John 8:1-11
"Let anyone among
you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7)
Be careful what you ask for. The religious people came to
Jesus asking for judgment. A woman had been caught in adultery. It takes two to
tango, but they don’t seem to be concerned about her dance partner. They made
the woman stand in front of the crowd as they hurled accusations and demanded
judgment. The law of Moses says that women like this should be stoned to death!
There are to be consequences for immorality and sin.
“You’re exactly right!” Jesus says. “But judgment can only
be made by those who are sinless. Those who have not broken the law, coveted a
neighbor’s goods, looked at a neighbor’s wife with a wandering eye, received a
speeding ticket, spread any kind of gossip, and followed all of Moses’ law to
perfection, start warming up your throwing arm.” And with that, the thud of
rocks falling to the ground was deafening. No one was left to cast a stone,
except Jesus. And what does Jesus do? He offers a word of forgiveness and calls
the woman to new life.
Judgment belongs to God alone. When we judge, we claim
authority that belongs only to God. It’s best that we leave that obligation to
the One whose methods aren’t reduced to condemnation, but rather healing and
restoration to new life.
John 8:1-11 NRSV
1 while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them.
3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them,
4 they said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.
5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
6 They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.
7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."
8 And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.
10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11 She said, "No one, sir." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again."
2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them.
3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them,
4 they said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.
5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
6 They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.
7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."
8 And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.
10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11 She said, "No one, sir." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again."
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