In one part of the New Testament, Jesus says that a married person who looks at someone (in a sexual or erotic way) of the opposite sex "hath already committed adultery in [his or her] heart." (1)
In another part of the New Testament, a woman is caught red-handed in an adulterous affair. Jesus then condones her crime, forbids the Pharisees from punishing her, and let her go. (2)
Clearly, Jesus (in the first example) harshly condemned adultery. If you read the rest of proceeding verses, he even suggested self-mutilation to prevent people from committing adultery with their eyes. But in the second example, Jesus clearly condoned adultery and let the adulterous person off the hook.
I am a Christian and I believe that Jesus is my savior, but can someone please explain to me this obvious contradiction?
(1) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:27-30;&version=9;
(2) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%208&version=9;
2007-11-08 01:31:35 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"A question about Jesus AND adultery..." - I made a typho in original title of the question.
2007-11-08 01:40:17 · update #1
You are correct that Jesus not only strongly condemned the actual sin of adultery, but of even entertaining lustful thoughts in the mind.
However, He did not CONDONE the woman's sin. Rather, He used this as an opportunity to point out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He wanted to remind us we are all sinners.
He told her to "go now and sin no more." By His words He acknowledged she had sinned, but was granting forgiveness and a chance at redemption.
When Jesus says "neither do I condemn you" He is saying she will not suffer death (physically or eternally) for her sin if she repents and lives for God.
2007-11-08 01:35:59 · answer #1 · answered by Veritas 7 · 8⤊ 1⤋
Jesus was not condoning adultery, he was forgiving the person who had made a mistake. Jesus would prefer that you never commit any sin, but when you sin and have to suffer the consequences of that sin, he is there to accept you and love you with open arms.
2007-11-08 10:15:29 · answer #2 · answered by just a thought 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, but Jesus did not condone what the adulterous woman did, He only said that those people were not the ones to judge her. If he didn't condemn her, then why did He tell her to go and sin no more? That sounds like a condemnation of adultery to me.
2007-11-08 09:38:54 · answer #3 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Just because Jesus did not condemn her does not mean he condoned the sin. He tells the woman to go and sin no more.
The law required that both the man and woman be put to death. It is apparent this was a set up; that the man she was committing adultery with was a part of this plan to trap Jesus. His statement about having the one who was without sin cast the first stone convicted them all in their complicity with this sin.
We need to also remember that Jesus came to save people, not condemn them.
.
2007-11-08 09:38:24 · answer #4 · answered by Hogie 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
In case you haven't got the message.
Jesus in no way condoned the woman's sin of adultery.
2007-11-08 10:28:32 · answer #5 · answered by thankyou "iana" 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're looking at two different things here. One is sin and the other is sinner. Jesus loved the sinner and often He forgave the person, as He did at this occasion, his or hers sines. Then again Jesus hated sin because it separates men from God. Note that He always said go and sin no more the thing He said to us in Matthew 5. Hope this helped.
2007-11-08 09:41:22 · answer #6 · answered by Santras 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not a contradiction, just different examples of what we are to do with sin. In the first passage, Christ is telling us that we, as Christians, should flee from sin and do whatever necessary to keep sin out of our lives (though He did not mean to literally pluck out your eyes, it is a hyperbole). The second example is how we should react to the sinner. Not with condemnation, but with love and forgiveness. He is saying, do whatever you can to NOT commit this sin, but if you DO commit this sin, I will willingly forgive you. No contradiction that I can see!
2007-11-08 09:38:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think he is just confirming that adultery is wrong, a sin, in the first passage. We should strive to be sin free....I don't think he intended us to literally pluck our eyes out when we look in lust, etc., but he was more or less just giving up a heads up of how important it is for us to avoid sin.
The second passage is not condoning adultery...he doesn't say "i condone adultery.." but rather "I'm not gonna condemn you for it...." then he tells her how she can make amends for her sins...."through me"....it is through him that our sins are forgiven....
2007-11-08 09:44:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
There isn't one here. Let's say your sin is gluttony, and that was a sin where one should be stoned. Plus your not saved. So should we stone you for that knowing that we also have sin in our lives or should we witness to you about Jesus, with hopes that you will get saved. Adultry is wrong, but remember the jews followed the old law. Jesus brought grace. He is willing that all should be saved, and none should perish.
2007-11-08 09:38:52 · answer #9 · answered by iwant_u2_wantme2000 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus did not condone the woman's sin he said go and sin no more after he warned the accusers that he who is without sin can judge- cast the first stone! So he took authority over the woman's very life to save her physically and spiritually and so she can not go on sinning.He is forgiving of those in sin, but warns us to avoid it, coz he knows how hard it is for us to go back for forgiveness.
2007-11-08 09:38:27 · answer #10 · answered by unix 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋