Let he among who is without sin cast the first stone? What does that mean to you?

Answer 1

Well, in context it means Jesus was a masterful teacher and dealt masterfully with the religious leaders who were always trying to trap him.

The words of Jesus are found in the account of John Chapter 8 with respect to the woman who was caught in the act of adultery. (It is noteworthy that this account is not found in all modern Bible translations).

Notice they brought the woman before Jesus when he was in front of a crowd. The woman had been caught in the act of adultery and for this reason, they did not need to bring her to Jesus. They could have simply stoned her and the man but justice and the carrying out of the law was not their motivation. John 8:6 makes it clear that the religious leaders were putting Jesus to the test in order to have something with which to accuse Jesus. If Jesus said not to stone the woman, he would be advocating that they ignore God's law which clearly stated that adultery was a capital offense and punishable by death. If Jesus said to go ahead and stone her, he would seem to be harsh and unfeeling before the crowd – wanting to stone a woman. (This is no doubt why they did not bring the man – a female would stir the crowd's compassion.) How could Jesus respond properly while at the same time uphold the Mosaic law and keep his credibility with the crowd as a compassionate Messiah?

By putting the burden on the religious leaders. It was as if he said to them: "Fine, carry out the law. But let the one who is sinless throw the first stone." Only an arrogant and harsh man would have had the temerity to do so. Death by stoning was not a pretty sight. The religious leaders themselves did not want to lose face in front of the crowd; neither did they wish to lose the authority which they lorded over the common people among the Jews. There is reason to say that Jesus of Nazareth was a masterful Teacher!

So to me it means that all disciples are to be very careful as to how they carry out the teaching and preaching work. All manner of ears are listening and the motives of some are questionable. The wrong word can cost the nascent faith of some.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 2

Here is the Story:
According to the Gospel of John, the Pharisees, in an attempt to discredit Jesus, brought a woman charged with adultery before him. Then they reminded Jesus that adultery was punishable by stoning under Mosaic law and challenged him to judge the woman so that they might then accuse him of disobeying the law. Jesus thought for a moment and then replied, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.” The people crowded around him were so touched by their own consciences that they departed. When Jesus found himself alone with the woman, he asked her who were her accusers. She replied, “No man, lord.” Jesus then said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.”

Jesus didn't condemn the woman, not because He was a liberal, not because He condoned her sin, but because the men who brought the woman to Him were Hypocrites. He was the only person there that day who was free of sin, the only one who had the right to "cast the first stone." He didn't stone her (or her accusers), but instead forgave her and told her to "sin no more." Otherwise, the day is coming when she, if she didn't thereafter repent, won't be stoned, but will be burned - along with the hypocrites who brought her to Him that day, if they didn't thereafter repent of their sin:

Answer 3

It means that Christians should pay more attention to that. In fact, they are so quick in judging anybody that they even forget to bring decent stones (just kidding, sort of).

It actually means than no one should be throwing stones, right?

Apparently Jesus Christ wanted his followers to be doing something other than the constant judging and attacking that we all know is the main obsession of some so-called 'Christians.' But who are we to throw stones, after all?

Answer 4

It means that each christian is the only person allowed to determine who among the other people on earth is going to hell, and it is that christian's primary duty in life to punish the person before he gets to hell. Why wait for god to punish people, since it is much more fun to get the ball rolling. This must be what the quote means, since few christians actually practice what they claim it means.

Answer 5

Jesus is okay with those who are not apart of the covenants tossing bloody rocks around.

I assume those of us without sin (those who have never been a part of a covenant with a god that we could not uphold) are still forbidden if we live in glass houses.

Answer 6

When Jesus said that, He knew that He was the only person present (or ever) who was without sin. He chose to forgive.

We usually take it to mean that we must reflect on our own selves instead of judging, but it also reflects His sinless nature.

Answer 7

Since everyone is a 'sinner' in one way or another, none of us should 'throw stones' (or words, or jail sentences) at others. WE NEED TO FORGIVE OTHERS, and for us to really do that right, we need to 'recognize' that we 'need to be forgiven' first ...

Answer 8

It means Jesus wanted to be the first one to start the stonings.

Answer 9

It means those who live in glass houses shouldnt' throw rocks, but if someone has already broken the glass, by all means, go ahead....

Answer 10

That I won't be casting any stones.