Recently Pope Francis issued a statement that seemed on the surface to approve of homosexuality.
“If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge.” However, any Christian who is familiar with the famous scene in John 8: 3–7 would understand exactly what Pope Francis was saying.
Jesus had returned to the temple area to resume teaching the people. The scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman they claim was
caught in adultery. Being in the court area, they told him that Mosaic
Law commanded that the woman be stoned to death for her sins. Trying to
catch Him up in His words, they asked Jesus what He thought should be
done with her.
Jesus did not respond right away, but stooped down to
begin writing in the dirt with His finger. After a moment, He
straightened up and said: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” One by one they walked away until only Jesus was left with the woman. His message to the Pharisees was simple yet piercing. Only those who are faultless have the right to pass judgment upon others implying that no one is faultless; only God can judge a person.
But the story does not end there. Jesus was faultless and had every right and maybe an obligation to pass judgement on her. He reminds her that she is still a sinner and deserves the judgement prescribed by The Law but offers the mercy that comes with repentance and a desire to avoid sinning again.
Hidden within Pope Francis' use of the phrase "who am I to judge" is a valuable lesson. Both Catholics and even non-Christians revere Pope Francis as a Holy Man of great integrity. For him to say "who am I to judge?" is almost rhetorical. If anyone can pass judgement on homosexuals and other sinners, it would be him. Yet he does not claim that right. Could he have been thinking about
the message in Matthew 7:1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged.2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again?
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