James Glade

"Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7). This passage does not apply the execution of Nidal Hasan, nor does it apply to Christa Pike, as if only a sinless person can perform an execution. And since there isn't anyone who is sinless, we can't justly carry out any executions at all. This is a twisting of the text. In the law, both the adulterer and the adulteress were to be put to death together (Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 22:22). A person guilty of a sin worthy of death could only be sentenced on the evidence of two or three witnesses. The guilty would be brought to the city gates, in public, and the witnesses would throw the stone first, followed by the rest of the people in attendance (Deuteronomy 17:7). In John 8:1-11,* a woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus for the purpose of catching him in a trap in the presence of the people. They said, "Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" (v.5). But no witnesses testified, and where was the man? This was an unjust trial. So Jesus replied, "Let him," the adulterer, who would have been both the first witness to her sin and yet apparently considered "without sin among you," let him "be the first to throw a stone at her." This was an extremely smart way to call out their hypocrisy in front of the people and disperse this unjust mob. After they left, as an act of compassion, Jesus said to the woman, "Where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one, Lord." And He said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on sin no more." She wasn't exactly let off the hook—she was told to go and stop sinning. If she did not, her sin would certainly catch up with her later.** As Jesus said in John 5:14, "Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you." Nidal Hasan and Christa Pike, as well as anyone else found guilty of murder, have committed capital crimes. God has given authority to the government in punishing those who do such evil: "for he is God’s servant for your good," and "he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer" (Romans 13:4). When Jesus was on trial before Pilate, the governor said to Him, "Do you not know that I have the authority to release you and the authority to crucify you?" Jesus replied, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above" (John 19:11). Jesus of course was without sin. He is the most innocent man there has ever been. Nevertheless, His words testify that Pilate did have this authority to execute criminals, an authority granted by God, to whom Jesus "entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:23). The governing authorities have been appointed by God (Rom. 13:1) for this very purpose: to punish evil and reward good (1 Peter 2:13-17). Executing murderers is just—frankly, it is a sentence not carried out enough in our nation. If a man takes a life, his life is to be taken (Genesis 9:6). This is not only in God's law, it is the the natural order, a life for a life. Jesus did not negate the just practice of equal weights and measures when He said, "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil" (Matthew 5:38-39). Here in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was calling out those who misused the law for merciless personal vengeance. We are not to take vengeance out for ourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God (Rom. 12:19). And one of the ways God carries out wrath on the wrongdoer is through the governing authorities whom He has appointed (again, Rom. 13:1-7). May we all remember that the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). We all deserve death for our sin and rebellion against God, our Creator. But God has made a way for us to be forgiven and reconciled to Him by faith in Jesus Christ. Even murderers can be forgiven. But that does not mean they should not have to face the consequences for their crimes. There are still consequences for the sinful things we do. "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap" (Galatians 6:7). And as Jesus said, "All who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Matt. 26:52). Let us continue to preach the gospel, honor God, seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and where we can uphold justice for the sake of the wronged and the innocent. *The earliest manuscripts of John's gospel do not contain this section, as most translations will inform you, and it is to be regarded as an extra-biblical anecdote. The Jews could not legally execute anyone anyway without permission or oversight from the Romans. **This woman was not Mary Magdalene, as depicted in the film "The Passion of the Christ." Mary Magdalene is never mentioned in the Bible as having been an adulteress. @Pastor_Gabe