Scripture Reading: John 8:1-11
Throwing Rocks
Intro.
1. Jesus frustrated His enemies’ attempt to ensnare Him, Jno. 8:1-9.
a. Throwing rocks at someone was literally a way to kill them.
b. Law of Moses allowed for executing justice. The law implied the first to cast stone was to be free of the crime worthy of death (witnesses and not participants), Deut. 17:7.
2. Jesus impressed on them that freedom from the outward act of sin did not necessarily mean they were inwardly pure and sinless.
3. Why do we unrighteously throw rocks at others? Jas. 4:11-12
I. HYPOCRISY THROWS ROCKS AT OTHERS.
A. The Hypocrite Throws Rocks at Sinners while Ignoring His Own (Similar) Sins, Jno. 8:7-9 (Matt. 23:29-35); Rom. 2:1-2.
1. Hypocrisy is an inconsistency between one’s heart and one’s life.
2. It judges others while guilty itself, Matt. 7:1-5.
B. At the Innocent while also being Guilty of Sin, Matt. 15:1-3.
1. Failure to distinguish between the commands of God and the traditions (opinions) of men.
2. Failure to show mercy, Matt. 12:1-2, 7.
3. Failure to practice what we preach, Rom. 2:17-24.
C. Why Do Hypocrites Throw Rocks at Others?
1. To deflect attention from their hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is shielded from discovery by turning attention to others, Matt. 23:23, 27-28.
2. To present himself as genuine. Display zeal that distracts from inward treachery, Matt. 23:24-25.
3. To be seen and honored by men, Matt. 23:5-7, 12. (pride)
II. PRIDE THROWS ROCKS AT THE HUMBLE (Lk. 18:14; Psa. 10:2).
-Pride tries to dominate/control people and situations, cf. Jas. 4:10-12.
A. Due to Self-Righteousness, Lk. 18:9.
-Justifies himself in his own eyes and before others, cf. Deut. 9:4-5; Prov. 30:12-14.
B. Due to Envy, Matt. 27:18.
1. Envy: “to experience a feeling of ill will due to real or presumed advantage experienced by someone else” (Louw -Nida, I:759); Acts 13:45.
2. A companion of bitterness and self-seeking, Jas. 3:14.
3. We must not condemn others out of envy, Gal. 5:26.
III. ERROR THROWS ROCKS AT TRUTH AND THOSE WHO WALK IN IT.
A. To Destroy Your Confidence in the Word of God, Heb. 4:12; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Cor. 14:37.
1. By casting doubt on the Bible as God’s revelation, Gen. 3:1.
2. By misapplying the Bible, Matt. 4:5-6 (Psa. 119:160; 2 Pet. 3:16; 2 Tim. 2:15).
3. Truth prevails and protects us from these “rocks.”
B. To Make Room for Error, 2 Pet. 3:1-4.
1. Truth must be discredited so that error will be accepted, Jude 4.
2. Kill the messenger. cf. Stephen (Acts 7:54)
3. “Rocks” are thrown at those who teach truth, while error is magnified (not reprimanded and exposed), Eph. 5:11.
C. To Shield itself from Exposure and Accountability, 3 Jno. 9-10.
1. Truth exposes error, Jno. 3:19 (Heb. 4:12-13).
2. Error (sin) blames righteousness for its troubles, 1 Kgs. 18:17-18.
Conclusion
1. The rock throwing we have studied is the unrighteous judging and condemnation of others (Rom. 14:10-13).
2. “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Matt. 7:2).
By: Joe R. Price
Posted December 11, 2019