Exposing Hypocrisy | John 8:1-12 | Pastor Terry Alani

In John chapter 8, we encounter one of Scripture's most powerful confrontations between religious hypocrisy and divine grace. When the Pharisees drag a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, they believe they've set the perfect trap. If He shows mercy, He violates Moses' law. If He demands stoning, He breaks Roman law and loses the people's trust. But Jesus does something unexpected: He stoops down and writes in the sand, then delivers words that echo through the ages: 'He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.' One by one, from oldest to youngest, the accusers drop their stones and walk away, convicted by their own conscience. What makes this passage so compelling is how it exposes our tendency to judge others while ignoring our own failings. The religious leaders knew the law demanded both the man and woman be stoned, yet only the woman stood accused. Their selective enforcement revealed hearts motivated not by righteousness but by a desire to trap and condemn. We see ourselves in this mirror. How often do we carry stones of judgment, ready to condemn others for sins we ourselves commit? Jesus offers us something better: the invitation to lay down our stones, step into His light, and receive the grace that transforms. He doesn't excuse sin, He redeems it. His words to the woman, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more,' reveal the heart of the gospel. We are not saved by condemnation but by grace that leads to genuine repentance and transformation.