THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: ADULTERERS

“You shall not commit adultery” Exodus 20:14

“And you shall put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will commune with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel” (Exodus 25:21-22).

Here we will look at an example of God’s intention and expectations in giving the Ten Commandments. He asks Moses to prepare a place to keep the testimony along with instructions on how to carry out the construction. Then follows an instruction concerning what is to be done there. It is a place where anybody who sins against the law can come for mercy at the mercy seat. The place of meeting, where God “will meet….and …will commune” with Moses concerning “…all things which he will give him in commandment.” (Exodus 25:16-22)

They were not meant to portray God as mean and wicked, who displays his supremacy over his creation without mercy. When the Lord gave his Ten Commandments, it was to serve as an introduction to the person of Christ. We have discovered that Jesus Christ is the reality of the Ten Commandments in person, thus also here Christ is “the mercy seat”. Through him God looks at us with mercy even though we sin.

The New Testament saw the manifestation of the expectations of God. When “the mercy seat” was manifested in person, it was no longer stationed in one place, where people resorted for mercy. He is now a ‘mobile mercy seat’ where he meets with the people who need mercy. This was illustrated in the New Testament record of the incident where a woman was caught in the very act of adultery. This naturally does not require any further interpretation. The law was clear about this issue, “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14).The consequences of breaking this law is death by stoning. (Leviticus 20:10)

But because Jesus Christ is the law or Ten Commandments as well as “the mercy seat”, the mercy seat is now in his place (John 8:2). When those who would stone the woman went to the ark of the testimony (the law) they discovered the real mercy seat, Jesus, a life giving person. They were divinely guided to meet with the mercy seat as he moved “into the temple…and he sat down, and he taught them” (John 8:2).

When they looked at the law they said “Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned…” (John 8:5a, see Leviticus 20:10), “…but what do you say?” (John 8:5). Mercy said no! “I will have mercy and not sacrifice”. The adulterous woman was given a gift of life.

You can have the same experience today no matter your sin or problem. Don’t remain hiding in darkness, like the woman’s partner in the act who was not brought to the mercy seat by her accusers, maybe due to their religion, culture, traditions or ignorance. Come to Christ, for in returning shall be your strength and salvation.