TMDPB – The Modern Day Parables Blog

“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery… Jesus said, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.’ … Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’”

— John 8:3–11 (ESV)

This is one of my favorite passages of Scripture—and for good reason. In it, we see two radically different attitudes toward the same woman.

The Attitude of Condemnation

The scribes and Pharisees had already judged her. They dragged her out publicly, eager to make a spectacle, eager to prove how holy they were by enforcing the Law. They weren’t interested in her restoration; they were interested in her humiliation. Their brand of “justice” wasn’t about righteousness—it was about pride, position, and power.

The Attitude of Mercy

Then comes Jesus. He pauses. He kneels. He writes on the ground. He doesn’t rush to speak but lets the weight of the moment settle. When he finally stands, he says the words that echo across eternity:

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone.”

The only one in that circle who was truly without sin—the only one who had the right to throw a stone—was Jesus himself. But instead of condemning, he set the woman free with grace and truth:

“Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

What This Means for Us

Yes, the Pharisees set a trap. Yes, Jesus knew their motives were jealousy and fear. But this moment revealed the heart of God: mercy triumphs over judgment. Forgiveness leads to transformation.

Jesus set the benchmark:

1) For the sinner: There is mercy and a new start.

2) For the believer: There is no place for condemnation—only restoration.

So, what stones are you holding today? Maybe it’s judgment toward someone else. Maybe it’s self-condemnation over your own past. Whatever it is—drop it. Let it go.

Follow Jesus’ example:

1) If you’ve fallen, hear his words: “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.”

2) If you’re tempted to judge, remember: the only one with the right to condemn chose instead to forgive.

Imagine the impact if we, as the church, lived this way—choosing mercy over condemnation, choosing restoration over rejection. That kind of grace doesn’t just change lives; it changes the world.