Jesus’ famous statement “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” is found in John 8:7. This verse comes in the midst of an encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees who brought to him a woman caught in adultery. They wanted to stone her, as the Mosaic Law commanded (Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22). Jesus’ statement “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” was a powerful challenge to those accusing the woman of adultery. So what exactly did Jesus mean by this?
The Context of John 8:1-11
To properly understand the meaning of Jesus’ statement in John 8:7, it’s important to consider the full context of the story in John 8:1-11. Here’s a brief summary:
The scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman caught in adultery, claiming she had been “taken in the very act” (8:4). They remind Jesus that the Law of Moses commanded that such a woman should be stoned (Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22). It seems their motive was to trap Jesus – if he agreed with stoning her, they could accuse him to the Romans of inciting violence against their laws which prohibited Jews from carrying out their own executions (John 18:31). But if Jesus showed mercy and prevented her stoning, they could accuse him of contradicting God’s Law.
Jesus’ initial response was silence. He bent down and started writing in the dirt with his finger. Speculation abounds as to what he was writing, but the text does not say. When the religious leaders continued to press him for an answer, Jesus stood up and issued his famous challenge: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7).
This statement completely changed the dynamic of the encounter. Jesus was not denying that the woman was guilty and deserved punishment. But he reminded her accusers that they themselves were also sinners. As soon as Jesus uttered these words, the accusers began to slip away one by one, beginning with the oldest. Soon only Jesus was left with the woman.
With the accusing crowd dispersed, Jesus asked the woman if any of her accusers had condemned her. When she replied no, Jesus declared to her “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11).
So in summary, Jesus did not dispute the woman’s guilt and he did not contradict the Law’s command regarding adultery. However, he discerned the hypocritical motives of her accusers. His statement about casting the first stone exposed their own sinfulness and lack of qualification to execute judgment upon her. Jesus maintained justice by upholding the Law, yet he extended mercy to the repentant sinner.
The Meaning of “Let Him Who is Without Sin Cast the First Stone”
Based on the full context of John 8:1-11, Jesus’ statement “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone” carries profound meaning on several levels:
1. It exposed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who were exploiting the woman’s sin to trap Jesus. They wanted to judge the woman without showing mercy, yet they were also sinners.
2. It reminded the accusers that no one is without sin and in a position to judge others harshly. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Since we are all guilty of violating God’s laws, we should be humbled and extend mercy to others.
3. It highlighted an important principle – do not be quick to condemn others when you yourself are not without fault. We all need God’s mercy. The Bible teaches we should correct others with gentleness, humility, patience and mercy (Galatians 6:1-2; 2 Tim 2:24-25).
4. It emphasized that only a sinless person is qualified to pass ultimate judgment and condemn others. But since no one is without sin, no human is qualified to be judge, jury and executioner. Ultimate judgment belongs to God alone (James 4:12).
5. Yet Jesus balanced mercy with justice. He extended forgiveness to the woman but still upheld the standard of righteousness by charging her to go and sin no more. Grace is not a license to keep sinning.
6. It’s possible that as Jesus wrote in the dirt, he listed the secret sins of the woman’s accusers. This could explain why they slipped away in conviction one by one. While we can’t be certain, it further highlights God’s perfect knowledge of all sins.
7. Most profoundly, only Jesus was qualified to make this challenge, because he alone was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). While the woman’s accusers were unfit to judge her due to their own sins, Jesus was sinless and thus fit to judge her rightly. Yet he chose to show mercy.
So in summary, Jesus upheld justice by affirming the woman’s guilt and not contradicting God’s Law regarding adultery. Yet he extended mercy to her by preventing her condemnation by sinful men. His memorable statement powerfully illustrated that only a sinless person has the right to pass ultimate judgment on others. Since no one meets that criteria except Christ, we all need to show grace and humility rather than being quick to condemn others.
Additional Teachings in Scripture Related to “Let He Who is Without Sin Cast the First Stone”
Jesus’ statement about casting the first stone reflects some key biblical principles related to sin, judgment and mercy:
– All people have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23)
– Do not judge others hypocritically when you yourself are guilty of sin (Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 2:1-3)
– Be humble and gentle when correcting others (Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:24-25)
– Only God is qualified to judge perfectly and condemn people (James 4:12)
– Extend mercy and forgiveness to others, just as you need mercy yourself (Matthew 6:14-15; Ephesians 4:31-32)
– Though we are to show grace, we must still uphold God’s standards of righteousness (John 8:11; Romans 6:1-2)
– Jesus alone was sinless and thus qualified to judge rightfully (Hebrews 4:15; 7:26-28)
In addition to John 8, several other passages in Scripture relate to the themes behind Jesus’ statement about casting the first stone:
– Isaiah 53:6 – We all like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way.
– Romans 2:3 – Do you suppose, O man, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God?
– 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 – For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. Purge the evil person from among you.
– James 2:13 – For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
– 1 John 1:8 – If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
– 1 John 3:20 – If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
So the connection between a person’s own sinfulness and their unfitness to condemn others is a consistent biblical theme. This should humble us to judge carefully, correct gently, and extend mercy liberally, while still calling people to repent from sin.
Examples of How “Casting the First Stone” Has Been Misused
While Jesus’ statement “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” beautifully captures the biblical call to show mercy, it is sometimes misused or misapplied today. Here are some examples:
– Using it to imply we should never judge or point out any sinful behavior in others. But Jesus never suggested we cannot discern right from wrong. Other verses show we are to gently confront sin and call people to repentance (Matthew 18:15-17; Galatians 6:1).
– Using it to defend sinful lifestyles and silence any criticism of immorality in culture. But an overly permissive stance does not align with other biblical calls to uphold God’s standards of righteousness.
– Using it to imply a secular notion that “we should not judge anyone” or “I cannot criticize others because I’m imperfect too.” But Jesus’ teaching relates to condemnation of people’s souls, not discernment or evaluation of the morality of particular acts or lifestyles according to biblical standards.
– Using it simplistically without regard for Jesus’ fuller teaching about righteousness versus sin, repentance from sin, and coming to saving faith in him.
– Applying it to criminal justice and civil penalties for crimes. Jesus was countering human judgment motivated by hypocrisy, pride and malice. But he was not opposing a civil justice system enforced impartially under proper authority (Romans 13:1-7).
– Neglecting the rest of the story – that Jesus extended mercy and called her to repent and sin no more. Extending blanket mercy without any exhortation to holiness can lead to cheap grace or lawlessness.
So in summary, we need to avoid these extremes or distortions when seeking to apply Jesus’ teaching today about casting the first stone. Biblical standards of morality, justice and righteousness still stand, but should be applied in humility and love, remembering that we too are in need of mercy.
Putting Jesus’ Teaching into Practice in the Church
How should Jesus’ famous statement guide church discipline and dealing with sin in the body of Christ today? Here are some key applications:
– Church leaders must address sin, but should do so gently, humbly and mercifully (Galatians 6:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:24-26).
– Discipline should aim at restoration, not condemnation (2 Corinthians 2:5-8). Excommunication is a last resort (Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5).
– Be slow to judge another’s heart or motives. Focus discipline on observable sinful conduct (1 Corinthians 5:3).
– Remember that we too are sinners saved by grace. There but for the grace of God go I.
– Church discipline must extend mercy consistent with the fruits of repentance (Luke 3:8; 17:3-4).
– Discipline should be done in an orderly way, with multiple witnesses and testimony (Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Timothy 5:19-21).
– As in John 8, bring unrepentant sin into the light, not to condemn but to save and restore (1 Corinthians 5:4-5).
– Judge by biblical standards, not human opinions. Uphold God’s standards of morality and truth.
– Leave final judgment and condemnation of souls to God alone (James 4:12). Our role is to restore.
– Church leaders with integrity issues should step down from ministry for a season (1 Timothy 3:1-7).
– Focus discipline on those claiming Christ, not outside world. But still call all to repentance.
So in summary, though Jesus prevented the woman’s stoning by convicted hypocrites, he did not oppose appropriate church discipline for unrepentant sin. But it should be done with humility, gentleness, mercy and the goal of restoration. This applies Jesus’ ethic behind “cast the first stone” to life in the body of Christ.
Conclusion
Jesus’ statement “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” masterfully addressed the hypocrisy of the woman’s accusers in the John 8 story. It conveys profound biblical principles related to sin, judgment, mercy and redemption through Christ. Though often misused, it retains deep relevance for life and ethics in the church today. As modern followers of Jesus, we do well to heed his ethic of humility and mercy as we interact with sinners, both in the church and the watching world.