Who Can Cast The First Stone?

Scripture:
Luke 19:1-10 (NIV)

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 

  When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 

  All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 

  But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

  Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 

Devotional:

Legalism is a trap we still fall into today.  As a matter of fact I know a few people who have at least partially fallen into the legalism trap.  The sad fact is there is very little room for Grace.  When I was a teenager I loved Amy Grant’s music.  In fact I bought several of her Albums.  Granted in her later years I had lost some of my interest.  I still love her early work.  I know someone who very much dislikes her because of a divorce she went through.  He doesn’t believe we should listen to her music or support her because she divorced her husband.  After all, the Bible state that we are not to divorce.  I knew people who will find your faults and condemn you for them.  They leave little room to forgive and give grace.

The truth is that Jesus could have condemned Zacchaeus because of his sinful past.  He could have rejected him.  Instead Jesus showed compassion and grace.  Shouldn’t we do the same?  Shouldn’t we show love, mercy, compassion, and most of all Grace?  When the religious leaders brought the prostitute to Jesus, John 8:3-11, Jesus said in verse 7 “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  This same statement applies to us today.  Which one of us is able to cast that first stone of condemnation?  Which one of us has a spot free life?  The last time I checked the only person qualified to throw the stone chose not to.  Instead He showed mercy, love, and yes grace.  Shouldn’t emulate our teacher, mentor, Savior?