The other day I was reading John 8:1-12 in my Bible (look up the passage for additional context as well as explanations of customs and characters). In this passage, the Pharisees (religious leaders) had caught a woman in adultery. They were getting ready to stone her in public (as was the custom of the day), that is, until their plan was interrupted when Jesus approached the crowd. The Pharisees knew who Jesus was and decided that they were going to trap Him by saying, “Moses (a figure from the Old Testament) commanded that those who commit adultery should be stoned, but what do YOU say?” They were hoping Jesus would falter in his words and bend the old law, but He stunned everyone with one simple statement, “He who is without sin may cast the first stone.”
In case you didn’t catch the meaning, Jesus meant that NO ONE had the right to cast a stone because NONE were without sin. I find it easy to deceive myself into thinking that I am better than someone simply because my sin doesn’t appear to be too terrible, and I’m sure the Pharisees were doing the same thing. I tend to weigh it on a scale, and as long as my side is not heavier than the thief or murderer, my sin doesn’t really matter.
The truth is, I am a Pharisee. The only One who can save me from myself is Jesus, yet I look at a stranger’s mistakes, and still verbally and mentally abuse.
So contemplate with me today: What stones are we tempted to cast? Are they ours to throw?