In John 8, Jesus is teaching at the temple when the Pharisees enter the scene with a woman they caught having an affair. “‘Teacher,’ they said to Jesus, ‘this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?’” (John 8:4-5). The Pharisees were filled with self-righteousness and felt threatened by Jesus. They were not looking for advice on how to lovingly correct this woman. Instead, they were hoping to bait Jesus into saying something incriminating so they could arrest Him. But Jesus, with one statement, shifts the perspective from 4th the woman’s sin to the Pharisees’ sin. “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” (John 8:6). It is all too natural for us to compare ourselves to others in an effort to feel superior. How many times have we looked at someone and thought, “I can’t believe she did that!” or “He should be ashamed of himself!” The Pharisees were famous for this. But the Bible says no one is righteous. Not me, not you (Romans 3:10). So the next time these thoughts pop into your head, ask God to shift your thinking to the perspective of Jesus and let us extend the grace and mercy He gave us so freely.
