Judge not according to the appearance
William MacDonald teaches that true judgment must go beyond outward appearances and focus on righteous discernment rooted in the heart.
In this insightful sermon, William MacDonald challenges believers to reject superficial judgments based on outward appearances and instead embrace God’s standard of righteous judgment. Drawing from Scripture, he highlights the dangers of valuing physical beauty over inner character and points to Jesus as the ultimate example of true discernment. Listeners are encouraged to cultivate a heart perspective aligned with God’s vision.
Text
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)
One of the most deep-seated frailties of fallen humanity is the persistent tendency to judge according to appearance. We judge a person according to his looks. We judge a used car by its body. We judge a book by its cover. No matter how often we are disappointed and disillusioned, we stubbornly refuse to learn that “all is not gold that glitters.”
In his book Hide or Seek, Dr. James Dobson says that physical beauty is the most highly valued personal attribute in our culture. We have made it what he calls “the gold coin of human worth.” Thus a beautiful child is more favored by adults than a plain one. Teachers tend to give better grades to attractive children. Pretty children get less discipline than others. Homely children are more subject to blame for misdemeanors.
Samuel would have chosen the tall, good-looking Eliab to be king (1 Sam. 16:7), but the Lord corrected him, “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.”
The greatest case of misjudgment in history occurred when the Lord Jesus visited our planet. Apparently He was not prepossessing as far as physical appearance was concerned. He had no form or comeliness, and when men saw Him, no beauty that they should desire Him (Isa. 53:2). They could see no beauty in the only truly beautiful Person who ever lived!
Yet He Himself never fell into this terrible trap of judging according to looks, for before His advent, it was prophesied of Him, “He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears” (Isa. 11:3). To Him it was not the face but the character that counted. Not the cover but the contents. Not the physical but the spiritual.
Sermon Outline
-
I
- Human tendency to judge by outward appearance
- Cultural emphasis on physical beauty
- Consequences of superficial judgment
-
II
- Biblical example: Samuel’s misjudgment of Eliab
- God’s perspective versus man’s perspective
- Importance of the heart over outward appearance
-
III
- Jesus’ lack of physical attractiveness
- Prophecies about Jesus’ true judgment
- Jesus’ example of righteous judgment
Key Quotes
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” — William MacDonald
“Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” — William MacDonald
“He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Evaluate others by their character and spiritual qualities rather than their outward appearance.
- Resist cultural pressures that prioritize physical beauty as a measure of worth.
- Follow Jesus’ example by seeking God’s perspective in all judgments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to judge righteous judgment?
It means to evaluate others based on inner character and truth rather than outward appearances.
Why do people tend to judge by appearances?
Because physical beauty is highly valued culturally, leading to biased and superficial assessments.
How did Samuel misjudge Eliab?
Samuel chose Eliab based on his tall and handsome appearance, but God rejected him because He looks at the heart.
What example did Jesus set regarding judgment?
Jesus judged not by outward appearance but by the true character and spiritual reality of a person.
How can we apply this teaching in daily life?
By consciously looking beyond appearances and seeking God’s perspective when evaluating others.