From God’s Heart to Ours

From God’s Heart to Ours
John 8:1-11
March 23, 2025

The Bible divides our sins into two broad categories.
• Category number one consists of sins that are obvious.
• Bible talks about the secret sins of our heart. These are the sins that hide in the deepest recesses of our heart—sins that actually pollute us far worse than the sins that people can see.
What I call, From God’s Heart to Ours, I want us to talk about one of these secret sins of the heart; namely, judging other people.
In John 8:1–11—the story of the woman caught in adultery. But before we dig into the passage, I need to point out that some scholars question the authenticity of John 8:1–11.
I cannot tell you why a few manuscripts of the New Testament omit John 8:1–11, but what I can assure you is that these verses belong in every copy of the New Testament.

I. God’s Mercy and Forgiveness

1. How did these rabbis catch this woman in the very act of adultery? Well, it would appear they set her up.
2. Where did the man go who had been with her? Well, obviously, they let him go.
3. Unless they had just caught her ten minutes before (which they had not), where had this woman been all night? Well, obviously, they had kept her in custody so they could bring her before Jesus at the Temple in the morning.

Why would they do all this?
The rabbis were using this question as a trap in order to have grounds to accuse Jesus. But how was this a trap?
Think about it; if Jesus said, “No, don’t stone her,” the rabbis could accuse Him of breaking the Old Testament Law, therefore, proving He couldn’t be the Messiah.
On the other hand, if Jesus said, “Yes, stone her to death,” the rabbis could accuse Him of treason against the Roman government, which had forbidden the Jewish rabbis from sentencing anyone to death.
John 18:29-32, Therefore Pilate went out to them and *said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” 30 They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.” 31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,” 32 to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.
No matter what Jesus said, the Rabbis were convinced they had Him trapped.
Jesus’ Response in v6,
v6, But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.
I think we’ve all asked and I’ve been asked, “What did Jesus write, I’ve always wanted to know that?”
The Bible doesn’t tell us. But listen—what He wrote is not important. What matters is what He was about to say.
v7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
v8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
v9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court.

A. God’s mercy poured out on us

Jesus’ powerful mercy demonstrated for us in this story. The same mercy poured out on us today.
The great church father, Augustine said; “The only person left is the one who really was qualified to cast the first stone, the sinless Son of God.”
v10 Then Jesus raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman. He said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?”
v11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
Notice that she called Jesus Lord. That means at some point—maybe right at that moment—she believed in Him as her Messiah.
v12 And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”
Now she was a believer in Christ. Her instructions; go and sin no more.
Romans 8:1, Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

B. Mercy is not condoning sin

Jesus did not condone this woman’s sin. He forgave her sin. He showed her mercy in her sin, but He did not excuse her sin.
There is a difference between condoning sin and forgiving sin.
Jesus forgave her sin, but then, based on that forgiveness and mercy, He demanded that she repent. He called her to leave her sinful lifestyle and He demanded she begin a new lifestyle of obedience to God.

C. The danger of judging others

1 Peter 1:14-16, As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
“Ignorance” referenced here refers to your life before you believed in Christ Jesus. As a Believer now you can no longer claim ignorance.
Jesus’ words in this passage should convict each of us. Yes, God gives us mercy like He gave this woman and yes, He forgives us of our sin, but God does not give us a hall pass to sin.
He expects us to strive for personal holiness after we declare Him Lord. He shows mercy towards us and forgives us, but God is not giving us permission to live anyway we want. It is not what His word teaches us and it is not what He tells this woman.
Do not play the game that God will forgive me so I can go ahead and do this thing.
Ok, so what is the message? His message is about judging other people.

II. “He Who is Without Sin…”

“He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.”
Jesus is telling us that we have no right to judge others unless we ourselves are completely free of sin. Which means—we have no right to judge others at all, ever.
Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
This verse is often misquoted and misunderstood, so let’s clarify.
What Judge not does NOT mean –
Jesus is not saying:
1. That we shouldn’t judge theology and teaching. The Bible commands us to test teachings – we should be careful in this world of ours. Here at Calvary Chapel we have had a few made know to us, not many, but a few, who were outside the boundaries of scripture and they were and will continue to be called on it.
1 John 4:1, Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2. That the legal system shouldn’t judge criminal behavior.
Romans 13 gives governments the responsibility to judge criminal behavior.
3. He’s not talking about parents not confronting their children’s wrong behavior. That’s their God-given duty. And in the day we live in the lack of discipline has become more and more apparent.
Illustration – parenting
4. He is not saying bosses can’t evaluate employee performance. That’s their job.
What Jesus does mean about judgement –
Jesus is talking about our tendency to judge other people’s character, motives, and intentions—the Bible says only God is capable of doing this.
1 Samuel 16:7, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Our own hearts are complex—we often struggle to understand our own motives. So how can we ever presume to judge someone else’s heart?

A. Obedience brings God’s compassion and blessing

It’s dangerous to find yourself sitting in judgement of others.
Matthew 7:2, For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
If we use a compassionate measuring cup, an understanding measuring cup, that’s what God will use on us. But, If we judge others harshly, God will judge us the same way. If we judge with mercy, God will show us mercy.
So, what’s the solution? Be more like Christ in your judgment of other people.
Reflection on this message.
Every time you say a negative word about someone or a critical remark about someone else, you are judging them in your heart.
Luke 6:45, The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.
Author, Dr. Paul David Tripp, often emphasizes that what comes out of our mouths reflects what is in our hearts, and that our words should be instruments of grace, building up and encouraging others, rather than causing harm.
Illustration – Marriage Counseling

B. Focus on your own sin first

So I realize we are all pretty bad at this. What do we do to get on top of it, to fix it, to get better?
Matthew 7:3–5, Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
If we want to be ruthless about sin, we should start with our own.
Because when we more harshly judge ourselves, we see how much mercy we need and we’ll be far less likely to judge others harshly.
In marriage or relationships, do you focus on wanting to change your spouse, wanting to correct a certain behavior, or do you focus on your own sin?
Ask God’s forgiveness and watch how improving your own life models the same for your spouse? You will find, for those who love the Lord Jesus Christ, many more things will roll off your backs and God will bless your relationships with peace among Christian couples. It’s a powerful thing and Sherri and I can give testimony to you in our marriage that this practice has been a cornerstone in our 43 years of marriage. Grace, forgiveness and helping each other grow in Christ above all else.