Why “You Without Sin Cast The First Stone” Is Always A Poor Defense

I have heard many times during bible studies with both non-Christians and Christians our title phrase used to defend sinful behaviors. It is true that we all sin (Rom 3:23) and that it is wrong to condemn another soul (Rom 2:1), but there are those that believe that it is wrong to talk about sin and use this verse to defend themselves against rebuke. When someone is approached by a Christian asking them to repent, this phrase is often used to block the conversation. “You sin just as well as I so we’re not going to talk about this.” It is an excuse to keep on living in sins like lying, gossip, homosexuality, and many others. But what was Jesus doing? Why did he say this in the first place?

In Context

In John 8, we see a woman caught in adultery and brought by Pharisees to the feet of Jesus. The custom was to stone someone for this crime, meaning that a crowd would gather up stones and through them at her until she died. It was physical assault to death. To prevent the woman’s death and for a more important motive, Jesus says in verse 7, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then, one by one, the Pharisees left.

So the phrase first and foremost was to deliver the woman from dying. Someone might feel that stones are being hurled at them when someone talks about their sin, but this is only because they are being challenged and no one wants to change their worldview, even if God wants you to. But the more important reason why Jesus saved this woman was to give her opportunity to repent.

After the Pharisees left, John 8:10-11 says, “Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’ Jesus did not condemn the woman, but he also most certainly did not approve of the life she was living and so he says, “go, and from now on sin no more.”

Why Must We Repent?

Yes we all sin, but we don’t all have same attitude about sin. We can either ignore sin, make excuses for it, and remain unrepentant or we can recognize sin for what it is: an abominable and disgusting barrier that keeps us from God. The apostle John wrote in 1 John 1:6, “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Jesus Himself said in Matt 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

While we may not want to admit we’re wrong, repent of sin, or be challenged by God’s word, we must repent from living a sinful life. Sure we’ll make mistakes, but our goal as Christians, when we become a Christian, is to be like Jesus and to adopt his attitude about everything. Sin, justice, love, and mercy all included.