Throwing Stones

 It was a morning setting.  The people gathered around to here what Jesus had to say.  Out of nowhere come professors of the law and Pharisees.  With them is a woman.  Not just any woman, but one who was caught having a sexual affair with someone who wasn’t her husband. 

The men marched this woman right up to Jesus to get some answers as to what actions should be taken against her.  Of course, the Law professors already knew the answer.  Stone her would have been the right course of action to take.  (Deuteronomy 22:22)  Interestingly though, the men only brought the woman.  Could it have been a sign they were bigots?  Or, just wanted to catch Jesus in a trap so they could accuse him?  

John 8:6 says, it was a trap.  Is it possible that bigotry was there, too?  Maybe.  Deuteronomy says that both the man and women must be put to death.  If the “Law professors” and Pharisees were totally interested in keeping the law, they would not have needed Jesus to answer their questions.  The Law was clear and simple to understand. 

In an instant, Jesus takes over the entire conversation.  Ok, here is what I say to each of you Law Professors and Pharisees.  You come here with this woman to only question me about my stance on the Law of sexual sin.  It isn’t the woman you are concerned about, if it were, you would have brought the man, too.  If you all understood the Law, you would have brought both lawbreakers, not just one.  You can’t expect one to be stoned and not the other.  Let’s put the woman aside for a moment.  I want to deal with each of you.  If each of you can look into your hearts and honestly say you are not a sinner, then I say stone her right here and right now.  Take your best shot.  Kill her.  Get it over with.  Go on.  Stone her. 

The Law professors and Pharisees knew that Jesus had them left to right.  No movement could be made to accuse Jesus, nor a stone could be thrown at the woman.  In their attempt to catch Jesus in a trap, they found themselves in a trap.  With no way out, they left the scene without the woman.  Without one shred of evidence to accuse Jesus. 

So often, the scene is the same even today.  In attempting to shame others because of their sins, we forget to scrutinize our own lives to ensure we are living the right life.  I get the fact we need to deal with sinful issues, however, it is important that we do it in love, compassion, mercy and grace.  Also, we must ensure our own lives are right before we deal with someone else’s issues. 

Jesus hit home a point when he says, “It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.”  Luke 6:41-12 (MSG)

Jesus never overlooked the sinful actions of the woman who had a sexual affair.  He dealt with it head on.  However, he wasn’t going to allow pompous law keepers with their self-righteous mentality to get away with not assessing themselves, too. 

Trying to trap someone into saying or doing something is a godless act.  Defaming someone’s character for the sake of making one-self look better is sinful.  Judging others will receive the same type of judgment that is done to others according Matthew 7. 

God expects more out of his followers.  God desires that we be the pacesetters in right living.  Don’t be one who has set him or her up as one who has it all together and is sinless.  The bible saying that no one is perfect and sinless.  Let’s be people who help one another, encourage, love deeply.  Be grace.  Be a forgiver.  Be Jesus to a community who needs to see what He truly looks like by the lives we live.

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian