Jesus healed people on the Sabbath. This bothered the Pharisees. They considered it work. Yet they performed circumcision on the Sabbath for fear of breaking Moses’ law that a child should be circumcised on the eighth day (John 7:21-24).
Jesus said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24).
We are appalled at the Pharisees for their lack of sympathy for the one in need of healing. But I wonder, do we come across as Pharisees to unbelievers when we harshly explain Biblical principles? We tell them God loves them but our tone of voice is far from loving. Leaving room for someone to express their viewpoint without responding in sarcasm is not compromising the Truth. It is respecting the individual’s right to believe as he or she chooses.
God treated us with love and respect before we knew him. Let’s do the same for others.
