The Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

Scripture – John 8:1-11; Galatians 6:1 (NIV)

1
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where
all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and
the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and
said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses
commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They 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. 7When 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." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At 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. 10Jesus 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
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But
watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.