Judging the Judge

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 8:1-12

 

Matthew 7:1-2

“Judge^[a] not, that you be not judged. ² For with what ^[b]judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

(NKJV)

 

Many in the Church interpret Matthew 7:1-2 as a command not to judge one another’s sins. However, when taken in its context, the passage is Jesus reminding us to consider sin in our own lives before judging sin in another’s life (Matthew 7:1-5). The text of John 8:1-12 provides an example from Jesus of the application of this principle.

 

Jesus leaves the Mount of Olives and goes to the temple with all the people coming to Him to hear His teaching (John 8:1-2). To entrap Jesus and bring an accusation against Him, the scribes and Pharisees interrupt Jesus’ teaching by bringing a woman to Him, caught in the act of adultery (John 8:3). The scribes and Pharisees want to know what Jesus has to say since this woman was caught in the very act of adultery and according to the law of Moses should be stoned (John 8:4-5). The motive of these men was not to fulfill the law of Moses by stoning the woman, but instead to catch Jesus in violation of the law so they could accuse Him. Once again, Jesus does not give them the satisfaction by directly answering their question but appears to ignore them. (John 8:6).

 

This angers the scribes and Pharisees, with them continuing to press Jesus for an answer. Jesus finally stands up and tells the one without any sin in his life to throw the first stone (John 8:7). Jesus then continues writing on the ground as before (John 8:8). The consciences of each of the woman’s accusers are convicted and they leave Jesus, leaving Him alone with the woman (John 8:9). Jesus then asks the woman where her accusers are and if anyone has condemned her (John 8:10).

 

The woman replies with no one, with Jesus saying He does not accuse her either. The interesting thing about this account is that Jesus was the only one in the presence of the woman without sin who could have condemned her but gave her forgiveness, telling her to go and sin no more (John 8:11). Jesus then continues His teaching declaring He is the light of the world and that one no longer needs to walk in darkness but can have the light of life within them (John 8:12).

 

Jesus has entered the temple area, and all the people come to hear His teaching. The scribes and Pharisees take this opportunity to bring a woman caught in adultery to Him to find something with which to accuse Jesus. The motive of these religious leaders was not discernment about the teaching of Jesus but instead testing how He would handle a woman caught in adultery under the law of Moses. Jesus, again, does not directly answer their question regarding the woman but seems to ignore them by drawing on the ground. The scribes and Pharisees continue pressing Jesus for an answer with Jesus finally raising Himself and saying, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8:7). Jesus is the only one in the woman’s presence who is without sin and could throw the first stone. The others, after searching their consciences, realize the sin in their lives and leave without casting a stone at the woman. Jesus also does not cast a stone at the woman but forgives her and tells her to go and sin no more (John 8:11). Jesus then continues His teaching declaring that He is the light of the world, and that one can follow Him and not need to walk in darkness but can have the light of life within them (John 8:12).

 

The Bible says believers in Christ will judge each other and the angels (1 Corinthians 6:1-3). Jesus also cautioned us to remember that when judging another’s sin, we must consider the sin in our own lives (Matthew 7:1-5). The scribes and Pharisees, bringing the woman to Jesus, had an ulterior motive to entrap Jesus, using the woman as a pawn in their chess game with Jesus. When judging one caught in sin, we must,

 

1)      Repent of any sin in our own lives because the sin in our lives clouds our judgment (John 8:7; 1 John 1:9).

2)      Check our motive. Is it to accuse leadership or someone in the Church of wrongdoing, like the motive of the scribes and Pharisees bringing the woman to Jesus (John 8:3-6)? Instead, our motive should be to restore one caught in sin through destruction of the flesh that the spirit might be saved (1 Corinthians 5:1-5).

3)      Be slow to speak out in judgment, praying for Godly discernment (James 1:19-20).

 

Jesus’ example in John 8:1-12 provides an example of one passing gracious and merciful judgment that leads to salvation, not condemnation. Let this be our example in the Church because it is how people in the world will see Christ in us (John 13:34-35). If anyone is reading this post and has not prayed to make Jesus the Lord of their life, I urge you to pray now and experience the love of God and not his condemnation (John 3:16-17).

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and follow through with baptism as a public confession of your faith in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10). May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.