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This was an instruction from our Lord as He spoke to the people at the feast of Tabernacles. By this time in His teaching, the scripture records many were angry with Him and were going about to kill Him and stir the people up against Him because He had done healing on the sabbath day. His commandment was to look beyond what they could see and judge righteously. That is look to the good.

Today we should always keep this in mind, especially as we live in a world that is becoming so judgmental as to appearances. We should not jump to conclusions purely on appearances. A recent experience told to me by a leading solicitor in the town, highlighted our text and was a lesson learned by him, that we can all share in. He thought of himself as a clean-living Christian, and one morning as he was at his office early, he looked out the window to the street below and saw a dark lady poorly dressed near a car. She seemed to be trying to open the door, which was obviously locked, and kept looking up and down the street.  He immediately jumped to the conclusion that she was trying to break in. He phoned the police to report the matter.

He noted she left in a hurry and soon a well-dressed white man came and unlocked the car and sat in it. He thought he should go down and report it, which he did. That was when he got his first shock, for the man said, “Oh, that was my wife, she had left something in the car and had obviously came back to try to get it!” He said he was immediately on the back foot, but then came the second shock that really set him back. The man told him his wife was around the corner at the Salvation Army Hall doing voluntary work.

As he retreated, back to his office, he said he asked himself the question, “Would I have done the same thing if the lady was well dressed and white. He could only come up with one answer, which left him very ashamed. He had certainly not lived up to the commandment of our Lord and had let prejudices and appearances rule his mind. Out of this did come some good, because he felt he had to tell his family and others he came in contact with, so that they would not fall into the same trap. Also, the anonymous donation to the Salvation Army I am sure was also greatly appreciated.

Samuel the prophet also learned the lesson in reverse when he was told to go and anoint the new King of Israel from the sons of Jesse. In his mind he looked for the most upright, warrior from the family, but God showed him that God sees men differently than men see men. 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.”