Who'll throw the first stone?

“We caught her in the very act,” proudly declared the Pharisees as they placed the disheveled women before Jesus. “Moses said that we are to put an adulteress to death by stoning; what do you say?” I knew they were trying to trap me so rather than answering their question, I just looked down and started writing on the ground with my finger. They kept pressing me for an answer so looked up and asked, ”Tell me, who among you has never sinned? You are the one qualified to throw the first stone.” Then I looked down and kept writing on the ground. It took a moment for the surprise to wear off, but then they began to slip away one by one starting with the oldest. In a moment I asked the woman if any of her accusers were still around and she said they’d all left. Since no one was there to accuse her, I said, “Well, you’re free to go; I’m not going to accuse you. However, there is one thing – from now on I want you to give up your sinful ways” (John 7:53-8:1).
       This parable has several important things to teach us. One is that the critical heart is extremely cruel. From the way in which the story is told I’m sure that the Pharisees didn’t just happen upon the woman, but had gone looking for an example they could use in making their case against Jesus. For them to use the title “Teacher” in addressing Jesus has an odd wring. They were the acknowledged “teachers” and he was simply a self-taught local who wandered around talking with the common people. And then there was the loaded question they posed: “Moses said, ‘Stone her!’ What do you say?” If Jesus wouldn’t support that position he could be charged with undermining Mosaic legislation: and if he did support it he would come across as mean and vindictive. That was the trap they were laying. By asking who among them would be the first to throw a stone, Jesus was reminding them that they were in the same trap. That is why they began to quietly leave one by one.
       Another thing that stands out in the story is the unusual amount of hypocrisy. The Pharisees had made pretending a fine art. They would like to be seen as supporting the decisions of their famous predecessor, but what they really had in mind was to trap Jesus. They wanted it to appear that they were honorable and devoted to the law, but when no one would pick up the first stone it was clear that what they actually wanted was something quite different.
       Finally, who can miss the wisdom of Jesus as he turns the Pharisee’s argument back on them? With one simple statement he protected the woman, showed the Pharisees how deceptive they were, and told the woman to stop her sinful practice.