9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
9 Then those who heard it,
Those who heard it were those who heard Jesus’ statement about casting the first stone if they were without sin.
being convicted by their conscience,
The woman’s accusers were guilty of sin themselves. Their own consciences convicted them.
went out one by one,
The group slithered away one at a time. This was an admission of their guilt.
beginning with the oldest even to the last.
None of the accusers was left to stone the woman. The “oldest” had more sins so they were the first to leave.
And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
Only Jesus and the woman remained in the situation.
PRINCIPLE:
Hardness toward one’s own sin hides us from ourselves.
APPLICATION:
Ironically, those who put others to shame for their sin are put to shame themselves. There is a hardness of heart in this kind of conviction. People go away with a sense of subjective guilt but do not deal objectively with their sin.
