What Did Jesus Actually Mean about Casting Stones?

Christ began writing in the dirt as their questions continued. Then, finally, Jesus answered. He said, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). One by one, the mob started to leave until only Jesus was left with the woman. There is a polite exchange recorded, and Jesus tells her that He does not condemn her while finally saying, “Go, and from now on, do not sin anymore” (John 8:11).

Not knowing Scripture is something we can all relate to and understand. An unfamiliar topic only becomes familiar through study. Let’s be honest: the Bible is a thick book. Memorizing and recognizing all of the information within is no easy feat. We start off by knowing a little, and with time, we begin to know a lot. That applies to comprehending passages like John 8 or simply understanding concepts like trusting in God or His love. Before we get to that place of greater comprehension, sometimes we accidentally spread false messages but do so with good intentions.

However, there are people with not-so-good intentions. Those who do not even subscribe to the idea of being a Christian, nor believe in God, who will try to use Scripture against believers. Worse yet, there are Christians who spread false messages to other Christians. They do this while knowing that they have limited knowledge and, at the same time, do not seek to change that fact.

Whoever you are, Christian or not, you are entitled to your opinions because you have a mind capable of discernment that God has given you. However, when your opinion concerns God’s Word and is shared with others, know that your words carry weight. A potentially sinful amount. Before you seek to use God’s Word to validate your opinion, make sure you know the context. In this case, make sure you can wisely answer the question, what did Jesus actually mean about casting stones?

What Does Casting Stones Actually Mean?

Jesus did not undercut the law when He challenged the Pharisees and scribes. Indeed, the law called for the woman to be stoned, but there needed to be witnesses, one of which would start the execution process. However, none of them were blameless in the situation, and thus, none presented themselves as witnesses. Their sinful hearts are revealed by the fact that the adulteress was caught in the act, and yet, she was the only one brought before Jesus. Where was the man who also needed to be put to death?

One larger point we can extrapolate from this passage is that before we want to criticize other people, we ought to take a look in the mirror. Perhaps we are not as righteous as we believe and may even engage in the sins we so disparage in others. Jesus was the only one in this situation who was without sin, and yet He chose to forgive the woman. As believers, we should seek to model this mindset. However, a thorough study of the text does not end there.  

What Does Casting Stones Not Mean?

Those who claim to be Christians and those who feign knowledge of Christianity are quick to cite Jesus’ words as evidence for not judging, which in their minds means not saying anything bad about someone else. That is ironic, considering so much of the Bible calls certain individuals “wicked,” “evil,” and “foolish.” How can the Bible utter such statements about people while simultaneously preaching a message of not judging?

What people often neglect is that though Jesus did not condemn this woman, in the same manner as the mob, He still called her out. The adulteress was living immorally and was therefore not in the right, even if the other people present were wrong too. That’s why He said to go and sin no more, regarding her behavior as sinful and commanding her to stop. Like His forgiveness, these implications also provide us with direction to follow. 

For starters, believers need to know the Scripture. People will try to use our own religion against us as though they understand the subject matter better than we do, while at the same time, not actually seeking to honor God. The same is true of Christians who make bold statements while not being in the Word. The Pharisees and scribes challenged someone who knew infinitely more than them. As a result, their foolishness showed. By being knowledgeable of Scripture, we can not only defend God’s Word but spread the truth as we defeat falsehoods and push back against foolishness when it arises.

Lastly, we are very much called to hold others accountable for their sins. In modern day, people mix the word judge with criticize. They want your affirmations and only affirmations. No criticism. However, to judge is to discern between good and evil, wise and foolish, sin and virtue. Therefore, if we are making such judgements, we obviously will criticize. The truth is that we all do this. If someone treats us poorly, we criticize their behavior. If food tastes bad, we criticize the meal. If someone commits a crime, we criticize the person. When people tell you not to judge them, they simply don’t want to hear criticisms. Yet, oftentimes, those are the very people who need to be critiqued the most because they want to become accustomed to only compliments. When that happens, they start to see themselves as flawless and make no changes to grow. However, if we’re sinners, then none of us are perfect. We need to be critiqued in order to be refined.

Conclusion

Christian or not, we all have our opinions, but we don’t all have our truth. There is no your truth or my truth, only the truth. We honor God by sticking to what is actually said in His Word, not what we wish was communicated. And while none of us is knowledgeable on every subject, we would do well not to speak so confidently on subjects we know little about. Otherwise, we risk spreading lies, and leading people to sin and away from God. John 8 is a passage that makes us feel good about forgiving others of their sin and being forgiven ourselves, but all the same, Jesus does not ever tell us not to admonish people for their wrongdoings. Don’t cast stones like a Pharisee, but judge people and their actions wisely.

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Tuba Acik 

Aaron D'Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He's an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.”