When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her (v.7).

Forgiveness is to give up resentment of or claim to requital for (forgive an insult) or to grant relief from payment of (forgive a debt); to cease or feel resentment against an offender.            Merriam Webster Dictionary

To Stone or Not to Stone:    vv. 1-5

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?

      1.   She was guilty.

      2.   They passed judgment on her.

Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude. Martin Luther King, Jr .

To Acquit or Not to Acquit:      vv. 6-11

They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

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.

1.   His forgiveness is not based on our innocence   Romans 4:5-8

2.   His forgiveness is not based on how bad we have been.                       1 John 1:9 1

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness .

3.   His ability to forgive is based on His sinlessness . Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord

"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

If I am not willing to practice forgiveness then the world has a right to question whether Christianity is true. Francis Schaffer

To Forgive or Not to Forgive:    v. 12

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

      1.   Remember where He brought you from.

      2.   Quit rehearsing your personal failures .

      3.   Extend forgiveness to others .

      4.   Ask God to forgive you for the spirit of unforgiveness .

      5.   Forgive before you are asked .

 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:31-32).