xi. 3. _And He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes,
neither reprove after the hearing of His ears._
A glorious difference between our Lord and ourselves. "He knew what
was in man," and needed not the evidence of external signs, which
often mislead _us._ He should deal with the motives of the heart
(H. E. I., 3332, 4147). Not by human sight, but by Divine _insight,_
He judged the conduct and character of men. 1. Our judgment is
enfeebled by _ignorance._ We do not see and hear all, and from our
imperfect knowledge of facts we draw wrong and often disastrous
conclusions (H. E. I., 2997-3005). But Our Lord could go behind the
visible works, and detect what often deceived men--_e.g.,_ His
treatment of pharisaism. 2. Our judgment is enfeebled by _prejudice._
This is often the result of ignorance. Seeing only certain sides of
men, we dislike them, and frame our judgments accordingly--_e.g.,_
Nathanael (John i. 46). With no better reason than Nathanael had, we
regard many a man as an enemy, or otherwise place him in a false
light. But our Lord dealt with none in this way. Seeing men as they
really were, no preconceived opinions led Him to unworthy
conclusions. 3. _Partiality_ enfeebles and perverts our judgment.
Judging by sight and hearing, we approve of one man more than
another, because he has certain artful or pleasing methods for
winning our favour: flattery, offers of gain, &c. (P. D., 1275, 1281,
1283). But our Lord could not be won in this way (Mark xii. 14; John
vi. 15). He was infinitely compassionate, tender, forgiving, but no
feeble partiality interfered to prevent most righteous judgment.
4. Our judgment is often perverted by _passion._ In the pursuit of
some unlawful and all-absorbing aim, we become too disturbed to weigh
calmly even the evidences we can see and hear. We look at everything
in the light of our false affection, and are thereby rendered
absolutely incapable of beholding others in their true light,
especially if they stand in our way and oppose our progress (P. D.,
2060). But the one absorbing and unremittent purpose of Jesus of
Nazareth was to do the will of His Heavenly Father, and to finish the
work He had given Him to do. Hence He dwelt always on a pure
altitude, in whose clear atmosphere He saw men and things as they
are. 5. _Our natural depravity_ is also a serious hindrance to our
right judging. Our very organs of knowledge, our affections, our
conscience, have been perverted. Let a man be ever so disposed to
take correct views of men and things, there will be some flaw in his
vision, some defect in his hearing. Hence there are times when we
cannot accept as final the judgment of the best and holiest of men.
But Christ has no secret evil to lead Him wrong.
In view of all this, how fitting it is that Christ should be our
judge! How well, too, He is qualified to be the merciful High Priest
who we need (Heb. iv. 15, 16). He who tenderly sympathises with us is
He who perfectly knows us (H. E. I., 956; P. D., 462).--_William
Manning._