“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
— John 7:24
Hello, Friends. Here’s an exhortation on righteous judgment and how it effects our lives in the way we think, feel, and act so that we can be perfectly conformed to the will of God in all judgment. We are commanded and instructed on how to judge righteously and accurately in all things and at all times.
Let’s get started….
The word “evidence” from our title means, “an outward sign” that is, an “indication” that furnishes proof as a testimony by a bonafide witness. The word “indication” is the definition of the word “signs” in Mark 16:20, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”
The word “judge” from our title and focal verse has a diverse set of meanings, but we will look at a basic definition according to Zodhiates — To separate, distinguish, discriminate between good and evil, select, choose out the good; to form or give an opinion after separating and considering the particulars of a case.
According to our focal verse, Jesus commands us to judge righteous judgment that separates and distinguishes between (or divides asunder) truth from every false word …and… our judgment must not be by appearance.
The word “appearance” means, properly, sight (the act), i.e., (by implication) the visage, or an external show. The word “visage” refers to a facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling. This type of judgment is almost always inaccurate and/or false. That’s why the Lord commanded and instructed that our judgment be righteous (i.e., our judgment be equitable, innocent, and holy).
However, many in Christendom and the true Church of God are entirely too quick to judge by appearance. Amen, somebody! Many leaders and lay persons in God’s Church judge by sight, facial expression, mirages, the imagination, the high thing, or an evil eye. But, Jesus’ true disciples strive to judge righteous, upright, virtuous, and faultless judgment.
We must rise above what appears to be true and correct judgment to where the truth of God’s judgment is revealed by His Spirit and in His word. We cannot be godly in judgment if God’s word is not the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE SOURCE.
Look at what the Psalmist wrote, “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” — Psalm 138:2
God honors and extols His word above His name … and we know that His word is truth. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” — John 17:17
We (the true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ) do not strive to be as those who seem to themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves in their virtues, whether real or imagined. But, we are the Lord’s disciples who strive to be as those whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly (i.e., perfectly) conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in the heart or life. (Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon).
Consider the following judgment references:
- (John 8:14-15) Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
- (Deuteronomy 16:19) Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
- (Proverbs 17:15) He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
- (Proverbs 24:23) These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
- (Isaiah 11:2-4) And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
We have learned that, deliverance, victory, and prosperity all results from righteous judgment. We are delivered from lies and every false way; we have victory through righteous judgment which makes us more than conquerors; we have prosperity from God’s perspective when we are circumspect and intelligent.
Joshua 1:7-8 says, “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
The phrase “good success” means, to be circumspect and intelligent. We can only judge righteously with the right evidence and that is the unadulterated word of truth, which is the word of God. Any incorrect or invalid evidence constitute false or inaccurate judgment.
Believe what God said in His word (judge in truth and accuracy) … and live!
In Christ We Do Remain
Click to visit my Facebook Page