They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All
right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”
Throwing Stones
by Annalene Holtzhausen
John 8:7, NLT
In this account about the woman who was caught in adultery we marvel at the way in which Jesus handled the situation and agree that the Scribes and Pharisees (John 8:3) were indeed taught a lesson that day. They were being judgmental and needed to be reminded that not one of them was without sin. We read that the accusers who heard the words spoken by Jesus, slipped away one by one until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.
It’s easy to read this account and not see it as relevant to our lives, but sometimes we need to stop for a moment and look at ourselves. We may see someone battling with a
particular emotion such as anger, or a child not being as well-behaved as our child, or behaviour that’s not as acceptable as we think it should be. Do we look upon that person and feel thankful that we don’t have the same problem? The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14 speaks of this kind of pride.
We may not be battling with anger, but it could be that we have a problem with envy or jealousy. Our own child might not be struggling with an addiction, but may have different faults and sin in their lives. If we judge people for the mistakes they’ve made, after that person has repented and received forgiveness from our Father, we’re throwing stones of judgement.
Jesus asks in Matthew 7:3 why we worry about a speck in our friend’s eye when we have a log in our own. When Jesus spoke to the woman caught in adultery He didn’t judge her. She was convicted of her sin, but not condemned by Jesus. He instructed her on the way forward and she needed to make a decision on how she would live her life in the future.
As Jesus’ disciples we’re called to love one another and not judge each other. Not one of us are without sin, and we all fall short. When we see our friend battling with sin, we should come alongside them and help them. Sometimes we need to speak the truth in love to make them aware of sin in their lives, but not in judgement. Jesus instructed
us not to judge others so that we will not be judged (Matthew 7:1).
Prayer: Dear Lord, please forgive me for judging and not loving. Forgive me for comparing sins and deciding mine aren’t so bad. I humble myself before You, Lord, and ask that You will free me from all pride and judgement of others. Teach me how to love like You do please, Lord. Amen.
Annalene Holtzhausen is on the Associate Team at Ellel, Africa. She is married to Renier, who introduced her to Ellel Ministries. She is a full-time mother to their two boys. Her passion is for the restoration of women’s hearts and for people to find their worth in the Lord.
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