Let He That is Without Sin

John 8:1–11

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The outstretched finger of Christ as it reaches down to write in the sand is a well-known directive for all to look to our own hearts and not judge others.

“Now the law of Moses says that such should be stoned, but what sayest thou?” were the piercing words that were hurled at Jesus. There are many in the days of Jesus who wanted to use customs, laws, and people to try to trap him. They wanted to find a way to silence Him and negate the power of His love and miracles. They felt threatened by Him. They took a woman who had been taken in sin and brought her before Jesus. They wanted to contend with Jesus. But in His majesty, He knelt down and began to write in the sand. How angry they must have been when Jesus didn’t respond in like manner to their attack. Whatever it was that He wrote in the sand began to have an effect on the hearts of the accusers. The scriptures tell us that one by one, they went away. Then Jesus mercifully spoke to the woman with tenderness and hope, “Go thy way and sin no more.”

Thoughts from Angela Johnson

1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest,even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.