The Best of the Portals of Prayer

Read: John 7:53-8:11 // Psalm 130

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
John 8:7

Throwing Stones

A woman had been caught in an adulterous act, and Jewish Law prescribed death by stoning. The scribes and Pharisees dragged her before Jesus and asked what He thought should be done. Their purpose was to trap Him into siding with her, or to side with them. Either way, His ministry of mercy among sinners would be jeopardized. Jesus exposed their cruel self-righteousness by saying, “let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” One by one, they dropped their stones and left.
There is the saying, “those who live in glass houses ought not throw stones.” When we hear of the moral failings of others, it is so easy to condemn. Upon seeing a criminal on the way to the gallows, George Whitefield remarked, “there but for the grace of God, Go I.” In the sight of God, we are all guilty sinners who stand condemned. Not one of us is without sin.
In Jesus Christ, there is forgiveness and the opportunity to live a new life, a life of love and one that lifts others up instead of throwing stones at them. As God in Christ loved us despite our failings, so we love those around us.

Help we remember, Lord Jesus, that by the grace of God I am what I am, a forgiven sinner, now privileged, now privileged to serve you. Amen.

June 22, 1980