DO NOT JUDGE BY APPEARANCE
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." (John 7:24)
A change in our outward condition causes many people to change their opinions concerning us. While Job did swim in the full streams of riches and honor, many respected him; but no sooner were the waters fallen , and his worldly greatness abated. He was slighted and derided by all sorts of men including his wife and friends, even the younger ones too(Job 30:1)
"Job was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil"(Job 1:1); his inward state and graces didn't change, only his physical appearance and outward state did. His beauty was darkened, stained and gone; and then they saw no form, no comeliness in him, that they should desire him.
Consider the condition of King David when Shimei took an advantage to revile and rail upon King David, when he saw him in a troubled state(2 Samuel 16:5-13). King David was as gracious and after God's heart as before, but because he was in distress, the tongue of Shimei rage and rant against him.
Those who judge according to appearance , cannot judge righteous judgment(John 7:24), either concerning things or persons.
It is the happiness and comfort of believers, that God do not alter their appearance (in wealth, wisdom and possessions), but the counsel and will of God always prevails.
FAVORITISM
Men often judge with favoritism. It appears a lot in the Church. People in upper echelons judge others with a degree of favoritism. And I've seen it where two different individuals committed the same transgression and one got a pass and one didn't based on favoritism. When we judge our brother, you see, we're condemning him right on the spot. We're not giving them time neither are we allowing them to grow in God's spirit because of our condemnation (Romans 2:4).
Christ judges every man according to the same standard, and that standard is God's Word. No free passes! We're judged according to God's Word.
https://mountzionblog.org/do-not-judge-by-appearance/
FOCUS ON YOUR SINS AND NOT ON THE FAULT OF OTHERS
"Judge not according to appearance." Human beings do it all the time! I've done it. You've done it. We judge according to the outward appearance but God judges the heart. We are incapable of judging the heart. Therefore, we should not be judging one another because we don't know a person's heart.
We need to focus rather on our sins and our faults. Not on the faults of somebody else.
In John 18:10-14, we can see an example where one man focused on the other man's alleged sins. The other man focused on his own sins and not on the other person's alleged sins. One was looking to change himself. The other was comparing himself to somebody else and then elevating himself in the process. There is no mention of the Pharisee wanting to change or even feeling he's done anything wrong, but the other man could hardly stand before God realizing the gravity of his sins. This tells us very clearly we're not to judge one another. We're supposed to be looking at ourselves.
"And he spoke this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and [they] despised others.(Luke 18:9)
DO NOT SPEAK EVIL OF YOUR BROTHER
We judge our brother when we speak evil of our brother or sister. When we judge somebody, which we're not supposed to do, we speak evil of them. "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaks evil of his brother, judges his brother". (James 4:11).
DO NOT LOOK AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN
"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18); do not say that a man is happy and good because he enjoys prosperity, and that the other man is miserable and stark naught because of his poverty condition or being laid low in the world.
Therefore, learn to judge men, by the things that are not seen in their nature but see in their fruits (Matthew 7:20), and also by their graces and spiritual glory. Judge them by their patience, meekness, holiness and uprightness.
Judge others by their best part and right side, else you will make a wrong and crooked judgment of them , and deride those whom you ought to reverence.
RATHER THAN JUDGING ONE ANOTHER,BE MERCIFUL, FORGIVE AND GIVE.
"Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive, and you shall be forgiven" (Luke 6:37)
Rather than judge or condemn, He says:
"Give, and it shall be given [back] to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, running over, shall men give your bosom. [Meaning it's yours to hold onto.] For with the same measure that [you use] it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:38).
Men who judge by appearance are blind and ignorant. We should walk by faith and not by sight, sometimes towards others, as well as ourselves. When we judge men, we shouldn't look at what they suffer, but at what they are, else we may soon pass a wrong sentence on them.
"for every one that [exalts] himself shall be abased; and he that [humbles] himself shall be exalted" (John 18:14)
"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Colossians 3:13-15).
James Dina
james@mountzionblog.org
29th May 2021
https://mountzionblog.org/do-not-judge-by-appearance/
WORKS CITED
1. "An Exposition with Practical Observations on the Book of Job" by Joseph Caryl.
2. "How Are We To Judge Righteous Judgement? " by Rick Railston February 5, 2011.
