Shallow Evidences of Outward Appearances

Jesus said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15). 

You and I are inclined to identify others by outward appearances like skin color, weight, clothing, house size, hair style, or physical disability. These quick identifiers are also the basis for first impressions. In the way we sometimes misjudge people according to their outward appearance, we have a propensity to misjudge disasters and calamities as evidence of God’s direct displeasure.

We’re little different than people in the days of Scripture. News and current events was always a topic of discussion. In Luke 13, Jesus was told about some men from Galilee brutally murdered by the Roman soldiers policing Jerusalem. To make matters worse, the Galileans were killed in the midst of their worship.    

The Jewish people had over a millennia of history of enslavement by Egyptians, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, and others. The men bearing the news to Jesus were likely hoping He would start a protest movement against Roman occupation. But Jesus never protested, not even excessive taxation. Instead He asked the men a question.

Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? (Luke 13:2). In other words, was the death of these men proof that they were greater sinners than anyone else? 

Then Jesus brought up another current event. Or those eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? (Luke 13:4). 

He answered His own questions: I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:3, 5).   

The trials, sufferings, and disasters that individuals, families, and even nations experience are not necessarily an indication of the extent of sinfulness. They may not be markers of God’s direct anger against sin any more than material prosperity proves godliness.

You and I have no right to judge others from outward appearances that say little or nothing about inward realities. Rather, tragedy, strife, and loss should lead us to carefully examine our own heart condition because we are as sinfully guilty as the one suffering.