"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

[RoryIsABeliever]

I know that is not the exact quote as it appears in the Bible, but that is often how it is repeated. It is actually one of my favorite parts of the Bible and even though I love the meaning behind it sometimes I get confused.

How exactly do you interpret it? I understand the literal meaning behind it; i.e if you were to cast a stone at a sinner then you are a hypocrite because you too are a sinner. However, I also interpret this along with other parts of the Bible as concerning judgement.

For instance, "Judge not and you will not be judged" "Condemn and you will be condemned." I don't think of myself as a judgemental person and I try not to judge others. I do understand that a lot of Christians would maybe accuse me of being, I don't know, un-Christian (?) but I could never suggest to somebody that they are sinning, or imply that they are sinning or judge them.

For example. I have a lot of friends who are quite promiscuous and sleep around. Even though I think that this is sinful, what gives me the right to judge them? If I say to them, or even think it to myself, that they are sinning then I am ultimately holding them up to a standard which I fail to meet myself. For I too am a sinner.

I cannot know God's will; for me to say that someone is sinning is for me to suggest that if they do not repent then they will be condemned. I can only hold myself up to what I believe to be God's standard; if I apply it to anybody else, I think I would become a hypocrite.

I do understand that there are a lot of contradictions in what Ive said but Im curious to hear how you all feel about judgement/sin. Because I feel like I hear judgement a lot. I understand why people are passionate and vocal about their faith and want others to accept Christ, I feel like too often it comes across as self-righteousness and hypocritical.

 

[notforgotten]

I believe that it has to do with love and forgiveness as well. I think that it is ok to be vigilant to sin to avoid temptation, but not to "judge". I think it is necessary to use compassion and understanding.

 

[Purge187]

"Don't judge someone just because they sin differently than you."

 

[RoryIsABeliever]

I believe that it has to do with love and forgiveness as well. I think that it is ok to be vigilant to sin to avoid temptation, but not to "judge". I think it is necessary to use compassion and understanding.

Thats interesting. I just find it hard to reconcile sometimes. For example, I'm very anti-abortion (and used to be quite an outspoken activist) but even though I believe abortion is wrong, to an extent, by believing it's wrong and speaking out I am judging.

For example I feel like "Love the sinner hate the sin" at times to be not truly practiced. And sometimes it bothers me with things like homosexuality. For example, I really don't have a problem with gay people at all. I'm neutral when it comes to things like gay marriage and gay adoption. I can understand both sides of the debate.

I can understand why people want to protect traditional marriage but so often people will say things like "Homosexuality is unnatural, it's not what God intends..." etc... I genuinely think it is impossible to speak out against a sin without judging the sinner. (This isn't a gay thing, I'm just using it as an example.

Because surely, even though you can be against abortion, against gay marriage etc... Surely your living in accordance with scripture is more important? It's sort of the equivalent of saying "Well, I appear to be completely without sin so I'm going to start pointing out what everybody else is doing wrong."

And it comes back to letting he who is without sin cast the first stone. Except, IMO, the very concept of somebody being without sin and thus being just in judging is almost impossible to find.

 

[football5680]

It basically means you must show compassion because nobody is perfect. We must still point out peoples mistakes but must show compassion when determining what will happen after that. The woman was guilty of adultery so obviously she should have been rebuked but after that compassion must be shown.

The person who is shown compassion must make restitution for their sin and try to avoid falling into the same thing in the future. When everybody walked away and it was just Jesus and the woman, he tells her to go and sin no more. She was shown compassion by God and she must show her thankfulness by avoiding sin in the future and fixing what is wrong.

 

[notforgotten]

It basically means you must show compassion because nobody is perfect. We must still point out peoples mistakes but must show compassion when determining what will happen after that. The woman was guilty of adultery so obviously she should have been rebuked but after that compassion must be shown.

The person who is shown compassion must make restitution for their sin and try to avoid falling into the same thing in the future. When everybody walked away and it was just Jesus and the woman, he tells her to go and sin no more. She was shown compassion by God and she must show her thankfulness by avoiding sin in the future and fixing what is wrong.

That sounds good to me.

 

[granpa]

Judging is all or nothing. if you see something as a sin then you are judging. We see sin as all bad. In reality nothing and no one is all bad

 

[FlameAlchemist]

I know that is not the exact quote as it appears in the Bible, but that is often how it is repeated. It is actually one of my favorite parts of the Bible and even though I love the meaning behind it sometimes I get confused.

How exactly do you interpret it? I understand the literal meaning behind it; i.e if you were to cast a stone at a sinner then you are a hypocrite because you too are a sinner. However, I also interpret this along with other parts of the Bible as concerning judgement.

For instance, "Judge not and you will not be judged" "Condemn and you will be condemned." I don't think of myself as a judgemental person and I try not to judge others. I do understand that a lot of Christians would maybe accuse me of being, I don't know, un-Christian (?) but I could never suggest to somebody that they are sinning, or imply that they are sinning or judge them.

For example. I have a lot of friends who are quite promiscuous and sleep around. Even though I think that this is sinful, what gives me the right to judge them? If I say to them, or even think it to myself, that they are sinning then I am ultimately holding them up to a standard which I fail to meet myself. For I too am a sinner.

I cannot know God's will; for me to say that someone is sinning is for me to suggest that if they do not repent then they will be condemned. I can only hold myself up to what I believe to be God's standard; if I apply it to anybody else, I think I would become a hypocrite.

I do understand that there are a lot of contradictions in what Ive said but Im curious to hear how you all feel about judgement/sin. Because I feel like I hear judgement a lot. I understand why people are passionate and vocal about their faith and want others to accept Christ, I feel like too often it comes across as self-righteousness and hypocritical.

They all wanted to stone the woman, without realizing that they were just as guilty.

 

[Nig]

There was one person there that was without sin.....

 

[Jesusisgood]

I really hate when people use this verse when they have sined, and when someone corrects them that what they are doing is wrong because they LOVE them and don't want them to go to hell, they use this verse (twisted of chourse) to "justify" what they do. I haven't met a judgemental Christian but I have met judgemental non Christians.

 

[Jesusisgood]

"I do understand that there are a lot of contradictions in what Ive said but Im curious to hear how you all feel about judgement/sin. Because I feel like I hear judgement a lot. I understand why people are passionate and vocal about their faith and want others to accept Christ, I feel like too often it comes across as self-righteousness and hypocritical. "
----------
are you then not casting a stone and judging them???

 

[St_Worm2]

"Don't judge someone just because they sin differently than you."

Hi Purge187, what a great sentence, lol .. It doesn't totally sum up John 8:7, but it teaches a great truth nonetheless.

I'm going to write that one down for future use (if that's ok with you?).

Thanks!!

--David

 

[MLEN]

"Let him who is without sin cast the first stone"

When Jesus said this he was speaking to some who wanted to kill a woman that was caught in the act of adultery, rather then have mercy on her. Jesus himself said he "came to seek and save the lost." His main goal was not to annihilate those who stray from God, but to help them reconcile with their Creator in order to receive eternal life.

God says himself that he gets "no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways;..."

Again, he desires that no man should perish but rather that "all men...be saved, and...come unto the knowledge of the truth."

So when Jesus said "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" - in essence he was teaching that since ALL men fall short of God's glory and therefore ALL are in need of God's mercy and forgiveness, we too should be willing to extend mercy and forgiveness to others just as God so freely extends it to us.

 

[Nig]

It is interesting to note that this is also the occasion where as they came quoting the law to Him, he stooped down and wrote on the ground of the temple. The ground of the temple is made of stone. Does anyone remember where else in scripture God wrote on stone.....

 

[josephearl]

We are also commanded to exercise judgment in reacting properly to right doctrine and behavior. Judging is an action that revolves around our discernment. If our discernment is Christ centered and scripturally rooted then our judging has a much better chance of being in alignment with the heart of God. In the following verses we can see clearly that judging is expected of us.

“But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.” (1 Corinthians 5:11–13, NASB95)

 

[MLEN]

“But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.” (1 Corinthians 5:11–13, NASB95)

In my humble opinion, this verse speaks mainly of the role of Christians in judging other Christians who have gone astray. This is why we are told not to "to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler". Only God judges those who are outside of the faith: "Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges" (1 Corinthians 5: 11-13).

When Jesus walked this earth, his severest words of rebuke were mostly aimed at those (Pharisees and Scribes) who professed to serve God with their lips, but their hearts were far from him. On the other hand, he had much compassion on those who were honestly ignorant of the truth or who had been led astray by the erring religious leaders of his time.

Jesus wanted the religious leaders to deal with people in a manner that God would: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, [fair] judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." (Matthew 23:23)

John 8:3 clearly tells us that it was the religious leaders (Scribes and Pharisees) who brought the adulterous woman to Jesus in order to sentence her to death. But it was also these same leaders who needed to learn a lesson most. A lesson about God's mercy, love and forgiveness.

 

[HIM_In_Me_In_HIM]

In my humble opinion, this verse speaks mainly of the role of Christians in judging other Christians who have gone astray. This is why we are told not to "to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler". Only God judges those who are outside of the faith: "Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges" (1 Corinthians 5: 11-13).

When Jesus walked this earth, his severest words of rebuke were mostly aimed at those (Pharisees and Scribes) who professed to serve God with their lips, but their hearts were far from him. On the other hand, he had much compassion on those who were honestly ignorant of the truth or who had been led astray by the erring religious leaders of his time.

Jesus wanted the religious leaders to deal with people in a manner that God would: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, [fair] judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." (Matthew 23:23)

John 8:3 clearly tells us that it was the religious leaders (Scribes and Pharisees) who brought the adulterous woman to Jesus in order to sentence her to death. But it was also these same leaders who needed to learn a lesson most. A lesson about God's mercy, love and forgiveness.

....first & foremost is what H>S> says u should do/say in any given situation. IF H>S> has u "at peace," then keep quiet. IF H>S> unctions u to speak up, then who gives a rip what anybody (including u, the speaker) thinks/feels?

Secondly, I find it very surprising many don't expose the "judgmental" lie for what it usually/often is....and that is, a cover up excuse/response by any one (or two, or three...) person who is or who knows someone (dear to them perhaps?) who is "in sin" ( as in obvious, not subtle/hidden) and doesn't like anybody else pointing out their "problem" that THEY themselves are making OBVIOUS to the whole world by word or action ( or lack thereof too).
For....even the term "judgment" requires scrutiny/examination, at least in our English language.
A true judge has the authority/right to judge but also can add to that "judgment" a verdict which carries a penalty or penalties.
Methinks no folk out there are casting homosexuals into physical prisons (spiritual ones perhaps, for those who know how to ; ) with a "sentence" of guilt and a term of mths/yrs to be served, when they are being UNCTIONED by the H>S> to sound the alarm for that homosexual (or plural, if u like).

Too often, over the course of history mankind has gone round n round trying to "skirt" God's moral laws and (worse yet?) their "repercussions" if u will, based on changing, fashionable (heathen usually) trends. We've since extremism on both sides of many moral issues, and both appear to be wrong in their "intent" as well as their implementation.

Jesus cut thru the "crap" by calling out peeps on their intent, as well as demonstrating the wisdom & mercy of God. The Pharisees true intent didn't give a squat about Moses' law(s) as they themselves may've had "relations" with that woman (for all we know) too, but rather to entrap Jesus either way was their true (evil) intent.
Little did they know they were dealing with HE who wrote the law and was contemplating its DEPTHS even as He knelt there writing on the stoney ground which surrounded those within the courtyard.

It would've been so ironic if Jesus had called out the male adulterer too (u'll notice, the male wasn't "charged" eh?) and asked him "what do u say, first "true" law-abiding witness Levy? Should she ALONE be stoned?? OR would you like to throw the 1st stone, u who are w/out sin in todays "deed?" This would've magnified the hypocritical intent also of the Pharisees in the totality of their involvement of this testing of Jesus. But our Master kept it simple, and let them save face (the Pharisees, a little) it seems. Lesson learned, all around. For the female was guilty and deserving of the laws' demands but Jesus demonstrated that Grace & mercy trumps the law both by its DEPTHS, and by its hard-hearted accusers realizing their true nature/selves. The only one there sinless to stone anyone was Jesus. Yet, even He fulfilled the laws requirements by "dismissing" (basically) the accusers so that there were no witnesses left against her (witnesses required by mosaic law), and by admonishing her saying "go, and sin no more."

And just think. This beautiful savior is "inside" u and me. Maybe, no....make that "let it be" that HE should arise w/in our hearts so much so that the whole world can see Him in our eyes/lives.

Selah.

Halleluyah !

 

[SG9]

I know that is not the exact quote as it appears in the Bible, but that is often how it is repeated. It is actually one of my favorite parts of the Bible and even though I love the meaning behind it sometimes I get confused.

How exactly do you interpret it? I understand the literal meaning behind it; i.e if you were to cast a stone at a sinner then you are a hypocrite because you too are a sinner. However, I also interpret this along with other parts of the Bible as concerning judgement.

For instance, "Judge not and you will not be judged" "Condemn and you will be condemned." I don't think of myself as a judgemental person and I try not to judge others. I do understand that a lot of Christians would maybe accuse me of being, I don't know, un-Christian (?) but I could never suggest to somebody that they are sinning, or imply that they are sinning or judge them.

For example. I have a lot of friends who are quite promiscuous and sleep around. Even though I think that this is sinful, what gives me the right to judge them? If I say to them, or even think it to myself, that they are sinning then I am ultimately holding them up to a standard which I fail to meet myself. For I too am a sinner.

I cannot know God's will; for me to say that someone is sinning is for me to suggest that if they do not repent then they will be condemned. I can only hold myself up to what I believe to be God's standard; if I apply it to anybody else, I think I would become a hypocrite.

I do understand that there are a lot of contradictions in what Ive said but Im curious to hear how you all feel about judgement/sin. Because I feel like I hear judgement a lot. I understand why people are passionate and vocal about their faith and want others to accept Christ, I feel like too often it comes across as self-righteousness and hypocritical.

The Bible says that if we wrongfully judge others then we are judged the same. The Bible also says that a spiritual person judges all things, then how do we distinguish the differences between this. You said that if we do not judge others then we will not be judged, I then wonder if you are speaking of God's Judgment upon the world or what? Do we not make judgments when making decisions? And if we were not to judge then how do we make the right choices? Thanks

 

[frogman2x]

The Bible says that if we wrongfully judge others then we are judged the same. The Bible also says that a spiritual person judges all things, then how do we distinguish the differences between this. You said that if we do not judge others then we will not be judged, I then wonder if you are speaking of God's Judgment upon the world or what? Do we not make judgments when making decisions? And if we were not to judge then how do we make the right choices? Thanks

WE can judge Christians by tgheir conduct. We ar not to judge those outside the church(I Cor 5:12-13). We are never to judge if someone is a Christian.

 

[HIM_In_Me_In_HIM]

The Bible says that if we wrongfully judge others then we are judged the same. The Bible also says that a spiritual person judges all things, then how do we distinguish the differences between this. You said that if we do not judge others then we will not be judged, I then wonder if you are speaking of God's Judgment upon the world or what? Do we not make judgments when making decisions? And if we were not to judge then how do we make the right choices? Thanks

...discernment & judgment and tell us if u "see" the difference?