The Gospel of John 7:14-24 (Stop judging Jesus by mere appearances)

Moving on to John 7:14-24 where we read about Jesus’s teaching people to stop judging him by mere appearances.

¹⁴Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. ¹⁵The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?”

¹⁶Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. ¹⁷Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. ¹⁸Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. ¹⁹Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”

²⁰“You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”

²¹Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. ²²Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. ²³Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? ²⁴Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”

Questions for discussion:

Verse 15 lets us know that Jesus did not do any rabbinical learning. Can you name the Apostle who had an excellent education of the religious law? If you have a Bible, it is the book of Acts.
Jesus tells us how we are to decern that his teaching comes from the will of God. What verses discuss how we can decern and what is the test of someone speaking for God, or themselves?
Jesus tells us not to judge in Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ²For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Why is he allowing others to judge, but not by appearances?
Do you feel more confident during this Bible Study to defend Christianity?

Leave a Comment:

1 comment

Rick says September 25, 2023

1. Verse 15 lets us know that Jesus did not do any rabbinical learning. Can you name the Apostle who had an excellent education in religious law? If you have a Bible, it is in the book of Acts.

Saint Paul, (Paul of Tarsus): “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.” (Acts 22:3) Gamaliel (pronounced Gamel’ io) was of the Sanhedrin and a very intelligent person, well respected.

2. Jesus tells us how we are to discern that his teaching comes from the will of God. What verses discuss how we can decern and what is the test of someone speaking for God, or themselves?

Verses 16-18 state that if we speak for ourselves, it is not from God. People speak “for themselves” when they are doing it for gain or recognition. We must hear God and teach humbly—not for status. How do we live in the Spirit? “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)

3. Jesus tells us not to judge in Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Why is he allowing others to judge, but not by appearances?

I believe Jesus is talking about how people are looking at him, not us judging others. They must realize who he is and what his ministry is by his actions and words.

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