The words were spoken in the court of the temple in connection with the Feast of Tabernacles, in the morning after the evening lighting of two lofty lamp-stands that shed light over Jerusalem. That illumination commemorated the pillar of light that guided Israel in the desert and expressed hope for the Messiah to shed His light on Israel, just as the sun had risen above the Mount of Olives and its rays fell on the marble palaces and lit the gold of the temple walls. They belonged to the declaration that He is the light of the world, the source of spiritual light for the darkness of the world, truer even than the great light His own hand placed in the heavens.
To judge after the flesh means to judge by outward, human appearances from a low earthly standpoint, without the ability to read the heart. The Pharisees judged Jesus in this way because they did not know or recognize His divine character and mission, could not tell where He came from or where He was going, and rejected His testimony about Himself. Their ignorance was culpable because they had not searched the prophecies about the Messiah as it was their privilege and duty to do, they had no connection with God and heaven and so did not comprehend the work of the Saviour of the world, and although they had received the most convincing evidence they refused to open their minds, set their hearts against Him, grew harder, and were determined neither to believe nor to accept Him.
To say I judge no man means He does not judge on human authority or in that limited, fleshly human way, since His mission was not to condemn people. He was sent by God to do God's work under His heavenly Father's instruction, without consulting priests or rulers, holding His commission from the highest authority, the Creator of the universe, always doing what pleases the Father and speaking what the Father taught Him. His teaching the people, relieving suffering and healing, forgiving sin, cleansing the temple as His Father's house and driving out its desecrators, and condemning hypocritical lives and reproving hidden sins were all done under that divine instruction and authority, and so were not merely human judgment. For acting under that divine instruction, they hated Him and sought to kill Him.
If He judges, His judgment is true because He is not alone but acts together with the Father who sent Him. His record is true because He knows where He came from and where He is going. The verse warns against condemning people without knowing whether God's Spirit is leading them toward repentance or Satan is discouraging their efforts to overcome.
The words were spoken in the court of the temple in connection with the Feast of Tabernacles, in the morning after the evening lighting of two lofty lamp-stands that shed light over Jerusalem. That illumination commemorated the pillar of light that guided Israel in the desert and expressed hope for the Messiah to shed His light on Israel, just as the sun had risen above the Mount of Olives and its rays fell on the marble palaces and lit the gold of the temple walls. They belonged to the declaration that He is the light of the world, the source of spiritual light for the darkness of the world, truer even than the great light His own hand placed in the heavens.
To judge after the flesh means to judge by outward, human appearances from a low earthly standpoint, without the ability to read the heart. The Pharisees judged Jesus in this way because they did not know or recognize His divine character and mission, could not tell where He came from or where He was going, and rejected His testimony about Himself. Their ignorance was culpable because they had not searched the prophecies about the Messiah as it was their privilege and duty to do, they had no connection with God and heaven and so did not comprehend the work of the Saviour of the world, and although they had received the most convincing evidence they refused to open their minds, set their hearts against Him, grew harder, and were determined neither to believe nor to accept Him.
To say I judge no man means He does not judge on human authority or in that limited, fleshly human way, since His mission was not to condemn people. He was sent by God to do God's work under His heavenly Father's instruction, without consulting priests or rulers, holding His commission from the highest authority, the Creator of the universe, always doing what pleases the Father and speaking what the Father taught Him. His teaching the people, relieving suffering and healing, forgiving sin, cleansing the temple as His Father's house and driving out its desecrators, and condemning hypocritical lives and reproving hidden sins were all done under that divine instruction and authority, and so were not merely human judgment. For acting under that divine instruction, they hated Him and sought to kill Him.
If He judges, His judgment is true because He is not alone but acts together with the Father who sent Him. His record is true because He knows where He came from and where He is going. The verse warns against condemning people without knowing whether God's Spirit is leading them toward repentance or Satan is discouraging their efforts to overcome.