People are often quick to condemn others but many don’t realize that everyone of us deserves condemnation. This is because we have all thought, said and done wrong things. It could be referred to as the ‘plank and splinter theology’. We can be very quick to see the splinter in another’s eye whilst forgetting that there is a plank in our own eye which prevents us from seeing  clearly.

In this passage a woman is brought to Jesus who has been caught in the act of adultery. This was forbidden and very serious because the punishment was stoning to death. What those who were accusing her did not understand was that, as Jesus had said, ‘anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has committed adultery in his heart’. This is not to condone adultery in any way but Jesus saw their motive which was to trap him. His response to them is also a challenge to our own attitudes.

Jesus says to them ‘let he who is without sin cast the first stone’. One by one they slipped away as their own hearts were pierced. They were not in any position to condemn the woman. The most important thing was, however, that Jesus, unlike all the others, had never committed wrong. He was perfect and so he could have judged the woman. Instead he says to her ‘neither do I condemn you … go and leave your life of sin’. At the cross Jesus, though innocent, underwent a type of ‘stoning’ for our sins. Why would we not turn from our sins and give our lives to the one who gave his life for us.