In John 8:7, Jesus delivers a powerful message about judgment and forgiveness. But before we dive into that, let’s look at the context.

Religious leaders caught a woman in the act of adultery. According to their law, she deserved to be stoned to death. They brought her before Jesus and asked, “What do you say?”

This was a trap. If Jesus agreed, He would contradict His message of grace. If He refused, He’d appear to reject the law. But Jesus, in His wisdom, responded with a statement that still challenges us today.

The Power of Jesus’ Words

The leaders kept pressing Jesus for an answer. Finally, He stood up and said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)

One by one, the accusers dropped their stones and walked away. Jesus showed them—and us—that no one is without sin. We all fall short. Yet, too often, we’re quick to judge others while ignoring our own failures.

We Are All Contradictions

Let’s be honest. We all struggle with inconsistency. We commit to things and then break our commitments. We say we’ll eat healthy and hit the gym, but how’s that New Year’s resolution going?

We try to be patient, but if you’ve ever dealt with kids, you know how quickly that patience can disappear. We speak kindness, then gossip in the next breath. We’re contradictions—flawed, imperfect, and always in need of grace.

Holding On to Offense Hurts Everyone

What truly damages relationships and communities? It’s not just the mistakes we make but how we handle them. When we hold onto offenses, point fingers, and keep score, we create division.

Jesus calls us to something different. He tells us to put our stones down.

Forgiveness Heals

Forgiveness isn’t just a nice idea—it’s a necessity. It heals marriages, friendships, and entire communities.

In the church, we need to put our stones down. When a leader falls, do we rush to condemn, or do we extend grace? When someone wrongs us, do we cling to bitterness, or do we let go?

Jesus’ words remind us that we are all in the same boat. We all make mistakes. And because of that, we all need forgiveness.

So today, let’s choose grace. Let’s drop our stones. Because when we do, healing begins.

Listen to Pastor Izzy’s full message below.