Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
One day a man was at a rummage sale and decided to pick up a painting. Nobody bought it and it was eventually put in the free box, so he took it back home and hung it up in his living room. It was roughly a year later when he decided to take it to an appraiser to check on its value. After looking it over closely, he explained that it wasn’t worth anything at all, but he was certain that there was something underneath the painting. As they started to peel back the layers, they discovered a priceless portrait that had been covered up the entire time. All they needed to do was take a closer look, …underneath the picture.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
People in this world like to judge others based on what they see, painting a picture of who you are without even knowing you. Jesus was portrayed as a deceiver. Paul was depicted as somebody who wasn’t fit to live. But rather than judging by appearances, you had better take a good look at what’s underneath the picture.
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24
Many people will judge someone based simply on their outward appearance. When they see someone in a religious robe, or even a three-piece suit, sometimes they automatically assume that the person is a genuine and upright member of society. They might determine that someone who is handsome or beautiful outwardly, is proud or arrogant inwardly. What’s the old saying, you can’t judge a book by its cover. People will judge others by what they see, without really getting to know them at all. Some people in the church were doing this same thing, treating people differently just because of their outward appearances.
James 2 ¹ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
² 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; ³ 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: ⁴ Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? ⁵ 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?
When the Lord Jesus came to Earth, He looked just like everybody else. Although He is the Lord and creator of all things, He didn’t stand out in the crowd. Even when they came to take Him in the garden, they couldn’t identify which one He was, because Judas had to identify Him with a kiss. He was crucified on the cross as a criminal, yet He is perfect, Holy and without blemish. Although He appeared like a carpenter, on the inside, it was the Lord of Glory.
Mark 15 ²⁶ And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ²⁷ And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. ²⁸ And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. ²⁹ And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, ³⁰ Save thyself, and come down from the cross. ³¹ Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. ³² Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
Nicodemus even questioned the Jews about making judgments without actually knowing a person.
John 7 ⁵⁰ Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) ⁵¹ Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
They even called Jesus a winebibber.
Matthew 11 ¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. ¹⁹ The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
The Apostle Paul was a man chosen by God, yet many people in the church were judging him in the same manner.
2 Corinthians 10 ⁷ Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. ⁸ For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: ⁹ That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
¹⁰ For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
¹¹ Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
“Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” 2 Corinthians 12:12
Jesus warned about those who had the outward appearance of religion, but were completely different inwardly.
Luke 20 ⁴⁵ Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,
⁴⁶ Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; ⁴⁷ Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
Some people appear as sheep, but underneath the surface, they are ravenous wolves.
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15
Matthew 23 ²⁵ 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. ²⁶ Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
²⁷ 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. ²⁸ Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Although they appeared religious to the public, Jesus is God’s only begotten Son, and He knew what kind of people that they really were, inside of their hearts.
Matthew 6 ⁵ 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. ⁶ But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
Be careful about judging others by appearances, because what you see is not always what you get. Someone might have a beautiful smile, but it only hides their forked tongue. Another might be extremely poor, but on the inside they have a heart of gold. Be careful about judging simply by what you see, because you might find a very different person once you take a good look..
……Underneath the Picture
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
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