29/08/2026
It is not uncommon for us to pass judgment on othersâsometimes silently in our minds rather than openlyâwithout truly knowing their hearts or the actual truth about them, basing our opinions instead on their outward appearance or behavior. Godâs Word teaches us to ground our judgments in divine truth and to look beyond the surface when viewing others.
In John 7:10â24, after the conversation with His brothers, Jesus went to the festival in secret. Midway through the festival, He preached, astonishing the Jewish leaders; they wondered how Jesus knew what He was teaching despite having never received formal schooling. The Lord Jesus told the Jews that His teachings did not originate with Him but came from God, who had sent Him; His aim was not to draw attention to Himself, but to focus His message on the God who sent Him. Moses had given them the Law, yet none of them truly obeyed it; they would perform tasks on the Sabbath to avoid violating Moses' commands, yet the Lord marveled at their anger when He healed someone on the Sabbathâeven though they themselves continued to work on that day.
Godâs message through His Word is that in all our declarations, we should not seek our own glory; rather, in everything we do, the Lord alone deserves to be exalted, for He is the One who grants the wisdom to proclaim His will.
This stands in contrast to the Jewish leaders who knew the Law yetâjudging by their actionsâdid not truly understand it. The Lord desires for us to grasp a deeper truth: that reality is not found merely in a person's outward appearance, but withinâin how they fulfill God's will. Thus, God calls upon us to judge rightly, looking beyond what is merely visible to the eye.
âJohn 7:16, 24 ESVâŹ
[16] So Jesus answered them, âMy teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
[24] Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.â
Shalom! đ