CASTING STONES

You may have heard the saying before, Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. This is the story that explains the truth of this saying very well.

We pick up where we left off for those following our Tell me the story of Jesus study ... Our Casting Stones Bible verse voyage on the Condemning Others mistake begins with Jesus going to the Mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. (Uh huh, I bet. They absolutely adore casting stones and condemning others) But, Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

In this Casting Stones Bible verse, again Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

After this incident Jesus continued to teach the people in the Temple, saying, I am the light of the world. He that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees objected to the Words of Jesus and accused Him of being a liar. Jesus answered, Though I testify of my own self, still, what I say is true. I know where I came from and where I’m going, but you can’t tell where I came from and where I go. You judge after the flesh, I judge no man, and yet if I judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true (Deuteronomy 17:6). I am one that testifies of myself, and the Father that sent me testifies of me.

Listen to this part of the Casting Stones Bible verse ... Then they said to Him, Where is your Father? Jesus answered, You don’t know me or my Father. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. I’ll go my way, and you will look for me, and shall die in your sins. Where I go, you cannot come. The Jewish people wondered if Jesus was talking about killing Himself.

Tsk Tsk ... Thee pleasure they receive casting stones and condemning others binds these folks in this Casting Stones in the Bible story. Jesus continued, You are from beneath, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world. This is why I say that you shall die in your sins, because if you don’t believe that I am HE, you shall die in your sins.

Then they asked Him, Who are you? Jesus replied, The same that I told you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but He that sent me is true, and I speak to the world those things which I have heard from Him. They didn’t understand that He was speaking of God. Then Jesus said, When you have lifted up (crucified) the Son of man, then you’ll know that I am HE, and that I do nothing of myself, but as my Father has taught me, these are the things I speak.

And He that sent me is with me, the Father hasn’t left me alone, because I always do those things that please Him.

As he spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed, If you continue in my Word, then you are my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered Him, We are Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how can you say, You shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. And the servant doesn’t abide in the house for ever, but the Son abides forever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. I know that you’re Abraham's seed; but you seek to kill me, because my Word has no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that which you have seen with your father.

In our Casting Stones Bible warning journey we see the people condemning others while defending their own choices ... They answered, Abraham is our father. Jesus said, If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have heard of God. Abraham didn’t do this. You do the deeds of your father. (Jesus was implying that they sure weren’t acting like Abraham, so they must not be the children of Abraham. You can imagine that this angered them quite deeply.)

Then they said to Him, We are not born of fornication, we have one Father, that is God. Jesus answered, If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God; not of my own will, but He sent me. Why do you not understand my speech? Because you cannot hear my Word. Casting Stones and Condemning Others was so very natural for them. I bet they wish they had listened to Jesus now.

Here comes the clincher. Jesus said, You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and didn’t live in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, you don’t believe me. Which of you convinces me of sin?

Still the people continued casting Stones and condemning others (Trying to convict Jesus of sin) Jesus continues ... And if I say the truth, why don’t you believe me? He that is of God, hears God's Words. You don’t hear them, because you are not of God.

Then the Jews answered, Isn’t it the truth when we say that you are a Samaritan, and you have a devil? They just cannot help casting stones and condemning others, can they? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. I don’t seek my own glory. There is One that seeks and judges. Truly, truly, I say to you, If a man keeps my Word, he shall never see death.

Wow ... Casting Stones & condemning others is in really in their blood, is it not?

Then the Jews said to Him, Now we know that you have a devil. Abraham is dead, and the Prophets are too, and you say, If a man keeps my Word, he shall never taste of death. Are you greater than our father Abraham, which is dead and the Prophets which are dead? Who do you think you are?

Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honors me, of whom you say, that He is your God, yet you have not known Him, but I know Him, and if I should say, I don’t know Him, I would be a liar like you, but I know Him, and keep His Word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

Then the Jews said, You are not even fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?

Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I tell you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then they took up stones to cast at Him, but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the Temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Our Casting Stones Bible verse message is that choosing to and continuing condemning others is dangerous a shared within the Casting Stones in the Bible story.

Remember earlier, Jesus defended the woman who they were about to stone, and said, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. None did. But when it came to judging the One who is sinless, suddenly they all made Jesus the sinner, and they became sinless in their minds. How did they do that math?