14:22 KJ2000)

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. (Proverbs 16:6 KJ2000)

Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy. (Proverbs 20:28 KJ2000)

Thus, when Jesus spoke to the woman caught in adultery he did not say, “You have done nothing wrong,” thus excusing her from sin. He did not counsel the hypocrite Pharisees to implement God’s Law and mercilessly destroy her in their blood lust. Neither did he ignore the Law as if she were guiltless.  Rather, he said, “Go and sin no more.” It is this simple statement which teaches and displays the commingling of justice and mercy. Some men’s understanding of justice and judgment would have said, “Take her and stone her to death.” Others would have said, “Leave her alone.  She has done nothing wrong.” Jesus says, “Woman, indeed you have done wrong. You have sinned a sin which could lead to your death. But, I will not condemn you to your death. I came to give you life and to give it abundantly. You may begin this walk of life if you simply go from here, this place of your sin, and sin no more!” In saying this Jesus showed that his way, the way to God, the way of mercy and truth, is to turn each sinner away from his sins.