Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY

Symbolical of the emotion-nature in its lower aspect allied to the sense-activities.

"And the scribes and the Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery; and having set her in the midst, they say unto him, Master, this woman hath been taken in adultery, in the very act. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such what then sayest thou of her ? " - JOHN viii. 3-5.

The literalists and conventionalists endeavour to oppose the methods of the inspired inner teacher. “Moses,” or the moral law, is appealed to. Now, the measure of the law conventionally interpreted, is a hard and fast one. Conduct and morals become a question of custom, line and rule, engendering a habit of trusting to the formal crust solidifying without, instead of to the living source within. It is the Christ then comes to revivify, to re-animate, to raise. The "adultery” is a temporary falling away of the emotion-nature from the true and first love-the Christ. No external coercive method could cure this condition. "Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground," because the Christ had to come down, so to speak, to limit and define in words for the soul's benefit those principles of wisdom and love which are above all definition. Christ, as the story shows, maintains a responsive attitude towards the soul. Condemnation is not of the Christ who wins by love, and is full of compassion. The going out of the accusers means the dispersal of the operations of the lower personality until the mind becomes tranquil, and love can do its work.

See Also

ADULTERY
BAPTISM
CHRIST
DISPENSATIONS
MOSAIC
MOSES