John 7:24 (KJV)

24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

In the context of John 7, Jesus is responding to the criticisms of the Pharisees, who judged others based on their interpretation of the law. They prided themselves on their outward righteousness and following the law yet they missed the heart of God’s message. Jesus challenges them and us not to judge this way, but to judge righteously.

This verse is often misunderstood, especially in a world that frequently emphasizes outer appearances. The judgment Jesus speaks of isn’t about condemning or looking down on others based on their outward appearances. Instead, it’s about discerning the true condition of someone’s heart. The true test of righteousness isn’t how someone looks or acts on the outside but whether they truly believe they are perfected through Jesus Christ on the inside.

Righteousness isn’t a show for the eyes, it’s a heart surrendered to Christ and his will.

The Greek word for "righteous" in this context is "dikaios", which means conforming to the will of God. When Jesus tells us to judge righteously, He’s telling us to evaluate whether someone’s heart is truly aligned with the gospel or if they’re simply putting on a show of self-righteousness.

We aren’t called to judge others based on how well they keep the laws. Instead, we’re called to discern whether someone has truly placed their faith in Jesus and his finished work at the cross. Are they speaking only about Jesus and his work or are they speaking about Jesus mixed with their work.

This is how we judge righteously. We must look past the surface level and evaluate whether a person’s righteousness comes from Christ or from their own efforts. It’s about discerning whether someone’s life reflects the truth of the gospel. This means they are saved by grace through faith, not by their works. Many people may appear righteous on the outside, doing good works, and following religious practices. But if their righteousness isn’t rooted in faith in Jesus, then it’s not true righteousness. 

They will move like the Pharisees, who were more concerned with their self-righteousness than with the righteousness that comes from God.

True righteousness is found in grace and Christ alone.

As we go through life, we’ll encounter people who seem to be good and righteous on the outside. But Jesus calls us to look deeper, to judge righteously, and to discern whether their righteousness comes from a genuine faith in Him or from their own efforts. 

Let’s be careful not to judge based on appearance, but to ask God for the wisdom to see people’s hearts. Amen!