Law And Grace Have Two Distinct Intentions

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? (Jn. 8:4-5 KJV)

The scripture above gives us one of the many documented battles between law and grace. The Pharisees had just caught a woman, and a man, in the very act of adultery. While the woman was promptly brought to Jesus, the whereabouts of the man remain a mystery to this day. The pharisees quoted the law, then asked Jesus “but what sayest Thou?”

This was the Law asking Grace what should be done with sinners. Jesus, the embodiment of God’s grace (John 1:17), gave us the intent and purpose of grace when He said “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost “(Lk. 19:10 KJV). Grace came to save sinful men and women. However, the purpose of the Law was not to save sinners but to reveal their sin (Rom. 7:7).

The zealously legalistic Pharisees focused on the Law more than the God who gave it to them. Consequently, they were anxious to see this woman judged for her sinful act, and condemned. Jesus had a different perspective. While legalism is more concerned about the rules than the wellbeing of the people, grace seeks to save broken, sinful men and women, and deliver them from the eternal judgement of hell. Jesus’ last words to this broken woman live on as the healing balm to broken humanity today. He said “neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (Jn. 8:11 KJV).