They each went to their own homes, And Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he returned to the temple. All the people gathered around him, and he sat down and taught them. The legal experts and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery. Placing her in the center of the group, they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone women like this. What do you say?” They said this to test him, because they wanted a reason to bring an accusation against him. Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. They continued to question him, so he stood up and replied, “Whoever hasn’t sinned should throw the first stone.” Bending down again, he wrote on the ground. Those who heard him went away, one by one, beginning with the elders. Finally, only Jesus and the woman were left in the middle of the crowd. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Is there no one to condemn you?” She said, “No one, sir.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on, don’t sin anymore.” (John 7:53-8:11, CEB)
I have always found this passage interesting.
First of all, only the woman caught in the act of adultery is brought to be stoned, what about the man? It does take two to adulter…
And Jesus when pushed finally says, “Whoever hasn’t sinned should throw the first stone.” Meaning if one of you has not sinned and broken the law, you can throw the first stone and then everyone else is free to join in? That is one way to read that, and these men are legal experts and Pharisees. Didn’t Paul say he was a Pharisee and blameless under the law? Why wouldn’t one of these Pharisees be able to throw a stone? But we also forget that there was someone there who could have thrown a stone but didn’t. He says, after the others have dropped their stones and left, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on, don’t sin anymore.”
We get so caught up in what others are doing when we should focus on what we are doing and how we are living a life that shows God’s love for the world.
So don’t judge, love.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 