1. Choose to do God's will (14-18)

The Jews in Jerusalem could not agree about whether Jesus was a good man or a deceiver of the people. Jesus told them how one could know the truth. First, he must choose to do God's will. This must be an unconditional decision, a commitment to God to live by the truth. Second, he must put God's honor and glory--not his own--first. God created man for his own glory.

2. Judge by right judgment (19-24)

The Jews judged Jesus by appearances. He was a young man from the country; his teaching was clearly God's truth, but he had no degree from Jerusalem U.; his attitude toward the Sabbath was unconventional. Those who judged by appearances did not believe; those who judged with right judgment could not but believe in him. Jesus showed them that the Jews who criticized Jesus, yet claimed to obey the law were hypocrites. It is surely pleasing to God to heal a man on the Sabbath.

Application: Lord, help me not to make superficial judgments, but right ones. Give me courage to live by the truth.
One Word: Make a right judgement