Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover

Archived on March. 2001

It really peeves me to see people look at someone and say, "They need to be saved", or, "They need Jesus". All based on what how they dress, or how they wear their hair. If you read the last message: Faith & Works. We went into the Book of James, and how we should not have respect of persons. Whether they be rich or poor, we shouldn't judge them according to outward appearances in general. God himself has stated this in the OT. After that God had rejected Saul as the king over Israel and was to anoint a new king, which of course would be David, He sent Samuel to anoint the one whom he would show that he had chosen. So Samuel went to Jesse's house so the Father could show him which one was to be king and he brought them before Samuel.

1 Samuel 16:6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him.
Eliab came before Samuel, and he must have been a "kingly" looking fellow, because Samuel thought, man surely God will choose him. Wrong again.

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.
God speaking here to Samuel, "Don't look at his appearance, or how tall he may be, I have refused him. I do not see as man sees, mankind looks on the outside, but I look on the inside at the inner man."
The Hebrew word for heart here is:
3824 lebab {lay-bawb'} inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding
So the Father looks on the heart, not on the outside appearance. So then, we can say: It's what's on the inside that counts. Church wake up! This is your wake up call. Do not be bound by traditions that say you should dress this way or that, or wear your hair in this manner. Truth of the matter is, all those things are carnal. Hair, Clothes, it is all things of this world, things that are carnal. If your focus for your Christian walk is on these things, better focus on something else. It is the spiritual, the inside that counts. Get that clean and the rest will follow.

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
If you are focusing on the fleshly things, then your mind is carnal. Focus on things spiritual to walk in the spirit. Take care of what's inside, then the light will shine through.

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
This flesh that we walk in slowly perishes day by day, but the inward, the spiritual is renewed each day through the Grace of God.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
This suffering we go through in the flesh is but a fleeting moment compared to the eternal hope which is to come afterwards. It is worth it to walk in this flesh, and fulfill what purpose Father may have for us.

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
The things seen are temporary, they are going to be tried by that Holy fire of His coming(2nd Peter Chapter 3) and dissolve. Anything carnal, will melt away leaving only the spiritual. That is what truly matters. Where are with you walk in the Lord today. If you are having some distance problems with the Father, make it right, He loves you and will forgive you, if you truly seek His forgiveness. Get that eternal self together!
Now let's go to the Gospel of Matthew and see what Yahshua was saying about this topic. Go to Matthew Chapter 23, starting at verse 23.

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
These Pharisees, a real religious bunch, they had allowed all kinds of tradition to creep into their life, much like some of today's churches. Worrying about someone paying their tithe, more than other important things, spiritual things. They strain at a gnat and swallow a camel, meaning, they focus too much on small things, but let the more important things slip by.

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.
Once again, the Pharisees are called out as hypocrites! They make themselves look all holier than thou, but the inside, their soul, their heart is blacker than coal. How do you remedy that? Read on.

Matthew 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
As I mentioned before, take care of you spiritual walk first. That will make the outside clean. Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 23:27 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.
Jesus tells them here, "Your like a beautified tomb, it looks beautiful on the outside, but inside is the bones of dead men and all kinds of filth."
There are many who follow in the footsteps of the Pharisees in this day and time. Father knows the hearts, and all things will be made known and will be judged accordingly.

Matthew 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Don't be a modern-day Pharisee. Love thy neighbor as thyself, treat them according to how you want to be treated. If you are trying your best to be holy, don't work at it in vain by causing strife and downing others. The buildings that people go to church in this time, are filled with those who speak the words, "I am Christian" and then run right out and do un-Christian things. Going to church on Sunday will not get you into heaven. We will be judged according to our works.(Revelation 20:12) That goes along with Faith and our last message. So don't look on someone and turn up your nose, each person has a different walk, and only God will judge. But there is no doubt that he will judge righteously, for He is Righteousness.

In Christ's love,
Carle Towns.

◄Back To The Message Archives

◄Back To The Message Archives

Don't

Judge Me

By My

Cover