JOHN 8:13–20
“You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true …”
(John 8:15–16).
To understand the dialogue in this passage, we need to understand the requirements of Mosaic Law. In a legal case, two or three witnesses were required for anyone to be convicted of a crime (Deut. 17:6). For any claim to be established as true, two or three witnesses had to testify to the fact. If someone testified against another person and his testimony proved to be false (Deut. 19:15–21), then he would suffer the same penalty as that which was planned for the accused. For example, if you accused someone of stealing and your testimony proved to be false, you would receive the punishment for stealing.
It was with these laws that the Pharisees hoped to bind Jesus. He claimed to be the light of the world, but they said that He could not testify concerning Himself. The Pharisees were in error on a number of counts. First, Jesus had already established that there were sufficient witnesses (John 5:31–47): John the Baptist, His Father in heaven, the Scriptures, His own miracles. Still, the Pharisees had refused to believe Him. Second, Jesus’ testimony was true. He could not lie. Third, the Pharisees were false witnesses. They claimed that Jesus was a liar and fraud, deserving death. As false witnesses, they were the ones who deserved death.
The Pharisees valued the Law, but the Law would condemn them. They tried to use it against Jesus, but He Himself was the lawgiver. How could they use the Law against He who was the Law? How could they use the standard of holiness against He who was holy? Their effort was evil and futile. Surely the Father and the Son were both reliable, but the Pharisees refused to believe. You can be sure that they were held accountable.
We, too, will be held accountable. If we accuse others of not upholding the Law while we ourselves are breaking it, we can be sure that we will be judged by the same measure: “Judge not that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 7:1–2). Be careful who you judge and with what motives you judge, or you might find that you have brought judgment upon yourself.
CORAM DEO
2 Kings 23–25
John 7:1–31
Read the passages from Numbers and Deuteronomy below. What do these passages say about the seriousness of making accusations? Do you think as many people would be taking others to court if there were a chance that they would suffer the same penalty? How quick are you to judge others? Memorize Matthew 7:1–2.
For further study: Num. 35:29–34 • Deut. 16:18–17:13; 19:15–21 • John 5:31–47
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