At that moment, though, Jesus was less concerned with what the woman deserved and more concerned with what she needed. She did not need judgment. She had already been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion. What she needed was kindness.

Jesus refused to side with her accusers. Instead He issued a simple declaration: “Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” (John 8:7). As sinners ourselves, the last thing we should be demanding is that other sinners get what they “deserve.” If we have received God’s mercy and salvation, how can we ignore Jesus’ words and actions in John 8?

Jesus treated the woman with kindness, despite her sin. In doing so, e set the example for everyone who follows Him. We are not asked to condone other people’s actions, but we are asked to show them God’s kindness and love.

Take time to pray asking God:

• To teach you to judge others less and to show mercy more;
• To help you speak powerful words of kindness and love, especially to the powerless;
• To open your eyes to see opportunities for condemnation as chances for redemption.

Reflect on these questions:

• When have you received the style of mercy Jesus showed?
• How did that experience change you?
• Who in your circle desperately needs words of hope and kindness?

Consider these passages for further study on words:

Psalm 15:1-5

A psalm of David.

¹ Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
    Who may live on your holy mountain?

² The one whose walk is blameless,
    who does what is righteous,
    who speaks the truth from their heart;
³ whose tongue utters no slander,
    who does no wrong to a neighbor,
    and casts no slur on others;
⁴ who despises a vile person
    but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
    and does not change their mind;
⁵ who lends money to the poor without interest;
    who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
    will never be shaken.

Proverbs 10:32

The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,
    but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

James 4:11-12

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister^[a] or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

John 8:1-11

but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

² At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³ The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

⁹ At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰ Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”