The Heart of the Matter

Jesus had a way of cutting straight through to the heart of the matter.

He went unto the mount of Olives, and there he saw a group of men rolling up their sleeves and choosing rocks, and he said unto them, “What’s to do, like?”

And they said unto him, “Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act, do you know what I mean? And custom and practice,” citing the Law from Moses onwards, “says that we get to stone her, leading to a pile of stones and no need for a grave as such.”

He said to them, “Oh, I get it. And I expect he who is without sin among you gets to throw the first stone, right?”

And they said, “Um, well, when you say without sin, then perhaps not without all sin as such, per se, not necessarily. . . My goodness, is that the time?” and they all crept away.

Jesus said to the woman, “Are you still here? Where are all the guys. . .? Off you go. Oh, and sin no more, eh?”

(John 8:1–11, somewhat paraphrased)