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." - John 8:2-11
We as Christians, often find it easy to judge and condemn those who have sinned, forgetting that we have secret sins in our own heart. With one sentence, Jesus forced these men to look into their own hearts and lives.
Perhaps some of them had secretly sinned with this woman, or maybe they had lusted after her in their own heart.
It is easier to blame or condemn another than look at ourselves honestly. What secret sin is hidden in our heart? Lust? Envy? Pride? … All of these can be harmful if not addressed. They can also hinder our walk with Christ. I imagine the scribes and Pharisees dropping their head in shame as one by one they saw the secret sin in their own hearts, walking away from Jesus. They were ready to stone the woman, condemning her to an eternal hell rather than showing her God's love.
How many times are we the one picking up the stone?