CASTING STONES

Intro.

1.  Jno. 8:1-7 - Jesus frustrated His enemies' attempt to ensnare Him.

  a.  Deut. 17:7 - Law also said the 1st to cast stone was to be free of the crime worthy of death (witnesses & not participants).

  b.  Jesus impressed upon them that freedom from the outward act of sin did not necessarily mean they were inwardly pure & sinless!

2.  Why do we unrighteously cast stones at others? - Jas. 4:11-12

 

I.  HYPOCRISY CAUSES THE HYPOCRITE TO CAST STONES…

  A.  At Sinners While Committing The Same Sort Of Sins - Jno. 8:7-9; Matt. 23:29-35.

    1.  Hypocrisy is an inconsistency between one's heart & one's life.

    2.  It judges others while guilty itself! - Matt. 7:1-5

  B.  At The Innocent While Also Guilty Of Sin - Matt. 15:1-3.

    1.  Failure to distinguish between the commands of God & the traditions of men.

    2.  Failure to show mercy - Matt. 12:1-2, 7.

    3.  Failure to practice what is preached - Rom. 2:21-24.

  C.  Why Does The Hypocrite "Casts Stones" At Others?

    1.  To deflect attention from himself. Hypocrisy becomes a shield against being discovered by others - cf. Matt. 23:23, 27-28.

    2.  To display himself as genuine. Display zeal which distracts from inward treachery - Matt. 23:24-25.

    3.  To be seen & honored by men - Matt. 23:5-7, 12. (pride)

 

II.  PRIDE CASTS STONES AT THE HUMBLE (Lk. 18:14; Psa. 10:2).

    -(Pride seeks to dominate/control people & situations - cf. Jas. 4:10-12)

  A.  Out Of Self-righteousness - Lk. 18:9.

    1.  Justify himself in his own eyes & before others - cf. Deut. 9:4-5; Prov. 30:12-14.

    2.  Promote himself above others - cf. Jno. 11:49-50.

  B. Out Of Envy - Matt. 27:18.

    1.  A companion of bitterness & self-seeking - Jas. 3:14.

    2.  Let us not condemn others out of envy! - Gal. 5:26

  

III.  ERROR CASTS STONES AT TRUTH & 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 - cf. Gen. 3:1.

    2.  By misapplying the Bible - Matt. 4:5-6 (Psa. 119:160; 2 Pet. 3:16; 2 Tim. 2:15).

    3.  The truth of the Bible protects you from such "stones!"

  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.  "Stones" are being cast at those who teach truth, while error is not reprimanded and exposed!

  C.  To Shield Itself From Exposure - 3 Jno. 9-10.

    1.  Truth exposes error - Jno. 3:19.

    2.  Sin and error blame righteousness for its trouble - 1 Kgs. 18:17-18.

 

Conclusion

1.  The stone casting we have discussed is the unrighteous judging & condemnation of others.

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)