LECTION 36 - The Woman Taken In Adultery.
The Woman Taken In Adultery.
1. ON a certain day, early in the morning, Iesus came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him, and he sat down and taught them.
2. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery, and when they had set her in the midst, they said unto him,
Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very acts. Now Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned, but what sayest thou?
3. This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Iesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
4. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them,
He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.
5. And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last; and Iesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
6. When Iesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her,
Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?
She said unto him,
No man, Lord.
And Iesus said unto her,
Neither do I condemn thee. From henceforth sin no more; go in peace.
7. AND he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the Temple to pray; the one a rich Pharisee, learned in the law, and the other a taxgatherer, who was a sinner.
8. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself; God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this taxgatherer. I fast twice in the week, 1 give tithes of all that I possess,
9. And the taxgatherer, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breath, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
10. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
LECTION 36. 2-6. -This beautiful story, so characteristic of Iesus, has been most unjustifiably pronounced by modern revisers as an interpolation. It is a parable of human life, ever true, never old. "Let him who is without sin amongst you cast the first stone."