“1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus 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? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more..” (John 8:1-11)
When Jesus returns to the Temple from the Mount of Olives, a group of Pharisees bring him a woman accused of committing adultery. At the time, punishment for this sin was lapidation. The Pharisees expect Jesus to enforce the law and sentence the woman to death. Instead, Jesus tells them that only he who is without sin is allowed to throw the first stone. One by one, they all begin to leave. Indeed, no one is free of sin. Jesus beseeches the woman to stop her sinful ways and tells her to go. Every human being is guilty of promiscuity—either in action or in thought. Similarly, every person can improve themselves and be forgiven. We must allow everyone to love and be devoted. We should never judge others harshly. We must first evaluate ourselves and remember that although we all aspire to righteousness, no one is completely righteous.
Holding on to anger, hurt, or indignation does not bring any blessings; forgiveness, or letting go, does.
