Does Jesus forgiving the woman caught in adultery give license to adultery?
No. Jesus told the woman, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” His forgiveness did not permit adultery; it called her away from it. Scripture shows God is ready to forgive, but forgiveness expects growth in spirituality, not continued sin.
Jesus’ forgiveness of the woman caught in adultery does not give license to adultery. After her accusers were convicted by their own conscience and left one by one, Jesus asked, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?” She answered, “No man, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn thee, go.” But the key was His next words: “Sin no more.” Les explains that this does not give license to adultery “by no stretch of the imagination,” no more than the man back in I Corinthians. Instead, it shows that God is so willing and ready to forgive, but with forgiveness He expects a growth in spirituality. Les says this can be seen graphically after King David sinned in the adulterous situation with Bathsheba.