In John 8:1-11, What does this mean? This is the one about casting the first stone.?

Question

I don't know if you've been paying attention to my questions on religion or not.
Most folks out here, (not all) do not, will not, almost flatly refuse to let us believe what we want to believe.
For some reason, there is NO RESPECT for the other guy's or gal's beliefs.
And on a heads up folks, I am not christian. But I'll defend your right to believe in whatever your heart desires.
It's called "Freedom of Religion."
Welcome to the United States of America.

Answer 1

What it means, I think you know! The interesting thing about this story is that those great upholders of religious law, the scribes and Pharisees, who so delighted in their own righteousness and so diligently condemned those who were less scrupulous about the law than they were, thought they would trap Jesus, revealing him to everyone as a law-breaker. But he confounded their expectations.

Here is a woman, taken in the very act of adultery, for which sin (breaking of the Law) Moses prescribed death by stoning. If Jesus simply forgives the woman, relieving her of all responsibility for the act, the scribes and Pharisees will triumph. They already believe Jesus guilty of by-passing the very Law their observance of which enables them to cling to their sense of superiority and pass judgement on others.

But his response is so framed that they can't condemn him without themselves standing condemned in the eyes of the crowd. He invites any of them who think themselves blameless before the Law to cast the first stone at her! They all know that however good (in terms of observing the Law) they are in comparison with "ordinary folk", not one of them can claim a perfect record in that. Every one of them has failed to a greater or lesser extent perfectly to fulfill the Law.

Jesus is calling their bluff. Then, after they shuffle off knowing he has bested them, he asks the woman where are those who accused her? Are there none? Realising that they have gone, she replies: "No man, Lord", to which Jesus responds: "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

With that statement, Jesus is both acknowledging that the woman has indeed broken the law, but refusing to exact the payment from her that the law prescribes. His final words give back to her the responsibility for her future conduct, and thus restore to her a measure of independence and self-respect.

It's interesting that on the majority of occasions when this story is used by Christians, the emphasis is almost entirely on Jesus forgiving the woman - saving her from a pretty dreadful death by stoning. Very rarely are his final words to her given any weight at all - yet they are the essential corollary to the forgiveness. If she is truly repentant and regrets her action in breaking the law, then she will respond to forgiveness for doing so by ensuring that she doesn't do it again. That is entirely her responsibility and choice, and Jesus restores her dignity by treating her as a responsible person.

In the context of your question, I suppose you could say that Jesus shows her "respect". He knows that God has given us the individual freedom to choose for or against him, and he will not interfere with that. But he does gently emphasise, in his words "Go, and SIN NO MORE" that along with this freedom goes responsibility - not just for the woman he is dealing with, but for us all.

wimsey

Answer 2

The woman caught in the act of adultery. According to the Commandments, those who committed adultery were to be stoned to death. Jesus saw through the hypocrisy of the accusers.
First; where was the man? If the woman was caught in the act of adultery as accused, where is the guy? Both were to be stoned
Second; The lliteral English translation is "Let him among you who is without this sin cast the first stone." It is more than likely that the guy with whom the woman had been caught was a person of some influence and power and probaby standing there as one of the accusers.
Third; Jesus began to write in the sand as soon as the accusers showed up. We are not told what He wrote but we know He wasn't the type to doodle thoughtlessly. I believe He began to write the names of every man who had committed adultery with this same woman and many were standing there as accusers.
Fourth; Jesus demonstrates His divinity and love by forgiving the woman her sins.(Who can forgive sin except God?)

Answer 3

Well said, but you must remember that not everyone here that posts is from the USA. I do believe in allowing people to chose whatever they want to believe, so does God it is called free will for a reason. Where you really looking for an answer or were you using it to make a point? I can't tell. If you were serious, I think it is pretty obvious what it means don't you? too bad many people speak the word but seldom do what it says. Peace

Answer 4

He who is without sin cast the first stone.

There was a woman caught in a sexual act that was (in the bible times) punishable by a stoning death. Jesus was there when everyone started picking up stones to kill her. He looked at the crowd and said, "Whoever doesn't ever sin throw the first stone at her" (my paraphrase) No one threw a stone because they all realized that they had sin in their life too. She was spared. Then Jesus told her to go and sin no more. He forgave her.

Answer 5

Nope, however the angels would in the event that they desired to! Anyway, did you observe that J'esus didn't depart the adulteress and remained. That way He used to be and remains to be sinless. He on my own had the proper to pass judgement on and consequently forged the primary and moment stone! But He selected to be merciful! Praise the L'ord!

Answer 6

Cool. Thank you. I believe everyone has the right to believe whatever they want and no one should force there opinion on another person. I haven't been paying attention to your questions though. That verse roughly means that the person who has not sinned in their life can judge others. But we have ALL sinned so no one but God has the authority to judge. Peace

Answer 7

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

There's another scripture that collaborates with this that say..... " Do not judge..... first take the rafter out of your eyes and then you can see clearly to abstract the strew in your brother's...."

These two scriptures simply means, no human is perfect and righteous, so therefore we should not judge each other.

Answer 8

thanks!
yes, this is the same thoughts as before.
we are all equally sinful.
christians, however, are forgiven if they ask for it...but you have to confess, then ask, then repent of that sin.
those who cast that stone better be pure. and we all know there was only one man who could do that...He was standing there right next to that woman...standing up for that woman.
that's some pretty powerful poopie there.

blessings.

Answer 9

Jesus was trying to teach the people that they should not be so hasty to judge one who is caught in sin. He advised her to go and sin no more- he does not want us to continue in sin but to recognize the error and change our behavior. To be forgiven is a gift. They did not know that they, too were going to be forgiven of their sins and their hearts had to be convicted to turn away and leave the woman alone. We have already been judged through Jesus who gave his life on our behalf. He suffered for us and was judged by Father God for us and his blood, his life, his sacrifice was for the sin of man.

Love all as Jesus has loved you. Jesus did not condemn and neither should we.

Answer 10

Blessed be, Sister. Only those without sin can cast the stones. It is the same as judging. Check for skeletons in your own closet first. NObody is "skeleton-free" ergo "sin-free".