John 8:6b-8 But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
We have no idea what Jesus wrote on the ground. Speculations abound, but what Jesus did do was apply what He taught in the sermon on the mount in Matt. 7:1-5
Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
When we are cognizant of our own sin, we realize that we are not better than anyone else, and that we are worthy of death. The wages of sin is death. We all deserve to be stoned. We are all sinners. We may catch another sinner red-handed so to speak in a sin, but the fact that we haven’t been so exposed doesn’t mean we are not in need of mercy and repentance.
We live among sinners who are just like us. It can be tempting to judge others whose sins are so blatant and public. However, we can learn from Jesus that we should look at our own sins before judging others, then treat them as we want to be treated. Notice in Matthew 7:12 that Jesus considered this to be affirmed by the Law and the Prophets.“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Isn’t this good advice for us as we live to love with Jesus? We can be encouraged from these verses in the attitude we are to have as we love others with Him in a fallen world.
