Sayings

Throw the first stone is defined as to be the first to make an accusation and often used to emphasise that a potential critic is not wholly blameless. However, it comes from a non-accusational encounter Jesus had with an adulterous women. 

According to the Gospel of John, the Pharisees, in an attempt to discredit Jesus, brought a woman charged with adultery before him. Then they reminded Jesus that adultery was punishable by stoning under Mosaic law and challenged him to judge the woman so that they might then accuse him of disobeying the law. Jesus thought for a moment and then replied, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.” The people crowded around him were so touched by their own consciences that they departed. When Jesus found himself alone with the woman, he asked her who were her accusers. She replied, “No man, lord.” Jesus then said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.”

This story often invites people to heap criticism on the Pharisees; we too can become critical, judgemental and superior just as we notice these traits in the Pharisees. 'Don't look out', Jesus says, 'look in'. Perhaps we need to look in to our hearts and become aware of our own need for forgiveness.

Jesus is the one who never condemns, even when we are most condemnatory of us. The look of Jesus to this condemned woman saved her - the look of divine and everlasting love. In prayer we can bring all the shame and guilt of our lives to this story of forgiveness and hear words spoken to each of us - ‘I do not condemn you.’

Father God, thank You for the forgiveness you give and that there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus. I confess that there are times when I have been critical of others, forgetting that my own faults. Lord, I want to live a life that is pleasing to You. I pray that Your new-life within may display the grace and love of the Lord Jesus towards others, in the same way that You show Your grace and love towards me. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN