Goodmorning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to share something with you.
In the world, people judge others simply by what they see on the exterior. As a Christian we’re supposed to walk by faith, not by sight. Many times they will judge those who are wealthy and successful as decent and moral people, while treating the poor as lazy, sinful wretches.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
We should never pass judgement upon others based simply on outward appearances. There is an old saying, clothes don’t make the man. We should never make judgments about others at first glance, because God judges the heart.
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Matthew 3:1-4 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
Some people may have thought that John looked strange, and that he was completely different than the rest of society, while the truth is, he was one of the richest men in the world,….inside of his heart.
Matthew 11:7-9 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
John the Baptist was a prophet of God, but he wasn’t concerned about outward appearances. He wasn’t focused on attaining earthly wealth or possessions. He was filled with spiritual treasures that come from seeking God. Some people in the church were judging others by appearances, based on the things that they wore on the exterior.
James 2:1-9 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
The King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ, appeared like everyday common people. When they came to apprehend Him in the garden, they couldn’t even tell which one He was amongst His fishermen Apostles. Judas had to identify Jesus by giving Him a kiss.
Matthew 26:47-50 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
So again, we should never judge by outward appearances, because what is on the exterior can be deceiving. Jesus warned about the religious leaders of His day who did things only for the purpose of being seen by men, rather than serving God in their heart.
Matthew 23:5-8, 25-28 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
They appeared like sheep, but the truth is, they were wolves in heart, trying to lead the true sheep of God away from biblical truth.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Instead of seeking the glory that comes from God, there were seeking the glory of men.
Matthew 6:2, 5, 16 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
These same people can still be found in professing Christian bodies today, claiming that they know God, but rejecting the things that He commanded and taught in scripture.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
God doesn’t judge appearances. He judges the hidden things that others cannot see, inside of the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
So remember, don’t make assumptions about what a person is like, simply by the clothes that they wear, the vehicle they drive, or even somebody they might have dinner with. You’ve got to get to know somebody, and truly know if their heart is in the right place, instead of hastily judging them……
…..At First Glance.
Let’s think about these things for right now, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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