Look Beneath The Surface

²¹ Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. ²² But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.) ²³ For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? ²⁴ Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”
-John 7:21-24 (NLT). 

When you or I cast judgement on someone, what criteria do we use? Do we use our own measuring stick and point out where someone else doesn't measure up to our standards? I think this is the point Jesus was making here. 

In this section of John 7, Jesus has healed someone, and it happened on a Sabbath day. If you'd spent any time studying the Gospels, you'll notice that the religious leaders of His day felt that Jesus was breaking the Law of God by "working" on the Sabbath. In verse 22-23 we read, "But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses' law of circumcision. For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath?" Jesus is pointing out that they (the religious leaders) work on the Sabbath as well. In other word, the point Jesus is making is this: Why criticize and judge me when you do the exact same thing.  

You know what? You can I do that same exact thing. We are quick to point out the faults in others, while ignoring our own faults. Verse 24 says, "Look beneath the surface so that you can judge correctly." In the eyes of the religious leaders, Jesus was breaking the Law by "working" on the Sabbath. Before we judge someone else, we must look at what may not be immediately evident, we must look beneath the surface and see who the person really is. Commit, this day, to looking at people for who they are, instead of who they appear to be. Think About It.