Home

JESUS TEACHES US TO STOP THROWING STONES

It is sad that many of us seem to have an affinity for the gossip (hurtful rumors) and slander (unfairly cutting down) of others. When someone that we know is caught up in some type of sin or trouble, we seem to derive a great deal of pleasure in verbally ripping them to pieces. In His life, Jesus our Teacher shows us that we should not be vocal assassins.

There is no better example of this than in John 8:2-11. In this account we read of an adulteress that is thrown at Jesus’ feet and he is asked if she should be stoned for her sin, as prescribed in the Old Law. It is obvious that the scribes and Pharisees are not interested in justice or the soul of this woman. There intent is to ensnare Jesus in some inconsistency that can be used to discredit him.

After pressing Jesus for an answer, Jesus finally responds by saying, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” The probable intent of Jesus’ statement was that the person who was not guilty of the same kind of sin may throw the first stone. Jesus knew that many, if not all, of this woman’s accusers were also guilty of adultery. They just had not had the misfortune of being caught in the very act.

On numerous occasions the Pharisees would confront Jesus. In Matthew 23 Jesus exposes Pharisees for what they are: Hypocrites! Another word for a hypocrite is a pretender; One who only pretends to be a servant of God. As these Pharisees did, Christians today who are pretenders do great harm for the cause of Christ. They give Christ and His church a bad name.

If someone in a congregation is guilty of adultery, and it becomes common knowledge, many Christians want to behave in the same manner that the scribes and Pharisees did. They are almost gleeful about hurling stones of criticism, malice and hatred. There is little thought about the soul of the sinner. No concern about how this sin may impact the sinner and his family.

In John 8:9 we find that one by one the accuser left. Eventually, all that remained was Jesus and the woman. It is interesting to note that the woman did not run away or make any attempt to deny or justify her actions. In my opinion this demonstrated an attitude of remorse or even repentance. When Jesus says in 8:11 that he would not condemn her and that she should go and sin no more; He is apparently forgiving her of her trespass. He does not lecture her, nor does he behave as if she is beneath him. He demonstrates compassion and love for this sinner who is in desperate need of spiritual guidance.

Jesus teaches that while sin is never to be condoned, we are to not to treat the sinner in a cruel and harsh manner. We can love the sinner and hate the sin.

The Scriptures are full of passages that instruct us not to engage in the sins of slander and gossip. David tells us in Psalms 52:4 that we are “not to love words that devour.” Paul says in Titus 2:3 that we are “not to be malicious gossips,”, and he further adds in Ephesians 4:31 that we are to “let all slander be put away from you.”

By Gary Coles