Have you ever been asked this question when attempting to point out sin in someone’s life? Many today are of the opinion that we have no right to point out sin (i.e. judge), but is this the case? One passage that is often quoted to support such a viewpoint is found in John, chapter 8, verses 1 – 11:
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Does this incident support the idea that we, as imperfect men and women (Rom. 3:23), cannot point out and condemn lawless deeds? To answer that question, let’s take a closer look at what happened here.
Firstly, why did the Jews bring this woman to Christ? Verse 6 says they were “testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him.” If Jesus had dismissed the woman, the Jews could have accused Him of not upholding the Law of Moses. If He had called for her to be stoned, they could have gotten Him in trouble with the Romans who had taken the right to execute capital punishment away from the Jews (John 18:31).
There was a bigger problem here, however, that is key to understanding this passage. The Law of Moses taught that both the adulteress and the adulterer were to be put to death (Lev. 20:10). Verse 4 tells us that this woman was caught “in the very act.” If that was true, then the man was also caught. Where was he? This is the reason for Jesus’ words about casting the first stone. Was it wrong for the woman to have done what she did? Yes. But it was just as wrong on the part of her accusers to condemn her and not her partner in crime. On top of that, their motivations were not pure. They were not interested in justice. They were not truly appalled by sin. They were simply seeking a means through which they could condemn Christ and get Him out of the way.
Thus, this passage is much in the same vein as Matthew 7:1-5:
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Is Jesus teaching that we cannot judge? Not at all (consider verse 6 – How does one determine who the “dogs” and “swine” are without making judgments based on others’ actions (cf. vs. 15-20)! He is simply pointing out that we are not to be hypocritical in our judgments.
It is very important, at this point, to identify the standard by which we are to make judgments. We are not to judge based upon our own opinions or “measures.” Rather, we must use God’s measure. Jesus defined this standard as His word (John 12:48). Note that, in the final day, mankind will be judged by what is written in “the books (Rev. 20:12).” What books? The books of the Bible which are God’s word (2 Tim. 3:16-17)!
Jesus did not ignore or condone the woman’s sin in John 8. Remember that He told her to “sin no more” in verse 11. Through the entire process, Christ taught all involved a much bigger lesson regarding hypocrisy.
Who are we to judge? The truth of the matter is that, if we are exposing and condemning sin using the Bible as our standard, we are not doing the judging! God is! We, as Christians, have the responsibility to point out error so that we might bring people to Christ.
Eph. 5:8-13 – For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
The truth convicts. Conviction leads individuals to Christ for salvation (cf. Acts 2:37-38; 4:12). If we love the lost, we will expose their sin, not to puff ourselves up (as if we’re something special (cf. Luke 17:10)), but to lead them to salvation.
Let us seek to fulfill our duty to shine (Matt. 5:16) by speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Not judging in hypocrisy or with hidden, selfish motives, but according to righteousness.
John 7:24 – Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.