Scripture Reading: John 8:2-11
Throwing the First Stone
Intro.
1. Both righteous and unrighteous judgments in the Scriptures, John 7:18-24. (Judge: To decide and separate)
2. We are obligated to judge what is right, Luke 12:57 (Phil. 1:9-11).
3. Self-importance | Self-vindication | Self-centeredness | Self-righteousness is at the heart of unrighteous judgments (hypocritical and condemning).
4. John 8:2-11: Pharisees mistreated this woman while misjudging Jesus and themselves.
I. MISJUDGING JESUS.
A. They Thought They Could Entrap Jesus, John 8:5-6.
1. Tried repeatedly, Luke 11:53-54.
2. Arrogance tries to fit God into our mold, Isa. 55:8-9.
B. They Did Not Expect Jesus to Confront their Sin, 8:5-9 (Heb. 4:13).
1. Selective judgment, 8:4; Lev. 20:10; Deut. 19:15 (17:7).
2. Outward innocence did not mean inward purity, 8:7.
C. They Did Not Expect Jesus to Forgive the Woman, 8:9-11.
1. They did not forgive her. Their minds immediately went to condemnation and manipulation to trap Jesus.
2. What are our first reactions toward a sinner? Matt. 18:34-35
a. Compassion? Condemnation? Mercy? Forgiveness? (Love)
b. Must not forget our forgiveness, Eph. 4:32-5:2 (1 Cor. 13:4-6).
II. MISJUDGING OURSELVES BY MISJUDGING OTHERS.
A. By Unrighteously Judging Others We Judge Ourselves to Be:
1. Without sin, John 8:7. Hypocritical and self-serving.
2. Above God’s law, James 4:11 (cf. John 8:4; Lev. 20:10).
3. Righteous, Luke 18:9-12 (Self-righteous, trusting in ourselves).
B. To Correct We Must Replace Conceit with Compassion, Mercy, and Humility, James 2:12-13 (1-4); Matt. 7:2; John 8:10-12.
C. Righteous Judgment is Possible and Expected.
1. Judge Jesus righteously, Luke 12:54-57 (Matt. 16:13-16).
2. Judge ourselves righteously:
a. In temptation, 1 Cor. 10:12 (13); cf. Peter (John 13:37-38).
b. Spiritual health, Gal. 6:3-4.
c. When eating Lord’s Supper, 1 Cor. 11:27-32 (31). We discern (judge) the Lord’s body and examine ourselves to escape condemnation.
3. Judge sin righteously:
a. What it is, 1 John 3:4; James 4:17; Rom. 14:23.
b. What it pays (wages), Rom. 6:23.
4. Judge others righteously, John 8:11; cf. Matt. 7:6.
a. Judge truth from error, 1 Cor. 2:14-15.
b. Judge false teachers (teaching) with God’s word (not self), Matt. 7:15-21; 1 John 4:1, 6.
c. Judge the world and angels by righteousness, 1 Cor. 6:2-3.
d. Judge unrepentant Christian with corrective discipline, 1 Cor. 5:3-5, 12-13.
Conclusion
1. We all will stand before Christ and be judged by Him, Acts 17:31.
2. Let us submit ourselves to His judgments and not unrighteously judge others.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted December 15, 2021