The Jewish leaders were always trying to find reasons to accuse Jesus. They always came up with questions they thought were so controversial that His answers would trap Him or back Him into a corner. On one such occasion, they brought a woman to Him who was supposedly caught in adultery. Their question was, “In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say” (Jn 8:5)? Jesus’ response was, “Let him who have no sin cast the first stone” (Jn 8:7). His response was to the point; they did not need explanation or interpretation. Although He didn't, Jesus could have added onto His response by saying, “But let him who has any sin drop his stone.” That of course would have been everyone. They each walked away without casting a single stone at the woman.
How about you, and how about me? Are we throwing stones at other sinners while we are not batting an eye about our own sins? Sin is sin, no matter how we categorize it. You and I have not been given the responsibility and or authority to decide which sin should be tolerated, and which one should be punished. Let us stop judging and pointing fingers at others. The wages of sin is death, the Bible says, no matter the category (Rom 3:23).
In the book of Luke, Jesus told His disciples, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned (Lk 6:37); “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye” (Lk 6:41)? If Jesus, the only righteous One, with the power and authority to judge and condemn shows mercy (Jn 8:10-11), who are we to be judging and condemning others?
Showing mercy does not mean condoning. We can, and should come along side each other in love, to rebuke, encourage, and build up. The apostle Paul puts it this way, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently” (Gal 6:1a).
So fellow sinners, let us all drop each one his or her stone!
How about you, and how about me? Are we throwing stones at other sinners while we are not batting an eye about our own sins? Sin is sin, no matter how we categorize it. You and I have not been given the responsibility and or authority to decide which sin should be tolerated, and which one should be punished. Let us stop judging and pointing fingers at others. The wages of sin is death, the Bible says, no matter the category (Rom 3:23).
In the book of Luke, Jesus told His disciples, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned (Lk 6:37); “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye” (Lk 6:41)? If Jesus, the only righteous One, with the power and authority to judge and condemn shows mercy (Jn 8:10-11), who are we to be judging and condemning others?
Showing mercy does not mean condoning. We can, and should come along side each other in love, to rebuke, encourage, and build up. The apostle Paul puts it this way, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently” (Gal 6:1a).
So fellow sinners, let us all drop each one his or her stone!